I will make this very simple + quick so that you can get back to checking your Fantasy baseball stats.  And, I’ll use lots of pictures.   Seriously, though, I’d like to help plan your third date with that special someone, so please allow me two minutes of your time…

My rule of thumb is that the first date is always for weekday or Sunday night drinks.  Apres Diem, TAP, the bar @ JCT Kitchen and Top Flr are my suggestions for that.  Drinks only.  Food complicates the first date, you have the potential to get something stuck in your teeth (heaven forbid!) and you want to be able to escape quickly after that second drink if the date is less than ideal.  Let’s be realistic, folks, time IS money.  Also, if you are a serial dater, it’s much easier on the wallet than shelling out for a dinner when the date stinks.  Date #2 is a weekday or Sunday night dinner.  Anywhere reliable is fine, but don’t do tapas.  It’s too much decision-making too early into the relationship.  If things go well, the third date should be upgraded to a weekend and should include more than just dinner.  Which brings me to…(drum roll plz.)…FUNTIME BOWL!

guaranteed to impress or your money back.

You don’t have to drop a wad of cash to do well on this date, boys.  Obviously know your audience, but I personally think that the third date should be a fun one where you can kind of let loose and get out from behind a bar or dinner table.  Take your date to Taqueria del Sol or Pancho’s – anything on Buford or Cheshire Bridge will do (again know your audience) and afterwards head on over to Funtime.

Slick + I went with some of his coworkers + my brother when he was in town recently.  Although we were with a big group, I kept thinking that it really seemed like a fun place for a date night*.  Unlike 300 (which is super far away) or Midtown Bowl (which is fun, but always packed during the evenings), Funtime is right up Buford Hwy and never too slammed. 

*Note for you super-competitive guys: Let your date win once or twice.  I always have to remember this when I play with Slick.

he talks a big game...

Check out Funtime on a Friday or Saturday night after 8:00 p.m. for Cosmic Bowling: black lights, music, glow lanes, etc.  It’s really fun!  Promise. 

Also, Funtime offers more than just bowling.  Please witness from our recent visit:

air hockey

arcade games

beer

(Just here to help, guys.)  Best of luck to you!  And, you’re welcome.

xx, L

Funtime Bowling
3285 Buford Highway
Atlanta, GA  30329
404.636.7548
www.funtimebowl.com

the group over new years

I have to tell you, I really couldn’t be more excited!  Aside from the predictable awesomeness that I can expect from hanging out with these folks, the wedding is in the JERZZZ!

oh gosh, i really hope they're invited!

SO unbelievably stoked!  And, I’ve been practicing…

Okay, so, when I asked Slick this morning about the attire for the wedding, he alleges that he talked with the bride and she said “any dress will do…” which means he actually didn’t talk to the bride because no girl in her right mind would ever leave wedding-related attire so vague.  After I gave him a hard time about it, he consulted reinforcements and we now know that the attire is black tie (Bumpit) optional.

My dress is set, but one very important question remains:  To Bumpit or not to Bumpit?  

totally bumped

Although the Texas girl in me always defaults to my vintage cowboy boots as my signature way to jazz up an otherwise blah outfit, I am REALLY considering trading in my country kicks in for my very own Bumpit for the occasion!

bye, bye my beloveds

I’ve just been so inspired by my favorite Jersey Shore party girl, Snooki:

And, my favorite Jerseylicious villianess, Tracey:

Plus, hair height is kinda in my Roberts’ blue jeans…

mother.

I think I’m going to BUMPIT!  Heading to CVS in 10…wish me luck.  Ahhhhh! 

xx, L

red velvet cupcakes

peanut butter french toast

turkey sausage + egg + cheese on a croissant

peanut butter + chocolate cupcakes

mini cinnamon rolls

Highland Bakery’s Old Fourth Ward location on Highland Ave. is consistently delicious – and always packed.  So predictably packed that I’ve started completely avoiding it on Saturday and Sunday mornings for brunch…  However, my carb-craving prayers have been answered with Highland Bakery’s new Midtown location, which officially opened last week.  Food blogs were listing the opening date as “the last quarter of the year,” but I called the OFW location this morning to confirm that I did, in fact, see people eating in there on Friday.  And, I did.

Visit Highland Bakery – Midtown in the 1180 Peachtree Building around the corner from TAP, where TROIS used to reside.  And, please, do yourself a favor and go ahead and order that cupcake.  It’s worth it. 

P.S. All you Midtown suits:  H. Bakery is great for a quick workday lunch, too!

xx, L

Highland Bakery – Midtown
1180 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA  30309
404.586.0772
http://www.highlandbakery.com/

Syracuse + Skaneatles:

d's wedding

hellloooooo from heaven

N. Georgia Mountains:

gorgeousness @ lake burton, but watch out for...

...this guy. eek!

Columbia (SC):

levin wedding @ columbia museum of art

dancing machines

Random Arkansas:

Even random-er New Jersey, where I really hope to see:

my fav. gym-tan-laundry homies, the cast of Jersey Shore!

(Love things + people + awesomeness from New Jersey as much as I do?  If so, you may want to know about Jersey Shore’s Mike “the Situation’s” first stab at literary excellence: http://tiny.cc/gj75j!  I digress…)

I’ve learned a few things here and there throughout my travels, and I am confident that I can reduce some travel-related stress with just five points to remember below:

5-  If you are flying out of or connecting in Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson airport and need food or want to waste away a few hours at a bar while waiting for your departure, head directly for Terminal E.  They have my favorite food selections, including some healthy options, and a really great wine bar located right next to the duty free store = dangerous.  Also, Term. E has the only fine dining restaurant in the airport, One Flew South, for you fancy-pants travelers, you.

One Flew South (Terminal E)

4- Go through security in the first class + medallion gate.  I am a Delta medallion flyer and always go through the security gates all the way to the back of Delta’s check in area, and I have NEVER had anyone ask me to show them proof of my status.  Don’t be a schmo, if you are in a rush to make your flight, take advantage of a faster line for security.  I promise I won’t tell on you…

don't do it.

3-  Need a last minute mani/pedi before the big trip, but don’t have much time?  No problemo.  Head on over to the XpresSpas in Terminals A + C for some quickie pre-flight spa services.

XpresSpa (Terminals A + C)

2-  Why waste $30 to check your bags when you can just be a thoughtful packer and save yourself some dough?  Carry on your baggage whenever possible – particularly if you are flying Delta, which has the highest incidence in the airline industry for losing traveler’s baggage.  Slick lost his luggage on Delta five times out of the last eight flights he’s taken.  Fact. 

Ladies:  Do not EVER pack your make-up or a bridesmaid dress.  Trust me – it’s never worth the risk.

delta hates you, slick

1-  Talk to your neighbor(s) on the plane – at least for a little while.  You never know who you’ll meet.  I’ve had friends who have met people who have set them up on dates, helped them to network for jobs and made some pretty cool random connections – even if it’s just a new book recommendation.  Who knows, you may even find a friend to chow down w/ at One Flew South in Terminal E… 

pleased to meet you - i am your new friend, lindsay.

Just, please, watch out for snakes.  (Don’t say I didn’t warn you, oh weary travelers…)

Snakes on a Plane

Safe travels this summer.  See y’all around Hartsfield-Jackson! 

xx, L

One Flew South
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
600 N. Terminal Parkway (Terminal E)
Atlanta, GA  30320
404.816.3464
www.oneflewsouthatl.com

congrats guys!!

However, when we weren’t busy with our numerous wedding festivities…

posing for pictures

spending time w/ the bride

being awesome

getting ICED (thx, slick...)

…we passed the time chowing down at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que!  There wasn’t a whole lot to do in Syracuse, but Dinosaur kept us busy + stuffing our faces for hours – and we anticipated each return over the weekend!

Salt Lick + Fat Matt’s, who??  Seriously.

Here’s the Q+DD on Dinosaur Bar-B-Que:

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que is a restaurant, blues venue, and biker bar in Syracuse, New York.  Opened in 1983 on Willow Street in downtown Syracuse, it specializes in authentic barbecue using a wood-fueled barbecue pit.  The restaurant markets its sauce, pulled pork, chili, and baked beans at local supermarkets, and at Wegmans, Fairway, D’Agostino’s, Price Chopper, and Shaw’s Supermarkets across the Northeast.  Two additional locations have also opened in Rochester, New York (in the old Lehigh Valley Railroad Station) in 1998, and Harlem, New York in 2004.   In May 2009, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que was voted America’s best barbecue in ABC’s Good Morning America poll, beating out entrants from across the United States.  Approximately 4,000 out of the 7,500 participants in the poll selected Dinosaur Bar-B-Que as the best in the nation.  (www.wikipedia.com)

Words do not do it justice.  You must witness…

I know I can be a bit of an exaggerator from time to time, but I MEAN it when I say that this was some of the best BBQ I’ve ever had.  It was even better than it looked!  I can’t believe how much I ate there - I really can’t.  The ribs.  Oh, the ribs! 

P.S. You can buy the Dinosaur cookbook + BBQ sauce online here:  DINOS!

Point of this prehistoric post:  Next time you are in NY, you absolutely must, must, MUST make a point to visit The Dinosaur!  Honestly, booking a special trip for it might be necessary…  DO NOT pass up an opportunity to get down and dirty w/ some BBQ there!  Trust me. 

RARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

xx, L

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
246 W. Willow Street
Syracuse, NY  13202
315.476.4937
www.dinosaurbarbque.com

Is this cute or what?  I didn’t realize that it was there!  So unexpected in such an industrial area.

Here’s the Q+DD on The Local Farmstand:

The Local Farmstand at the Westside Urban Market is the joint effort of two local farmers: Nicolas Donck of Crystal Organic Farm and Joe Reynolds of Love is Love Farm.  The Local Farmstand offers delicious, healthy produce from both farms, as well a selection from other trusted local farmers, including Jenny Jack Sun Farm, Double B, Evie’s Country Garden, Walker Farms, Featherwise Farm and Riverview Farm.  The knowledgeable staff can assist with your selection, and even help you plan the preparation.  TLF strives to provide the finest variety from trustworthy sources, as well as relevant information about our products and happenings around the Atlanta foodshed.

The Local Farmstand is more than a reliable, convenient and trustworthy produce stand, it’s a community touchstone – a place where you can become a part of Atlanta’s growing local food movement.

farm fresh veggies

cucumbers

peaches

Everything looked incredibly fresh and delicious. 

Later that day, I went home and did some online research on The Local Farmstand.  What a great idea!  What aren’t there more of these?  My favorite part of the stand’s website is their “In Season” page: http://snipurl.com/xi5yc.  Eating local means eating seasonal, and this chart gives you an idea of what to look out for at the farmstand each month. 

The Local Farmstand is open Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.  Love!

xx, L

The Local Farmstand
1198 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA  30318
404.423.8639
www.thelocalfarmstand.com

I really like the restaurants + bars in the area (i.e. Grindhouse Killer Burgers in the Sweet Auburn Market), but I honestly feel like I am going to get jumped when I park my car and walk into Edgewood establishments.  And, my Mace recently got confiscated at the airport.

However, if you are going to potentially risk your life (only kinda kidding) to go to a restaurant or bar in the Atlanta area, I highly recommend visiting Noni’s Bar + Deli.  Slick, Christine and some other folks + I went a few weeks ago and I really thought it was a cool place to hang out.

There’s parking for the bar in the alley next to it off of Edgewood.  I strongly suggest parking there and walking in the back door as opposed to parking in the area that Slick and I chose behind the restaurant.  (Although, I was more than prepared to use my golf umbrella as a weapon.  True story.  I’m tougher than I look.)

Noni’s is so freaking cute inside, I can’t stand it. 

Please witness:

The beer glasses w/ her picture on them are my personal fav. 

We were in the mood for food + a little booze, so we sat down at one of the tables in the back that could fit a large group.  The menu at Noni’s is small, but looked satisfying to everyone.  Most of us ended up with the Stella: a simple caprese salad sandwich + an arugula salad that we got instead of fries. 

Slick ordered the Jersey: sweet coppa, hot sopressata, provolone, shredded lettuce, pepperoncini, tomato, deli mustard + garlic aioli vinaigrette on a hoagie roll.  Also, this “create your own” pasta dish was v. popular at our table: homemade tagliatelle w/ pancetta cream sauce + local sausage.  I think we pretty much all took a bite of it.  

Everything was really good!  I definitely prefer this kind of bar food to soggy nachos (although there is certainly a time + place) and tasteless chicken sandwiches.

Even the menu was cute!

the bar at noni's

Insider Info:  Rumor has it that David Cross hangs out at Noni’s when he’s in town. 

tobias!

Check it out if you are in the Edgewood area.  I liked the scene and the better-than-average food selection and beer list.  The bartenders are really friendly, too. 

I mean it, though, if you end up parking on one of the side streets off of Edgewood while en route to Noni’s – you may want to seriously consider getting creative re. potential weaponry w/in your purse or pockets.  Better to be safe than sorry…  (And, on that note I am officially my mom.)

xx, L

Noni’s Bar + Deli
357 Edgewood Ave. SE
Atlanta, GA  30312
404.343.1808
www.nonisdeli.com

(I know…I know…where was I raised?  The country?  A barn?)  I guess maybe if that was the case, I would have already had my fill of deviled eggs…  I tried them for the first time during lunch yesterday with colleagues at Bocado.  And, I thought that they were soooooooo delicious!  (Seriously, why have I not tried these until now??)

deviled eggs @ bocado

The DEs at Bocado had very fluffy + creamy + flavorful yokes.  When I called Slick to tell him that I had just tried my very first one and loved it, he told me that he personally prefers them when they aren’t so fluffy + creamy.  Whatever.  These babies tasted loaded up with mayo (which I loved!) - and I wanted MORE!  So much so, in fact, that I looked up DE recipes all night.

This one was my favorite: http://snipurl.com/xg0z1

I also really liked these two…

Sun-Dried Tomato + Chive Deviled Eggs: http://snipurl.com/xg10b

Bacon Horseradish Deviled Eggs: http://snipurl.com/xg11b

Yummmmmmm!! 

inside bocado

Also worth mentioning: On the Blissful Glutton’s advice, I tried the Bocado hamburger + french fries for my lunch entree.  They were both were absolutely amazing!!  The hamburger was very similar to H+F’s mouthwatering 10:00 p.m. burger w/ its mixture of meats + double patties…but the fries!  OH, THE FRIES!  They were particularly incredible!  Not too greasy + tasted like soft baby potatoes.  (It was v. hard for me to share a bowl of them with my colleagues.)  Extremely hard. 

bocado burg

Thanks, BG for the excellent recommendation! 

I will definitely be back at Bocado soon for more deviled eggs, burgs – and to test out their creative tapas list!

xx, L

Bocado
887 Howell Mill Road
Atlanta, GA  30318
404.704.5850
www.bocadoatlanta.com

Cafe Agora - Buckhead

Upon arriving at Cafe Agora, Slick introduced me to Al and he slid two glasses of tap H2O in our direction.  I told Al that it was my first time at the Cafe, which had come highly recommended from Slick.  Without saying much, Al walked to the back and came out with a small maza plate of hummus, baba ganoush, ezme, kisir + piyaz and eggplant salad, as well as a small plate of spanakopita.  He sternly informed us that we had to finish everything on the plate if we wanted to eat dinner there.  (It didn’t take long for me to realize that this isn’t a man you want to argue with… ) Instead, I mentally prepared myself to ingest large quantities of Mediterranean food over the next hour and a half – whether I wanted to or not.

As soon as some more of our Eat Squad arrived, we sat down at the somewhat rickety, unassuming tables in the small restaurant and waited to order.  When the server approached our table, he brought over a large version of the maza plate w/ warm pita for the table to share – a nice welcome gift from our friend, Al.

Once we polished it off, the server took our orders.  Everyone except for Foodie Buddha and I got the Agora Mixed Grill (mixed plate of meats).  FB and I ordered the Gyro.  (Honestly, I didn’t really have a choice – I was told (or commanded may be the better word?) by Al to get it.)  Sure – whatever he says.

LISTEN TO AL!!  I loved it.  It was awesome.

I was concerned that the gyro was going to be fatty, but I seriously didn’t find an ounce of fat on it.  Instead, when I unwrapped the aluminum foil holding my huge gyro together, it overflowed with meat, lettuce, onions and tzatziki.  It was delicious, and I ate all of it.

Al brought over a large plate of pistachio baklava for dessert.  I thought that it was pretty greasy, but it was certainly tasty and we didn’t have a problem finishing it.

What a fun experience!  That’s really what it was – an experience.

Al isn’t for everyone – I will say that.  I’m not sure how my father would feel about Al forcing a forkful of food in his face…  And, I kind of think that Al arbitrarily makes up his own prices when you approach the register, which is more than a little eyebrow raising – frankly I’m not sure it’s even legal.  Regardless, I got a kick out of him, and the Cafe Agora gyro has been summoning me back ever since I left on Sunday.  I definitely recommend checking this place out, and please send Al my regards when you do.

xx, L

Cafe Agora
262 E. Paces Ferry Rd. NE
Atlanta, GA  30305
404.949.0900
www.cafeagora.com/index.htm

Here’s the Q+DD:

What:  American Apparel’s Factory Flea Market Sale!

Where:  Atlantic Station, 20th Street + Fowler, Atlanta, GA  30363

When:  10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Cost:  FREE ENTRY!  All sales are final.  Cash and all major cards accepted.

Other important scoop:  Tens of thousands of your favorite styles up to 85% off.  Men’s + women’s wear, plus California Select vintage pieces.  Prices starting @ $1 – nothing over $25!

More information + RSVP:  Click here!

I won’t be able to make it, however, as I have an all-weekend appointment to relax in a lawn chair on the beach in Ponte Vedra w/ Slick’s family.  (Love them!)  Grab some good sales for me, though! 

see you this weekend, PVIC!

ANDDDDD…You’re welcome.  Happy bargain-hunting! 

xx, L