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

He arranged for a number of excellent meals over the weekend, but my favorite thing we did was have a little stay-cation at The Social Goat Bed + Breakfast in Grant Park.

Here’s the Q+DD on The Social Goat:

The Social Goat Bed + Breakfast is located in downtown Atlanta, and is in the community surrounding the oldest city park, Grant Park.  The park was established in 1882 when Lemuel P. Grant gave the city of Atlanta 100 acres and the city acquired an additional 44 acres to create a park for its citizens, eventually developing Atlanta’s largest historic neighborhood.  A failed circus traveling through town in 1889 was purchased and animals were placed in what is now Zoo Atlanta for spectators.  In 1892, the circular painting of the Battle of Atlanta was exhibited in the park and is now housed in the Atlanta Cyclorama.  Just one block from the park, guest can enjoy all the attractions and much more while the stay at The Social Goat.

the social goat exterior

The Social Goat was originally built in 1900 as a Queen Anne Victorian to accommodate 13 children.  Once a working farm and homestead, the house was located on a large piece of property that eventually was sold to make way for suburban building.  This property is now 3/4 of an acre and once again has a miniature barnyard.  Residents include two nigerian dwarf goats named “Sherman” and “Tallulah”, three cats named “Monkey, Leon, Tanuki”, three black spanish turkeys, 12 chickens, and plenty of goldfish and koi that inhabit the pond.  The Social Goat welcomes you with southern hospitality, and invites you to stay and relax on their little city farm.

Prior to our stay at The Social Goat, I hadn’t heard about this bed + breakfast before, so I was super impressed that Kevin had booked our stay at such a unique place!  When we arrived, we took a brief tour of the house – which was beautiful. 

Here’s a peek:

barcelona wine bar

The next morning, Kristy (The Social Goat owner + innkeeper) made us breakfast in the dining room.  She borrowed eggs from the chickens on her farm behind the house.  The breakfast was DE-licious.  A true feast.

Finally, it was time to meet the animals!  This was the biggest highlight for me!  We hung out with the most friendly, dog-like, dwarf goats named Sherman + Tallulah. 

I. fell. in. LOVE!! 

They, however, were slightly less interested in us, and way more interested in my bright purple jacket.  Oh well.  Still soooooooo unbelievably cute!

Then, we met the roosters who had woken us up in the morning.  This one is named Fabio. 

Kevin and I did not make friends with the turkeys.  They were jerks.

We really could have played with the animals all day…

The Social Goat Bed + Breakfast truly deserves the positive reviews and praise it’s received on Yelp!  I would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for a little getaway within the city.  It was such a unique experience – one that I know I will never forget.  I just loved!

More info on The Social Goat Bed + Breakfast here: Gobble til ya Wobble!

Miss you, Sherman + Tallulah…

xx, L

The Social Goat Bed + Breakfast
548 Robinson Ave.
Atlanta, Georgia  30315
404.626.4830
http://www.thesocialgoatbandb.com/

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhh, Monster Jam!

Last year, Kev and I went to the Jam with our friends Seth + Loren and we had a B.L.A.S.T.!  (In full disclosure, it was my second Monster Jam experience since I’ve lived in Atlanta.  I’m super into this event.)  This year, Monster Jam will be even more exciting (how can that be possible??) as they’ll celebrate Gravedigger’s 30th anniversary!  More on Gravedigger HERE.

go, gravedigger, gooooo!

Fact: Monster Jam is the single best people watching opportunity in Atlanta.  (NASCAR is a distance second to this.)  Here’s a sneak peak at what’s in store for you shot from yours truly last year…

overalls EVERYWHERE

And, here are a few more for your viewing pleasure:

monster jam 2011

Tickets are cheap.  Beer is…also cheap.  And, this is an out-of-the-ordinary event that is sure to spice up your MLK weekend!  Ticket information here: Let’s go to MONSTER JAM!!

Coming from a girlie-girl raised going to the ballet and to see musicals, I’m tellin’ you that you DO NOT want to miss this!  (Consider that a warning…)

xx, L

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

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

Said princess has stick-straight princess hair, but as a long-time admirer of Goldilocks + Snooki, alike, she has always dreamed of having massive New Jersey-ish volume in her long princess tresses.

(Did I mention that she is a PRINCESS??!) 

On a fateful Thursday evening, she visited her fairy godmother beloved hairstylist, Daniel Carter at Mint Salon, who used a MAGICAL potion from a far-away land (Kevin Murphy Powder Puff Volumizing Powder) to help the fair princess achieve the volume she so dearly longed for.

Daniel skillfully applied the mysterious potion to her hair – and just like magic – the princess’s locks grew taller and taller + more voluminous right before her very eyes!! 

Witness:

The result was amazing!  She was thrilled! 

this was NOT a great picture of the princess's face, but it SURE WAS of her hair!!

Not only was the potion incredibly effective on her stubbornly-straight hair, but also the wizard who designed it used super cute pink packaging - the princess’s favorite color.  How convenient!

The princess thoroughly recommends trying Kevin Murphy’s Powder Puff (especially during the upcoming humidity free months) + visiting her fairy godmother fabulous stylist, Daniel Carter, at Mint Salon!

The End.

(Oh yeah, and everyone lived ABSOLUTELY happily ever after!)

xx, L

Mint Salon – Daniel Carter
985 Monroe Drive (Midtown)
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.724.9669
http://www.mintsalon.net/

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.

xx, L

The Masquerade
695 North Ave NE
Atlanta, GA  30308
404.577.8178
http://www.masqueradeatlanta.com/

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…

"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…

fernbank museum of natural history

…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

LK + I had SOOOO. MUCH. FUN. at the Atlanta Food Rave at Mason Murer last year!  And, it’s where we got this Q+DD regular drawn up…

This year’s chef line-up includes: 2010 Rave Review Winner (+ Q+DD friend) Alex Friedman of P’cheen International Bistro & Pub; Executive Chef Monique Barrow of Buckhead Bottle Bar; Executive Chef Ryan Delesandro of Nava; Executive Chef Shane Devereux of Top Flr; and Executive Chef Willie Box or Straits.  Attendees are invited to sample each chef’s offerings in addition to catered fare that will be placed throughout four unique environments at the host venue.

Tickets are available here: Get Your Food Rave ON!

You won’t want to miss this!  Trust.

xx, L

East Andrews Entertainment Complex
56 East Andrews Drive
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.856.0157
www.atlantafoodrave.com
(Complimentary Valet Available)

Lauren + Greg got engaged!!  AHHHHHHHHHHH!!

Many, many warm congratulations + mazel tovs to the amazing, gorgeous, incredibly happy couple! 

Check out their special moment below:

Absolute perfection!  Just look at them – they are BEAMING! 

Wishing Lauren and Greg a lifetime of happiness, laughter and celebration together!  Also, happy wedding planning, LK (soon to be LC!!).  Love you guys so much!

xx, L