I know, right?  I was impressed, too! 

It was a fun morning, but we had one problem: Slick was seriously hungover from the night before.  Around noon, he began to really need something to cut up the alcohol aggressively overtaking his blood stream, so we searched the GPS for the closest non-fast food (yet still greasy/ heavy) restaurant in the area + up popped: Jim ‘n Nick’s Bar-B-Q.

We use this restaurant to cater work events from time to time, but I am rarely ever OTP + hadn’t visited its home base in Smyrna.  As soon as we got this close to the door, we were greeted with an overwhelmingly delicious aroma of BBQ.  Slick almost crumbled to the floor.  No joke. 

A friendly hostess sat us down + we ordered up large waters and Diet Cokes.  As we worked on Slick’s hydration, we perused the extensive menu.  I knew exactly what I wanted as soon as I opened the menu and read the item’s name: Pig in the Garden Salad.  It made me giggle, so I gave it a try.

Slick ordered a pulled pork sandwich + deep-fried onion rings.  While we impatiently waited for our food, the friendly hostess – who was now also our server – dropped over a basket of these tasty cheese muffins.  They were not fat free.  I can tell you that much.  That is pretty much all I can tell you, though, because they were gone almost immediately. 

Shortly thereafter, my salad arrived and it was enormo…and really satisfying.  I mean, how could you go wrong with pulled pork, smoked bacon + homemade croutons?  (I’m still convinced it was a healthy option, too, as there were numerous green + orange things on the plate.)

Slick’s pulled pork sandwich did the trick.  He ate it like a champ + started to feel better immediately. 

He described the onion rings* as ”a gift from God,” but he was slightly too ambitious with ordering them as we ended up taking the majority home with us. 

*Reader’s note:  Do not accidentally leave onion rings in your car for more than five hours.  Trust.

Seemed like the OTP BBQ did the trick.  Slick was pleased with his mostly clean plate + pork-stuffed stomach.

As we were heading out, we noticed a nice collection of pig paraphernalia and t-shirts with butt jokes.  (Oh, how I love a good butt joke.)

Do I recommend driving all the way out to Jim ‘n Nick’s for BBQ if you live in Midtown?  Probably not.  There are plenty of ITP options to explore.  However, if you are OTP + have a BBQ craving or need a quick hangover cure, Jim ‘n Nick’s is absolutely your place.  Prepare yourself for the butt jokes, friends + eat up!

xx, L

Jim ‘n Nick’s Bar-B-Q
4574 S. Cobb Dr. SE
Smyrna, GA  30080
678.556.0011
www.jimnnicks.com

As you know, Camp Dance is this weekend + I’m sure you’re all super pumped for it!  If you are looking for plans during the weekend days, I strongly recommend that you check out these two exciting festivals!

1 – Smyrna’s Spring Jonquil Festival
(April 30 & May 1, 2011)

The Jonquil Festival is located on the beautiful Village Green in downtown Smyrna.  It will showcase arts + crafts by more than 150 artists/ crafters from across the country.  The event also offers fun for the entire family to enjoy with continuous entertainment, a children’s section + a wide selection of festival foods.  The show will draw a crowd of around 15,000 people.  Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday + admission is FREE!

More information + directions to Smyrna’s Spring Jonquil Festival here: Spring HAS Sprung!

And (THIS IS EXCITING NEWS), just guess who will have a tent at the Festival….

J. Rishel Woodworks!  You will not want to miss his tent!  Justin is an amazing woodworker – so be sure to look out for him!

my j. rishel woodworks cutting board

Read more about J. Rishel Woodworks here: Got Wood? (Ahh, couldn’t resist.)
J. Rishel Woodworks’ Etsy Page here: Buy Some Wood! (Not nearly as funny…)

2 – Inman Park Spring Festival
(Also, April 30 & May 1, 2011)

Inman Park Spring Festival takes place in one of Atlanta’s oldest + most scenic neighborhoods.  First developed in the late 1800s, Inman Park is home to many historic homes + parks.  The Festival began in the early 1970s as a means to attract attention to gentrification efforts that sought to revitalize the community.  Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the festival offers something for everybody.  Music, kids activities, a Tour of Homes, a marvelous street parade, an artists’ market + some of the city’s best people-watching. 

inman park festival parade

I’m a serious fan of this Festival + blogged about my love affair w/ it last year…please review here: I Heart the Inman Park Spring Festival.

More information + directions to the Inman Park Spring Festival here: Inman Info!

This is going to be SUCH a great weekend.  Enjoy the festivals, festival-goers! 

xx, L

Here’s how you make ‘em:

INGREDIENTS:

1 box of All-Butter Cake mix
4 eggs
1 stick of butter (not margarine), melted
2 teaspoons of vanilla
1 (8 ounce) package of cream cheese
1 (16 ounce) of powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS:

1 – Mix cake mix with 1 egg, butter + vanilla and spread in greased 9×13″ pan.

2 – Beat 3 eggs, cream cheese + sugar together and pour over cake mixture.

3 – Bake at 350 degrees for 30 – 40 minutes.  (Mine browned a lot around the sides, but much like w/ brownies, the ends + chewy part are my favorite!)

4 – Cool + cut into bars.

They are super yummy, sooooooo easy to make, always a hit + a fun alternative to making brownies all the time.  However, you can still easily cook them in the Perfect Brownie pan!  And best of all, they are a great treat to keep you cozy inside during the SNOWPOCALYPSE we’re still experiencing in Atlanta!  Stay warm!

xx, L

We had finished the third movie + were looking for the fourth to quickly pop into the DVD player, when we realized that we accidentally rented TWO fourth movies and forgot to get a fifth one.  Serious HPMD Fail. 

um. we're obsessed.

None of us had been in possession of a Blockbuster card since 2003, so we needed to download the movie to an iPod and hook it up to the TV.  This process was going to take a while, so we decided to kill the time by playing a few hands of Bananagrams.

This game seriously kicks it.

Bananagrams is word game that requires no pencil, paper or board.  All you need is a table + one hand can be played in as little as five minutes.  Much like Scrabble, players use tiles to create words crossword-style, but without a board/ timer or point squares.  It’s all about speed + the first player to use all their tiles is the winner.

More re. Bananagrams’ Rules Here:  MMMMM…B-A-N-A-N-A-S!

Michelle (Flounder!) + Slick destroyed me in this game, but I still thought it was super fun.  It’s also a great “filler” gift for the holidays + I spotted it yesterday at Richard’s Variety Store in Midtown for only $15.  Not too shabby at all.

Not for the kids:  Banagrams would make a pretty solid drinking game.  JUST saying… 

xx, L

Yesterday night, Slick + the Levins + I headed out to the historic Decatur train depot for some serious farm-fueled comfort food at Farmstead 303.  And, it just so happened that there was a Scoutmob deal for it…   Perfect. 

Teri Rogers, owner of an adorable restaurant across the street from Farmstead 303 called Feast, opened F 303 in June of this year.  The menu is seasonal + from local farms, and the restaurant feels incredibly authentic.  You are having dinner in a barn.  Although upon walking into the restaurant I instantly regretted sporting my five inch nude suede pumps, I totally dug the country-casual atmosphere.  I felt like I was in the movie Twister, but minus the tornadoes.

Here’s a peek  at what our table looked like. 

The menu was incredibly hearty + filled with lots of southern fried goodness.  For appetizers, we ordered the deviled farm eggs…

…and the fried local cauliflower + pepper jelly. 

The eggs were good, although not nearly as delicious as the d.eggs at Bocado, but I thought the cauliflower was a bit too heavily fried for my personal liking.  Slick + Brian agreed that if they came back to F 303, they would order the appetizer sampler instead of individual apps.  They wanted a bit more of a variety of the restaurant’s small bites.

For my entree, I ordered the Georgia Mountain Trout + wilted spinach salad with roasted new potatoes, applewood smoked bacon, beet pancake + horseradish sauce.  There was a party on my plate!  I passed it around the table and everyone thought it was delicious.

Brian ordered the crispy pan seared duck breast w/ pancetta roasted brussels sprouts + candied carrots.  He reported that it was tasty + enjoyable, but honestly nothing to write home about.

Slick + Sarah both raved about their Painted Hills burgers w/ pimento cheese, thick cut bacon + homemade chips.

 I had a few bites of Slick’s and thought it was a pretty. solid. burger.  (Close up below.)

Overall, we really enjoyed the F 303 experience.  There’s a time and place for everything, and the time to go to F 303 is when you really need some serious southern cookin’.  If F 303 doesn’t hit the spot, I’m not sure if anything will.

Farmstead 303 Menu + Hours Here:  FANTASTICALLY FRIED FEASTING
Info on Farmstead’s Raised Bed Urban Garden Here: 303 GARDENING

After dinner, Slick + I zipped over to Atlantic Station’s movie theater to claim seats for the 9:00 p.m. Harry Potter #7 Part 1.  As you know, I’m a pretty huge HP fan + have been eagerly awaiting the release of the 7th movie.  AND (drum roll please…), I thought it was really fantastic!  There were some slow scenes, but they were necessary to add to the build up for July’s #7 Part 2.  I can’t WAIT!

IMPORTANT PSA:  This is totally going to come off as parenting-advice-from-a-non-parent, but I don’t really care.  One of my biggest pet peeves is people talking during movies  Um, hello – there are like 400 pre-movie commercials reminding you that “silence is golden!”  I will ask you to be quiet if you are infringing on my movie-going-experience, oh random fellow movie-goer.  Even worse is when parents bring children WHO SHOULD BE IN BED or WITH A BABYSITTER to late movies that aren’t age appropriate for them.  Our movie started at 9:00 p.m. on a Sunday night, and there was a BABY in the theater + two kids under the age of 8 or so sitting behind Slick + I.  I wish I could report their parents.  I really do.  Just saying…I’m judging you.

In prep for HP #7 Part 1, Slick + I spent Saturday 10:00 a.m. through Sunday 12:30 a.m. watching the first six Harry Potter movies back to back w/ the Rischels = HARRY POTTER MARATHON DAY (HPMD) 2010!  It was quite epic, if I do say so myself.  Mich (Flounder) + Slick fell into a pizza coma + passed out during the last movie, but Justin and I made it.  By the end of the day, we all felt like we’d earned a boy scout badge or something. At least recognition from Caribou Coffee for all the caffeine we’d consumed…  I can safely say that it was one of my favorite days of the past year.  Fact. 

July – You are WAY too far away!

xx, L

Farmstead 303
303 East Howard Avenue
Decatur, GA  30030
404.377.3550
http://farmstead303.squarespace.com/

One of my closest girlfriends, Michelle (Flounder), + her husband moved from NYC to Atlanta a few months ago.  Michelle’s husband, Justin, is a former high school History teacher + marine (Happy Day-After-Veterans-Day, Justin!) with an incredible talent for woodworking.  In New York, he got serious about his woodworking and quickly started receiving paying projects.  Upon moving to Atlanta, Justin set up an Etsy page + now his hobby has become a full-time gig. 

I recently sat down w/ Justin to chat a little about woodworking.  Here’s the Q+DD about how J. Rishel Woodworks came to be:

“I got into woodworking because I couldn’t afford a nice coffee table in college and decided that the only thing stopping me from making it myself was a little know how.  So, after some trial and error I managed to create a functional, however unattractive table.  When I moved to NYC, I had about six months to kill before I started teaching and thought that a good way to spend my time was to hone my skills.  I spent many, many hours reading books and magazines about woodworking and watched hours upon hours of woodworking shows on TV.  Over the years (between 2005 and 2010), my skills improved and my knowledge expanded.  My work became more sophisticated evolving from tables to beds, cabinets, a chuppah, and more.  Although I don’t yet consider myself a master and still have quite a bit of learning to do, I have grown significantly over the last few years.”

“Schools weren’t hiring when we moved to Atlanta and I had to find a way to generate some income.  I decided that in order to reach a wider marketplace my work had to become smaller and more packageable.  So, cutting boards, candlesticks, ring boxes, toys, and so on are now my primary focus.  Larger work is still very doable and desirable, but would have to be local.”
 
“As far as the woods I enjoy working with, I like classic wood types like walnut, cherry, maple, and oak.  I enjoy the fact that they’re American grown.  All woods have their own unique characteristics and colors which make them all beautiful and useful.”

What a great guy, huh?  A handful of Justin’s projects are below:

Sushi Trays - Walnut

Cutting Board - Cherry, Ash, Maple + Walnut

Rocking Horse - Ash + Walnut

Ring Boxes - Maple

Lamp w/ Double-Helix Twist - Ash, Cherry, + White Oak

Candlestick Holders + Ring Boxes

Oval Dining Table - Walnut

Keepsake Box - Mahogany

Vanity Table - Maple

Cutting Board + Cheese Set - Mahogany, Cherry, Oak, Ash + Maple

Bistro Table - Walnut

It’s easy to see how unbelievably talented he is. 

I recently commissioned Justin to make a large cutting board for our kitchen that could sit out on a daily basis, but was also functional.  (It’s actually the cutting board in the second picture above.)  It is absolutely gorgeous!  And, it has definitely made our new condo feel even more like home.  Slick wouldn’t let me cut anything on it for the first three or so days we had it out on our countertop.  True story.

Justin’s pieces are handmade, excellent quality + very well-priced.  They are perfect for the holidays + as a special gift for almost any occasion. 

SHOP HERE!
J Rishel Woodworks’ Etsy Page:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/jrishelwoodworks

J Rishel Woodworks is dabomb.com

Take it from Slick + me – we’re serious J. Rishel Woodworks fans!

xx, L

(not pictured: mich (flounder))

We’ve been getting together a few times a year ever since we graduated from Texas, mostly for weddings (as pictured above), but since no one’s gotten married this year, we planned a little reunion weekend instead + are going to Dahlonega to visit the Georgia Wine Country!  My total + complete heaven…

Dahlonega. Hello!

It’s going to be so nice + relaxing! 

If we weren’t planning to be in Dahlonega, we would DEFINITELY be spending Saturday @ Cabbagetown’s 2010 Chomp + Stomp Chili Cook-Off + Festival + 5K Run! 

Cabbagetown’s Chomp + Stomp was created to celebrate the heritage and local flavor of the neighborhood, as well as benefit Cabbagetown Park.  Slick + CK + I went last year and had so much freaking fun!  It really is very deserving of its Creative Loafing Award for “Best Intown Hipster Hootenanny” (greatest word ever?  i’m thinking so…)!

Chomp + Stomp 2009

Chomp + Stomp 2009

More info on Chomp + Stomp here:  EAT UP!

Whatever you’re doing this weekend – bring a thick jacket!  It’s getting really chilly in the A!   Burrrrrrrrr! 

xx, L

st. pat's 2009

st. pat's 2010

Green beer + pinching strangers…count me in! 

However, I do absolutely love Halloween.  It’s an incredibly close #2.  And, I take it VERY seriously. 

cat (boring, but whatev.)

jailbird martha

kanye west + gold digger

electric socket (plug: not pictured)

tex mex

viking

million dollar baby

military pin-ups

Costuming takes commitment + months of planning, people.  However, this year my costume has already been decided for me.  I’m not quite sure how I feel about that yet, but I am definitely excited for what we have planned…

I’m going w/ Slick + co. to the Florida vs. Georgia game in Jacksonville! 

So, I will be pretending to be a Florida fan for the entire holiday weekend!  It will absolutely take a serious commitment on my behalf to pull this one off.  It is going to be SO fun!   My challenge now is to somehow make jorts + a mullet super cute.   I really just want to fit in…

hot

Or, I’ve been contemplating these as backups:

super sexy ref

Vertical stripes are flattering, but I am a little concerned that I might get cold.  In case the weather plummets, this may be a solid alternative outfit to consider:

full gator

I don’t know.  I just really wish they made this in my size:

I know I’ll be able to come up with something to fully demonstrate my commitment to the holiday, but I’m kinda hitting a road block.  I’m almost a month and a half away – the pressure is on!

Go Longhorns Gators!  

PSA:  For those staying in Atlanta for the #2 best holiday of the year, it’s time to dust off the ol’ thinking cap and start working on your creative costumes!  The clock is ticking. 

And, I will judge you.  Fact.

pets are just too easy...

Hooray for Halloween 2010! 

 xx, L

how could you not love this little guy??

I went into a bit of restaurant-related-panic-mode when we agreed to do brunch OTP, but Mich quickly reminded me that my beloved Muss + Turners* is relatively close to their new place.  Yes, ma’am! 

*Note:  The last time I went to M+T’s was after I’d been out of work for a week with e. coli (from Las Margaritas on Cheshire Bridge – FYI).  M+T’s “Gobbler” was the first real food I could eat for almost a week.  It was like magic.  No joke.

Muss + Turners

Anyway, Slick and I left about 30 minutes early from my condo in Midtown to make sure that we weren’t too tardy for brunch – and we got to M+T’s w/ a surprising 10 minutes to spare.  As soon as we walked into the restaurant, we were bombarded with the delicious aroma of smoked meat.  We asked the host what it was, and he informed us that it was one of the day’s brunch specials: Hot Bacon on Bacon on Bacon Fat Biscuit Action.  Ummm, incredible!

As everyone perused through the brunch specials + extensive lunch menu, including very creative items in categories i.e. “FISH + Things that Swim,” “Divine SWINE,” “CHICKEN + Things with Wings,” and “BEEF & Things that Eat Grass” (also cute: “Yesterday’s Soup”), I sipped on some v. strong coffee and read the restaurant’s promotional Labor Day Lobster Bake Special:

Sounds like a deal to me!

Everyone ordered brunch items, but I just had to go with the Gobbler again.  How could I not after it rescued me from my Saltine-diet following my e. coli nightmare?  Plus, it’s mouthwateringly amazing…

Gobbler =Shaved house-roasted turkey breast served with Bubby Muss’ Ritz cracker stuffing, Swedish lingonberry coulis and thyme aioli on a toasted challah bun.  On the menu, they call it “THE sandwich.”  They are correct.

the gobbler

If I wasn’t going to order that, I was really considering “Swify Biscuits” on the brunch menu: Two bacon buttermilk biscuits with local/organic Berkshire pork (from Riverview Farms) slow-smoked, pulled, tossed in house BBQ, topped with horseradish slaw and Nueske’s applewood bacon w/ two fried eggs + a side of fruit salad.  I am pretty sure I just gained four pounds writing that out.

We ate like kings (queens = me + Mich). 

Afterwards, we drove around Smyrna a bit, and I have to admit – it’s kind of cute!  Muss + Turners may not be nearly as convenient to us ITP-ers as a number of local brunch spots, but it’s a heck of a lot better than most others.  Dare I say that it’s absolutely worth the drive?  Oh, I dare.

Muss + Turners: I apologize for forgetting about you, old friend, after all you’ve done for me.  I’ll be back v. soon.

xx, L

Muss + Turners
1675 Cumberland Pkwy SE
Smyrna, GA  30080
770.434.1114
www.mussandturners.com

Michelle + I both quickly grabbed the Scoutmob promotion for Nakato when it was offered up and few weeks ago, and we set a hot date for hibachi.

michelle + me

Nakato is a Japanese restaurant that’s been around for a while located on Cheshire Bridge close to Piedmont.  Although it is surrounded by strip clubs and XXX stores, the restaurant is v. hard to miss with its traditional architecture and sculptured bushes.

When you walk into Nakato, you’ll find the sushi room directly in front of you.  To your left, is the expansive hibachi room + private tatami rooms for groups.

sushi room

tatami room

Nakato’s hibachi is better than fair.  I’ve been to hibachi restaurants in Atlanta where the chefs have had a bit more personality (i.e. Orient Express in Vinings – LOVE), but Nakato will do – especially with the 50% off Scoutmob…

Has anyone’s hair ever caught on fire?  I couldn’t help but think about how many flammable products I put into mine before my date w/ Mich when this happened…

ahhhhhh!

Mich ordered sushi, which we both thought was very fresh and well-priced.  My hibachi was okay.  It’s always a fun experience to do hibachi every so often (remember not to wear nice clothes – you reek afterwards), but I think I forgot exactly how much food it actually was going to end up being…  I left the restaurant almost doubled over because I was so full.  I really do need to work on my will power. 

After our server processed the Scoutmob 50% off discount, our final bill was only $12 per person!!  I couldn’t BELIEVE how cheap it was!  Although the meal was just fine – nothing really to write home about, the discount made it totally worth it.  So, for all you recessionistas who are in the mood for sushi or hibachi, grab the Scoutmob discount on your iPhone and head on over to Nakato.  (If you don’t have the Scoutmob discount, though, I’d suggest driving to Orient Express, instead.) 

Q+DD on Nakato’s Happy Hour:
$3 wines by the glass
$3 sushi rolls
$5 speciality cocktails
$15 for a drink + 5 appetizers!  (EXCELLENT DEAL!!)

xx, L

Nakato
1776 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Atlanta, GA  30324
404.873.6582
www.nakatorestaurant.com