I breezed through the first two books and the first two Swedish movies.  The characters are so interesting and well-developed.  The plot is addictively, intricately detailed and twisty.  I couldn’t wait to see the American-made movie version of the first book over X-mas…

And, it was more than I could have EVER hoped for!  The movie was totally chilling, pretty true to the book, and the acting was spot on perfect.  I’ll say it – I’m kinda obsessed with Rooney Mara.  What a badass!  (I’ve decided it’s okay to use profanity to describe her.  See the movie and you’ll agree.)

Inspired by the American GWTDT movie, I’ve recently started the third book in the series: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest.  (I was saving it because I didn’t want the series to end…)  = ADDICTED.  I love that it picks up right where the 2nd book left off.  I. Can’t. Put. It. Down.  I’m not sleeping at night.  I’m not kidding.

Read it.  See the movie.  (Pass on the Swedish ones if you’re not a hardcore fan.)

Stieg Larsson: You were brilliant.  Thank you so much for the hours and hours of addictive entertainment.  R.I.P.

xx, L

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

We’re getting our pre-party on + are heading to Piedmont Park really soon!

See y’all there!  EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!! 

xx, L

Homegirl is making it a little harder to defend my love for this show.  But...I do love it.

xx, L

Shabby chic and super glam featuring celeb sightings, free cocktails and WiFi? Yes, please.

And the star of TV Guide’s new reality series, The Nail Files!

Produced by The Jersey Shore’s creators, The Nail Files will follow blonde bombshell Katie, Walter Afanasioff, the Grammy®-winning love of her life (Not to be gauche, but You. Should. See. Her. Ring.), her growing business…and everything that comes with the trio.

I was so super psyched to sit down with Katie and discuss some very pressing issues: eco-friendly nail products, Big A$$ rings, “Crusty Troll Feet” and other important things of that nature.

Ok, so first things first: homegirl was in town as the inaugural stop on her country-wide tour…in a big ol’ mobile spa.  Check it:

Katie with her bus... parked in 'phretta!

And let me just tell you - Katie is amazeballs. I loved everything about her.  She’s originally a small-town girl with whose big aspirations and desire to succeed landed her in the major leagues…  and she’s passionate about pretty feet.  She says, “if you sound like you’re tap dancing, and your feet are bare…that’s a problem.”

She let me in on her biggest pet peeve, “Valet Feet.” You know- when you’re waiting for your car at the valet, and you look down and you see a woman in couture and Louboutins… with busted feet.  You know you’ve witnessed it: bird-like feet. Katie says, “Nobody wants to see you perch.  Grody.” I couldn’t agree more.

Ick.

Also on the hit list: Acrylics.  She tells me, “I want to start a group called Acrylics Anonymous – make that available to everyone” to help wean these ladies off their pink and whites to something more modern.

No. Just no.

It was at this point when I realized that Katie and I were kindred spirits. I got the lowdown on her upcoming line of eco-friendly products (including a “shimmer cream” and organic sugar scrub!), and…of course – what she selected for her own nails:

A gel layer (to hold the polish) and Malibu Dreams on her hands

And “Electric Blue” (named for Debbie Gibson!) on her toes.

Katie's actual tootsies.

The Nail Files premieres on the ever-evolving TV Guide channel on Tuesday 06/21 at 10:00PM EST and since I am obviously obsessed with this woman… I can’t WAIT for her show.

In the meantime, you can catch Katie and her mobile spa on tour on the following schedule:

Boston: Wednesday, May 25
Philadelphia: Saturday, May 28 and Sunday, May 29
Cleveland: Saturday, June 4
New York: Monday, June 13, Tuesday, June 14, and Wednesday, June 15
Los Angeles: Tuesday, June 21, Wednesday, June 22, and Thursday, June 23
Las Vegas: Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26
Phoenix: Wednesday, June 29
Houston: Sunday, July 3 and Monday, July 4

I’m looking forward to seeing Katie, her fabulous staff, her high-powered man (who is so involved that he was once mistaken for the janitor!) and celebrity clientele go from manic… to manicured!

Catch ya on Tuesdays at 10!

xx, L

The Family Dog, located directly across the street from Rosebud, offers creative, farm-to-table pub cuisine + an innovative fare of handcrafted beers and cocktails. 

We all know who Ron Eyester is, right?  Or at least heard about his Twitter handle: The Angry Chef.  I’m assuming so, but if not, catch up on your Atlanta chef-related social media scoop here: Ron’s angry at you…that’s right, YOU.

ron eyester

While Ron may regard his tweets as comical or witty, Slick and I often find them pretty offensive.  Both of us follow him on Twitter + I’ll admit that we will chuckle every so often, BUT while recently dining at The Family Dog, we asked ourselves how we’d feel if Ron was tweeting about one of our mothers altering the preparation of her order or asking for the kitchen to substitute something.  His tweets were no longer all that funny. 

We understand what he’s trying to do – drawing attention to the ”absurdities” that happen every day in the restaurant industry, but whether he likes it or not he has chosen to enter the service industry AND the customer IS always right, right?? 

Ron’s tweets haven’t stopped me from going to Rosebud.  In fact, I dine there regularly.  I will say, though, that they never give me the warm fuzzies about the restaurant.  And, no matter how uncomfortable my server looks (and they always hesitate) when I order my usual (the Breakfast Bowl) and ask for the grape tomatoes to be switched out for sun-dried, I plan to continue to do it.  I may even do it tomorrow…

Soooooooooo, that’s all I have to say about that.  (If Ron gets to rant, I get to, too.)

Moving on to The Family Dog. 

Slick + I had ourselves a nice little Easter Sunday lunch on The Family Dog’s patio.  We watched Ron walk back and forth between his restaurants several times + assumed that both establishments were going to be very busy on the holiday.  And, good for them. 

On the patio, The Family Dog lists a number of rules for patio eaters to follow.  No doubt this is Ron’s restaurant…  I think the “no dogs within the patio area” rule is kind of silly for a place called The Family Dog, but I’ll admit that I’d rather see the house rules painted on the side of the building than commented about in a snarky tweet.

As we expected, our server was exceptionally knowledgeable about the menu + we very much enjoyed our meal.  To start, we ordered the Pimento Cheese w/ Spicy Saltines and practically licked the dish clean.  It was particularly refreshing while sitting on the patio on a warm day. 

Our lunch was on the earlier side for a Sunday, so we had to wait until the GA-approved time to order drinks.  When that time came, Slick selected a fancy beer + I ordered The Morningsider: Boodles gin, fresh squeezed lemon + Luxardo maraschino liqueur.  It was pretty much a basic Aviation + I enjoyed it.

Peeking out from the back of that photo you’ll see my entree, The Burger: it’s made with Riverview Farms beef + it only comes 1 way…  It didn’t have me doing cartwheels, but it was a solid burger.  Slick got the Peekytoe Crab Melt w/ White American & Pepper Jelly and he was very pleased with his order.

There are a number of menu items that I’d like to go back and try.  These all sounded particularly delicious to me:

Housemade Cheetohs (Of Course They Have Pork In Them)

“Billy Bob’s” Fried Bologna Sandwich w/ Pickles, Cheese + Crushed Fritos

Noodle Bowl w/ Smoked Chix, Vegetables, Hamhock-Shrimp Broth + Soft Poached Egg

Mussels Steamed in Beer w/ Serranos + Leeks

Korean Style Duck Quesadilla

Disco Fries w/ Marrow Gravy, Pickled Japs, American Cheese + Fried Egg

(And believe me, there are more.) 

The Family Dog is going to do well.  (Did I mention that I love its name?)  It’s a bar scene that I appreciate in The Highlands – more of a laid back feeling than that of the Emory students running around The Cavern + Highland Tap on the corner of Virginia and N. Highland Ave.  The food is good, very good, in fact.  And the large menu is sure to keep you coming back to try more + more of it.  I may not personally be down with Ron Eyester’s sarcastic/ pointedly rude comments about his paying customers who are currently dining in his restaurant and driving him nuts, but again, they’re not exactly keeping me away.

Try The Family Dog.  Just be sure to shut off your Twitter account before you sit down…

xx, L

The Family Dog
1402 North Highland Ave.
Atlanta, GA  30306
404.249.0180
www.thefamilydogatlanta.com

I didn’t post for an entire week + now I feel like there’s almost too much to update you all on and it’s not exactly stringing together clearly…  So bear with me, folks.  I’m just going to lay it all out there + make of it what you will. 

The weather is getting gorgeous, the hemlines are getting shorter + there are more and more reasons to play outside, try new restaurants + spring into summer!  (I feel like I just wrote an Old Navy commercial.)

Ready or not – here I go!  Wheeeee…..

Ms. Reynolds, Sayako + I recently recruiter summit-ed at Victory Sandwich Bar in Inman Park, which has been all over Urban Spoon, etc., and we really enjoyed it!

Pictured below are our sandwiches, all of which are meant to be eaten in multiples (i.e. you don’t order just one sandwich – they are small-ish) at only $4.00 a piece.

We tried the New Bomb Turkey: turkey, arugula, avocado spread + baconaisse; The Hambo: prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula, apple + reduced balsamic; and the Castro: slow-roasted pork, ham, fontina cheese + yellow mustard. 

I love this place for a casual lunch and strongly recommend trying it out!

Victory Sandwich Bar
280 Elizabeth Street
Atlanta, GA  30307
770.676.7287
http://www.vicsandwich.com/
Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.

Next up, Bloomingdale’s just started showing some gorgeous turquoise-y blue stone necklaces.  So cute for summer!  Here’s a shot of the one I bought on Monday.  It’s my new favorite accessory.

Moving right along…

On my Palm Springs/ L.A. flights, I started reading John Kennedy Toole’s “A Confederacy of Dunces.”  I will admit that I fall in love with most books I read + can’t put them down until they’re finished, and that remains the case with this Pulitzer Prize winner.  It’s so thoughtfully written and a great (albeit very wordy) read.  The story of how the book came to fruition after JKT’s suicide is super interesting, as well. 

Let’s talk food trucks.

Slick + I got tacos at Tex’s Tacos recently, the new food truck in Buckhead, which urbandaddy.com dubbed the “Antonio Banderas” of food trucks.  Cute.

Tex’s is a fully-equipped kitchen + restaurant on wheels serving up an array of “Nueva Texicana” eats w/ “style + grace.”

While I’ll admit that they weren’t the best tacos I’ve ever eaten, they did the job.  Tex’s will be a goldmine for late night Buckhead frat boys who need to cut through the alcohol a bit before stumbling into bed.  And it’s not just stationed in Buckhead, which is why food truckin’ is so exciting.  Check out Tex’s schedule here: http://www.texstacos.com/

Speaking of food trucks…  When I was in Palm Springs, the Nom Nom truck drove up from L.A. and I got to try it!  Not familiar w/ the famous Nom Nom truck?

It’s a L.A.-based mobile food truck specializing in Vietnamese food, especially banh mi.  Nom Nom was the runner-up in season one of the Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race.

Their food is RIDIC. 

On Easter Sunday, Slick + I had a date night at Ecco, one of my favorite Midtown restaurants to order up a load of small plates + drinks.  (Also, to potentially spot the Vampire Diaries cast…)

As usual, our meal was predictably delicious.  To accompany it, I ordered a glass of pinot gris.  Slick, however, ordered one of the most interesting cocktails I’ve ever seen.  Here’s the description of it from the menu:

ZAFARAN: Gabriel Boudier Saffron Gin, housemade Shindeldecker tonic + a custom icy hot cube will remind you that, while temptation is a reality, there are repercussions in all things we do.

It was so different and had a very special, unique flavor.  You guys have to try it!

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again.  I’m obsessed with mochi ice cream.  Recently, I’ve been satisfying my sweet tooth with an all natural strawberry flavor found at Trader Joe’s.  Um, yum!

Y’all, today is Thursday which means…

So, back to food trucks + street food.  Can we?  Thanks. 

My favorite Midtown Street Food Thursday vendor is definitely The King of Pops!

I get so excited when I see the Pops cart!  And you know who else does…

slick: king of the mountain (stone mountain, that is)

He LOVES KoPs!  Our favorite flavors are: Mexican Chocolate, Banana Pudding, Sea Salt Chocolate + Pineapple Ginger.  You must, must try a pop!

It really is perfect popsicle weather, too.  Speaking of perfect weather, I had it in California.  The entire week was truly gorgeous!  Although the main purpose of my trip was to meet Mrs. Wolkove’s adorable new addition to her family, I did have time to enjoy the outdoors when I went on a hike at Fryman Canyon Park located in the Santa Monica Mountains with Mrs. W’s madre.  The views were amazing + the workout was seriously intense.  I work out quite a bit in Atlanta, but I almost never go hiking.  I have to say that my legs were throbbing the morning after our hike.  If anyone knows of good hiking spots in Atlanta, please let me know. 

Even while hiking in the heat, my hair looked pretty perfect.  (OMG, what a bragger!)  But, I have to credit that to Daniel Carter at Mint Salon who does my 2-day keratin treatments.  (LK goes to Mint, too, for hers.)  Daniel is a fantastic stylists who has also started to do my cuts + color.  If you happen to be looking for a new stylist, I highly recommend Daniel!  Tell him you heard about him on the Q+DD!

Mint Salon
Stylist: Daniel Carter
404.724.9669
www.mintsalon.net

Since we’re focusing now on “maintenance,” I’m really looking forward to my spray tan today at RAW Organic Bronzing Studio.  (LK is a fan, too!)  I adore the owner, Tiffany Terranova, and have been very pleased with my tans!  They are made from 100% organic ingredients that are actually beneficial to the skin.  Read more about RAW Organic Bronzing Studio here: LK’s post about RAW.

And, RAW is conveniently located right next door to Victory Sandwich Bar in Inman Park!  Bringing it all together. 

Skipping around skipping around…

I’m in the market for a french press.  I drank french pressed coffee several times during my L.A. trip + don’t think I can go back to my Keurig any more.  It’s like two entirely different planets of coffee!  This Bodum one is pretty cute.  (Hint, hint.)

OH!  And isn’t this the most precious picture you’ve ever seen or what?!  Mrs. Wolkove, her one week old (who obv. cannot fit into those yet) + I all rock the glitter TOMS!  Love.

We’ll focus on this much more as it draws closer, but who’s pumped for the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival?! 

THIS event is going to be nothing short of incredible.  Can’t wait! 

More info here: Atlanta Food & Wine Festival

And finally (have I worn you out yet?), the Q+DD has some very special news to share!  One of our best readers, Jessica Gorman: Concierge at the Ritz Carlton – Buckhead, was featured in the newest edition of The Atlantan Magazine!

Click here to see the article mentioning Jess on page 36 of the new issue today!  (Reading Instructions for the Online Version: Click on the link mentioned in the previous sentence.  Type in page 36.  Full screen view + click magnifying glass to zoom in.  Silly technology…)  We are very proud of you, Jess!

So…did you get all that?!  It was pretty beastly.  (TWHS? Sorry, mom…)

There WILL be a quiz later.  It’s great to be back! 

xx, L

I make these all of the time.  They are super duper easy to put together (add egg + oil + water + mix) and yield 12 yummy fiber-packed muffins.  I really have no interest in taking the time + energy to make bluberry muffins from scratch, and these aren’t 1/2-bad for you, either.

Just don’t eat more than one at a time or they’ll give you a bit of a tummy ache.  (Take my word for it…)

You can pick up Fiber One premium blueberry muffin mix @ any local grocery store.  Happy fake-bakin’! 

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/

Sandy Springs Gun Club + Range
Invites You To Our Grand Opening Event!
Stop in and indulge in the ultimate shooting range experience

Saturday, November 13
11am – 6pm

Complimentary food and drinks

Specials and giveaways offered all day

Items being given away at our Grand Opening include the following:
Springfield XD9 9mm with Holster and Hag Holders
Sig Sauer P239 9mm with a level two Holster
Kel-Tec 32 32ACP

We want to give back on this special day, so we will be raising money on behalf of
Special Olympics Georgia.  Donations are welcome.

RSVP to events@premier-pr.com

I’m no stranger to guns, either…

Tom Lowe Skeet Range (2008)

Wolf Creek (2009)

(My dad is going to be so proud of this post…) 

I think it’s super fun to shoot every so often – although I have to admit that I’m a pitiful shot.  It’s kinda sexy, too, and now going to the shooting range is even more en vogue than ever before thanks to my favorite HIMYM character, Ms. Robin Scherbatsky:

It’s also incredibly therapeutic.  Seriously, it is. 

If you have time on Saturday, I recommend checking out the new Sandy Springs range.  If not, Tom Lowe is a public range that is intown + perfect for newbies to shooting! 

Fire away, ladies, fire away!

xx, L