Feeling Famous in the Hall of Fame

With the holiday break right around the corner, most of us are planning out what we can do when our loved ones come to visit us. Sure, there's the inevitable shopping trips and family meals, but what do you do when the food is all cleaned up, and the Big Game isn't on TV yet? 

Last weekend, my cousin came into town for the annual Georgia Tech-Clemson bout, and I was faced with the same question and wanted to make sure she had a great time on her visit. Luckily, I had earmarked a page from the paper from months ago, about the new College Football Hall of Fame, so we were set with a fun place to go!

Located in downtown Atlanta right by Phillips and the Dome, the College Football Hall of Fame relocated from South Bend and our beloved Fighting Irish back in August, and the new location just couldn't be cooler. It's an entirely interactive experience, anchored around the "all access" badge you receive when you walk in. Pick your team, and go explore! 

The entrance hall is pretty awesome alone. The helmets on the walls light up with a blue light as you pick your team. I picked Georgia Tech, Brad picked Auburn, and Erin picked Clemson. Then, as you walk through the museum, the badge is automatically picked up by the displays, and you get served up custom college content. Here's Brad checking out the interactive screen of Auburn videos and photos: 

And then right down the way on the same big screen, a section lit up to show me some Georgia Tech content. My favorite was watching the Ramblin' Wreck enter the stadium with the team :)

This museum is super-connected. If you participate in any of the interactive demos, the video and photos are tracked on your badge, and everything gets sent to your email address when you leave. So, in case you are wondering, YES, you can re-live that moment when you accidentally signed up for Fight Song Karaoke in front of the entire. freaking. room. of. people. and then had to sing and clap. Yep.

Goodness. Gracious. But if I can do it, so can you. #GoJackets #noshame #sorryimnotsorry What team would you sing a fight song for aloud, no questions asked? :)

In addition to the interactive content, there is just SO much to read and explore on your own in over two floors of museum displays. History, legends and traditions in college towns across the nation. Spotting your favorite college throughout is pretty easy, since most big NCAA schools seemed to be represented.



One last BB tip: GO SEE THE MOVIE. It is, in one word, AMAZING. I got chills and nearly teared up. If you are a sports fan, you are going to love it.

Happy Holidays, all, enjoy your Thanksgiving! And, Go Jackets, and War Eagle! 

Disclosure: I didn't receive any compensation from the CFB Hall of Fame for this post. We just had an amazing time, and I wanted to share this with you all!

Giveaway: Cirque du Soleil Amaluna

Part of my favorite part of living in the suburbs is the peace and quiet we have nearly at all times. This morning, a bird chirping woke me up. A bird. What has happened to me? I used to sleep through helicopters whizzing overhead, honks of cars on the nearby roads and the beeps of trucks backing up our high-rise driveway. Now? It's birds. Oh, and the school bus engine idling up the street at 6:42AM, every weekday morning. That's only if I am snoozing much past my alarm and not already walking out the door with this new commute :)

A part of me will always live in the city, though, and I just can't stay away for too long :) I still work in town, and most weekends, I am in town for something, whether it's hanging with friends, or checking out the big game (don't get me started on our Jackets this year, though. Sigh).

This past weekend, it was Cirque du Soleil that drew me into town, to the blue and yellow tents at Atlantic Station. We put on our matinee outfits, grabbed a quick pint next door at Meehan's, and strolled in for the Sunday afternoon show of Amaluna.

Side note: Isn't it amazing how quickly the Cirque du Soleil show seems to set up when they come to town? Those tents go up seemingly overnight, even though in reality, it takes eight days to set up, and three to take down, all via a team of 85 people. Either way, it always makes me think of that opening scene in Dumbo with the men singing as they raise the big top :)

     ATLANTA, GA- OCTOBER 2: The cast of Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna performs during a dress rehearsal for the show. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing)

Copyright:2014 Pouya Creative/Allied Integrated Marketing

Amaluna was a fantastic experience. First of all, the vibe under the tent is awesome. The crowd sits really close to the stage, all 2,600 of us, and the seats go probably three-quarters of the way around the stage. That means that there is not a bad seat in the house! If you want to see the action really up-close, you can grab seats up front. Or, you can sit a bit further back to get some amazing full-picture views of everything going on. On top of that, there are circular parts of the stage that revolve so that everyone can see everything from every angle.

One of my absolute favorite parts was the band. I noticed a big part of the show was made up of female performers. I found out later that my hunch was right -- the cast is 70% female! The band was all-female, and they brought out the electric cello for a number of the great ballads. I am a cellist myself, so of course I loved it! I always thought it'd be cool to play the electric cello. This woman rocked it. Seeing a show that's a self-titled tribute to the voice and power of women was empowering in and of itself.

     ATLANTA, GA- OCTOBER 2: The cast of Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna performs during a dress rehearsal for the show. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing)

Copyright:2014 Pouya Creative/Allied Integrated Marketing

From the costumes to the acts, the show was wonderful. Just wait 'til you see what this performer does with the pile of sticks at her feet!

     ATLANTA, GA- OCTOBER 2: The cast of Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna performs during a dress rehearsal for the show. (Photo by Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing)

Copyright:2014 Pouya Creative/Allied Integrated Marketing

Have you been to a Cirque du Soleil show before? What was your favorite memory? How about going to see Amaluna while they are in town? If you are game ... I have tickets to give away right here, y'all! So, get your raffle entry on because I am going to pick a winner later this week! First, read on to learn a bit more ...

About Cirque du Soleil 

Celebrating its 30th Anniversary in 2014, Cirque du Soleil brings a new show to Atlanta. Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Amaluna's Tony Award-winning Show Director, Diane Paulus, drew from a series of classical influences when creating the concept of the show -- including tales from Greek and Norse mythology, Mozart's The Magic Flute, and Shakespeare's The Tempest. Now playing under the famed blue-and-yellow Big Top at Atlantic Station until November 30, 2014, great seats start as low as $35.  

Ticket Giveaway Details

I have four (4) tickets to give away to lucky readers for the Wednesday, November 5th show of Amaluna, at 7:30PM. Ready to win?! Be sure to enter your info in the below form! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Not so lucky on the giveaway? 

Buy discounted tickets here, thanks to Amaluna. Take advantage of this offer and buy four tickets for the price of three. Bring the whole family, or all the gals - and enjoy the show! 

Disclosure: I received two free tickets to the Amaluna show in exchange for this post. However, all opinions are my own! Thanks to Amaluna and Cirque du Soleil for the great afternoon! 

Laughs for Ladies Nights

As we have all continued to grow up since our early days of entry-level jobs and internship projects, our PR Girls crowd has gotten more refined in our get-togethers. And by refined, I really mean, simplified.

Early days of happy hours at local restaurants shifted to our single girl apartments, where the wine flowed cheaper and we tried out new appetizer recipes. Now, we have shifted things to our homes, while the husbands are tossed out for the night. Fancy appetizers have given way to quick runs past the store for prepared hummus and chips to add to a few "semi-homemade" treats (since we all know that the wine is the true star!).

We don't go out for PR Girls nights very often anymore. Every so often, though, we break habit and head out onto the town. A girl's gotta live it up every once in a while, after all! Plus, it's fun to throw on some heels and sparkles and have a true ladies night.

We did just that a few weekends ago, ditching the men and hitting up our former stomping grounds over at East Andrews. We weren't heading out for a crazy late night at the bar, however. Or at least, not totally :) We went to have a few good laughs at the Atlanta Improv Theater! 

About the Improv: Founded by Budd Friedman in New York in 1963, many know the Improv from the A&E show “An Evening at the Improv”. Over the decades, the talent who has played center stage include Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Jamie Foxx, Adam Sandler and Dave Chappelle, to name a few. Today, the Atlanta Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theatre hosts national touring comics with up to five shows per week.

The comedians that performed the night we attended definitely brought the laughs. The headliner act was my favorite. Ryan Singer had a fun blend of topics that appealed to the mixed audience there that night -- something that's important to me. I enjoy comedy, but don't want to hear raunchy or off-color jokes all night. I like it when a comedian can read the audience, and blend jokes together, from witty to raunchy with a little silly throw in.

One thing to note for your visit is that the Improv has a full food and drink menu. There is a two drink minimum (not hard for us to hit that, ha) and then the food comes from fellow Andrews Entertainment District restaurants, including Stillhouse, Cellar 56, Czar Bar and Stout. Good to know in case you are combining dinner and entertainment for date night at the 8PM show, or have a case of late night munchies at the 10PM show. We stuck with easy champagne and wine, but the full bar looked promising, too.

All in all, it was a great change of pace for the night! We finished out with late drinks at the bar downstairs, part of the old East Andrews -- pretending to be 22 again, but smart enough now to know that the easiest way to head home on a late Friday night is to call Uber ;)

More info: 
56 East Andrews Drive NW Atlanta, GA 30305
(678) 244-3612
www.theimprovatlanta.com

Disclosure: I was compensated with tickets for the Improv, but all opinions here are my own. 

Holiday Libations

Tonight, I am hosting the Fourth Annual Girls Night Cookie Exchange at the condo. To say I am excited is an understatement. I have been thinking about this for weeks, and it's finally here!

While I will be making a special mulled wine for the ladies tonight, I think we all appreciate a good beer here and there, too, and especially at the holiday season. That's why TAP 1180's upcoming beer dinner caught my eye. Sweetwater beer paired with an awesome seasonal menu? I love it! 

Photo via TAP website

Check out the menu: 

420 + Seared New Bedford Scallop
Fennel puree, grapefruit bubbles, cucumber & mache

BROWN + Adam's Gnudi
Rosewood farm's Billy ragout, crushed pecorino, olive oil

LowRYEder + Curried Chicken & Sweet Potato "Pot Pie"
Springer Mountain Farms Chicken, coconut curry, sweet potatoes, flakey pie crust

Exodous + Roasted Venison Loin
Caramelized parsnips & carrots, sprout leaves, date and coffee puree, coriander jus

Festive Ale + Chocolate & Banana Éclairs
Chocolate ganache, banana custard, crushed macadamia nuts, banana chips

Nom nom nom. My nearest and dearest know that 420 is my go-to beer of choice (lo be the day that I don't live within Sweetwater distributor regions ... they just MUST expand nationally by then!), but any Sweetwater is good by me. 

This special dinner at TAP will be held next week, Tuesday, December 18th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 per person, all inclusive ... not a bad deal for five courses plus beers! I think this would make an excellent "holiday gift" for that special someone if you are still early in the dating spectrum  -- no need to stress over finding that perfect gift. 

Happy Eating (and Drinking!)!

Disclosure: No connection to TAP -- just wanted to share a great deal! 
 

The After: Cirque du Soleil

Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated
Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

You guys.

Last weekend, we had the chance to go see the latest installment of Cirque du Soleil, TOTEM. I had never seen a Cirque show before, but now, I can't wait to see their next installment.

It was SO GOOD. 

We were first wowed by the size of the signature Big Top tent once we got inside. You would never know once inside that you are sitting in stands on top of a blacktop parking lot like the one at Atlantic Station. The Big Top encompasses a huge area and includes multiple full-service bars, concessions stands and vendors selling TOTEM merchandise. The vibe was that of an upscale traveling show -- but one where you can relax with a glass of wine while watching the act. My kind of entertainment, indeed!

Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

Hands down, our favorite act were the girls on the unicycles. They pedaled out one by one, ten feet plus in the air, which at first I thought was the main feat. Nope! They then took what had appeared to be a "hat" off their heads, revealing a stack of bowls.

Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

The girls continued to pedal around, and then stopped and flipped the bowls from one foot to their head, or the head of the ringleader or their neighbor, all while balancing on their unicycles. The crowd ate it up -- it was just amazing!

After the show, we also were invited to attend a special backstage tour. Some of the actors were stretching out on huge gymnastics mats while others rushed to change clothes and head off to their hotel in Midtown to relax for the rest of the night. Our tour guide told us that every show is recorded and sent back to HQ for review -- the costumes and acts are watched from every angle just in case anything needs to be tweaked before the next show. Their attention to detail makes a difference; the show's costumes and decor was flawless that night.

All in all, I absolutely loved Cirque du Soleil. Our tour guide said that usually people love the first show they attend the most, and I am up to the challenge to see if that is true -- I can't wait to go to another one! It's neat to think about how each show is completely custom and brand-new; no Cirque du Soleil production is the same as the next.

So tell me: Have you gone to see TOTEM yet? The show will be in town until Sunday, December 30, 2012. Grab your tickets, if you haven't already, and let me know what you think about the show!

About Cirque du Soleil
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Disclaimer: I was provided a pair of press tickets for the show, however, all opinions are my own.

Flying Through the Air

I just turned on the TV to get a little down time this evening, and what is on but Wall-E, one of my favorite recent Disney/Pixar flicks. I simply adore how Wall-E introduces himself to all of the other robots and slowly "wakes up" the humans on the ship. When he and Eve fly through space, it is like magic, and it makes me so happy :)

This coming weekend, I will get to witness some flying similar to Wall-E's in person, because I am getting to attend my first ever Cirque du Soleil show here in Atlanta!! 

The dress rehearsal for Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM at Atlantic Station, 2012.
Credit: Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

Here's a little bit about the show, TOTEM:

TOTEM traces the fascinating journey of the human species from its original amphibian state to its ultimate desire to fly. The characters evolve on a stage evoking a giant turtle, the symbol of origin for many ancient civilizations.

Inspired by many founding myths, TOTEM illustrates, through a visual and acrobatic language, the evolutionary progress of species. Somewhere between science and legend TOTEM explores the ties that bind Man to other species, his dreams and his infinite potential.

Fun! I have heard that the Cirque du Soleil shows are always a creative experience, and it sounds like this one will be no exception. This show world-premiered in Montreal in 2010, and has been traveling the world ever since. This TOTEM “hybrid show” is the first Cirque du Soleil Big Top show to be created in such a way that it can be adapted to the reality of arenas and other venues from the very outset.

Anyone driving by Atlantic Station when Cirque du Soleil is in town can't help but notice the show site off to the right of the stores. Their mobile village includes the distinguishable blue and yellow Grand Chapiteau (or Big Top, which can seat 2,600!), an artistic tent, box office, kitchen, school, offices, warehouses and more. Completely self-sufficient for electrical power, the site relies only on a local water supply and telecommunication facilities to support its infrastructure.

The dress rehearsal for Cirque du Soleil's TOTEM at Atlantic Station, 2012.
Credit: Pouya Dianat/Allied Integrated Marketing/Cirque du Soleil

Every time Cirque du Soleil has come to Atlanta in the past, I seem to miss it. One thing leads to another, time flies past and their big yellow and blue tents at Atlantic Station come down before I know it. This year, that isn't going to happen! We are having a special date night out on Friday before the busy holiday season begins and I can barely wait.

You, too, can check out the show this year, which will be in town until Sunday, December 30, 2012. What's more, due to popular demand, six performances have been added to the Atlanta engagement; 8 pm performances on December 19, 20, 26 and 27 as well as 4 pm performances on December 21 and 28.

I will be back next week with a bit more about the show, including what we learn on a behind the scenes tour! In the meantime, grab up tickets, if you haven't already, and I will see you under the Big Top!

About Cirque du Soleil
From a group of 20 street performers at its beginnings in 1984, Cirque du Soleil is a major Québec-based organization providing high-quality artistic entertainment. The company has 5,000 employees, including more than 1,300 artists from close to 50 different countries. Cirque du Soleil has brought wonder and delight to more than 100 million spectators in more than 300 cities in over forty countries on six continents. Cirque du Soleil International Headquarters are in Montreal, Canada. For more information about Cirque du Soleil, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com.

Disclaimer: I have been provided a pair of press tickets for this weekend's show, however, all opinions are my own. 

Past and Present

As this little old blog has grown in readership, I have had lots of opportunities to explain the background of its name to my new visitors and followers. Those of you local to the Atlanta area are of course hip to the "Buckhead Betty" phrase and all that the "Buckhead" word means, but to outsiders, our little neighborhood is not much more a span of blocks within the gigantic metropolis of ATL. And while I can sum up why I love living here in a single blog post, there is a ton of history that even I don't know all about yet, all these years later.

Luckily for all of us, tourists and locals alike, the Atlanta History Center has us set. They are hosting a new series of history lessons made just for adults. They are combining the past with pints ... of beer!

From their website:

Huzzah!  We’re pumped to tell you about a new monthly event designed to introduce you to the history of Atlanta… We think the name says it all - Party With the Past: Free History, Cold Beer. This free history series will take place at a different historic spot in the city each month. Here at the AHC, history is our passion, and we hope this event series will be a great way to introduce people to Atlanta, our museum staff, and famous Atlantans (alive and dead).

Fun! Luckily for us, this month's topic is all about Buckhead, and how our neighborhood got its name. This preview video pokes a little fun at our uppity area and also hints at our true background:

Who wants to join in with me for the event coming up in a few weeks? This sounds intriguing, and how can you go wrong with a happy hour that also educates?! You can RSVP for the event here on their website. Let me know if you decide to attend. I am planning on being there because, after all, no Betty can be TOO prepared for a pop history quiz ;)

Uber Polished

Another weekend flew past and another one is already quickly approaching. Over each of these two day breaks this past month, I have been spending more time outdoors than in (as witnessed by my slowing blog post schedule of late!) and really living up the fall weather. This past weekend, I managed to jam in a football game day, a run, outings on the town, a couples brunch with friends, leisurely drives around town AND some alone time just for me, all in a span of two days. That, I say, is a successful weekend spent :)

Game Day at Georgia Tech! It was chilly in the shade - a gorgeous day!!

During all that weekend craze, I was MORE than excited to learn about a really cool new service that is UBER cool and UBER Buckhead Betty on a Budget. It's call Uber (get it, ha) and it is a black-car limo service that gives you a private driver experience through iPhone, SMS, and web based requests. A super cool technology start-up, Uber connects regular people like me with a network of professional town car and limo drivers that are in between their own professional gigs.

For those of you who use taxis with friends while out on the town, you are going to love this. Forget waiting on hold with Yellow Cab for an hour on a busy Friday night. Uber hooks you up almost instantly, and it's about the same price as a cab fare for a group, once you take into account the per-head charge that most cab companies use. Uber starts with a base fare of $7 in Atlanta, then per-mile or per-minute charges after that, depending on the speed of traffic.

Here's how Uber works: You download the app to your phone, which will prompt you for basic information, including your phone number and credit card.

Tip: if you don't happen to have an iPhone or an Android, you can head to m.uber.com and type in your address. You can also text an address and city to UBR-CAB (827-222).

Then you just move the map around to select a pick-up spot. 

Once you have selected a pick-up spot, Uber dispatches the nearest driver to pick you up, and you'll receive a text with the estimated arrival time. When the car arrives, you'll get another text. When we chose to use Uber on Saturday night to head from Midtown to Buckhead, we only had to wait about ten minutes (the perfect amount of time to close out our bill), and then the limo pulled right up to us.

After the ride, Uber will automatically charge the credit card you have on file. There's no need to hand your driver any payment, and the tip is included. That was clutch for us, since we didn't have cash on hand, which is always a gamble with taxi cabs in Atlanta. Some of them are credit card-friendly, and others are not. Raise your hand if you have had to stop past an ATM while you've been in a taxi before (me!).

Our fare for a group of four from Midtown to Buckhead, business to business, was around $35, tip included. A taxi for the same would have been about the same, but with no predictability on pick-up time and sometimes, no availability at all!

On top of that, Uber looked so cool that we totally fooled a bunch of music artists that were hanging out in front of the restaurant in Buckhead where we were headed. They thought we were "somebody" just like they were with their Bentleys and Range Rovers -- ha! Nope, sorry guys. I am just another Buckhead Betty. But with Uber, you'd never know I was also "on a budget" too :)

Atlanta friends, you can find out more about Uber on their site. Uber is also available in other cities around the country. Let me know if you try it! I can't wait to hear how much you like it, too.

Disclosure: I was in no way compensated for this post. I just discovered Uber and loved it, and wanted to spread the word! Thanks, Drew, for sharing this awesome service with us!

More Pizza Love

You can take a girl out of Jersey, but you can't take the Jersey out of a girl. Or at least that is what I tell myself when I gorge myself on pizza whenever I have the opportunity.

Pizza is one of those things that I don't think I could ever give up. Even when I am behaving my best on WW or trying to drop a few pounds at the gym, a hot, cheesy pizza has me at hello, every. single. time. The only pizza I could care less about? The fast food/frozen variety. No thanks. Local NYC pizza shop? Hello, lover.

Last night we ventured out of the Buckhead bubble to try out a brandy new wood-fired pizza place down in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. Friends who live nearby, you are about to be sooo happy. Ammazza is opening up today, featuring Naples-style wood-fired pizzas with an amazing variety of toppings.

While Ammazza officially opens today, we were invited to join in for the pre-opening weekend to test out all of the goodies. Even as soon as we drove up, we knew this place was going to be a hit with the locals. I loved the building, inside and out. The middle of the restaurant features an amazing long table under original exposed ceilings and surrounded by original brick walls. I am a sucker for a converted office space turned hip restaurant! 

I also love any restaurant that provides views straight into the kitchen. The dining area overlooks a set of amazing brick ovens and a busy-working staff.

 

As if their space alone wasn't enough, Ammazza did not disappoint with their food. We tried the "Polpete," a meatball appetizer which must be someone's Italian grandmother's recipe, it was that good, and then scarfed down an entire pizza. Witness our choice:

 

We tried the restaurant's name brand pizza, the Ammazzare, which was covered in Vidalia onions, peppers, homemade sausage and house mozzarella. Holy cannoli, so good! (PS. we also had the cannoli. I, Katherine the Cannoli Lover, fully approve!)

 

Look! A rare blog sighting of the man. And he even asked to be included in today's post. He must have been smitten with the sausage and peppers pizza :)

 

I should also mention that the rest of their menu looked amazing. Here were some of the other pizzas that had my eye:

• CINQUE FORMAGGI: A white pizza with caprino, fior di latte, ricotta, romano and house mozzarella seasoned with extra virgin olive oil, fresh basil, cracked peppercorn and sea salt
• TERRA: A white pizza with wild mushrooms, house mozzarella, goat cheese, basil and truffle oil
• BOLOGNESE: Homemade meatballs and Italian sausage paired with house mozzarella, ricotta and fresh basil

Our verdict? Ammazza is an amazing addition to this neighborhood. If you are an Old Fourth Ward resident, or anyone who appreciates a good pizza like I do, you are going to want to make your way over. I love that they are catering also to the late-night crowds that populate this area (think: Sound Table and Church bars are just a few blocks down ...) and will be open until midnight Sundays through Thursdays and 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Their menu offers multiple vegetarian options, and their full bar is stocked with great local and international options, too. 

Let me know if you head over and what you think!

Ammazza

591-A Edgewood Ave. SE, Atlanta, GA 30312

404-228-1036

Disclosure: We were provided with a complimentary meal as part of this grand opening event, but all opinions are my own! Definitely try this place out :) 

 

Don't Forget: Cocktails in the Garden

As the summer winds down, there are a few weeks left of the fabulous Cocktails in the Gardens events over at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. I speak from many years of experience that these evenings are one of the best ways to spend a lazy late-summer evening with friends or loved ones! This has been one of my favorite no-brainer memberships to reinstate each year.

Buckhead Betty tip: Use your admission to go towards a year-long membership by stopping by the membership tables on your way out. You will pay for it in three visits, and the first one is already done! A dual-membership is even easier to pay off, and you get easy (and free) date ideas for a whole year, hooray!

Cocktails has been a PR Girls fav for years!
Note to self: don't stand next to the tall girls in photos ;)

The Cocktails events typically run through September, when they then switch into Scarecrows in the Gardens mode and serve up seasonal beers, instead. Equally as fun, but it gets cooler at night pretty quickly, so stop by in September in order to enjoy the last few warm evenings :)

Get more info for your visit here: http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/ 

Note: I did not receive any compensation in exchange for this mention. I just love this place and want to share the info with you, reader friends! 

Little Yays

As my mind has been slipping all over the place recently, from football tailgate recipes to wedding plans to the usual chores and food shopping lists, sometimes, it's the little things that make one day stand out from another day.

Last week, a tweet did just that for me. A fellow PR gal and friend, Amanda, gave me a shout to let me know that, by golly, I had been featured in the latest Jezebel Magazine!

Jezebel is a local Atlanta magazine featuring everything that's hot and happening around town. I love them for their social event pictures (note to self: go to more of those!) and they always interview cool locals like restauranteurs and up-and-coming celebs.

I just can't believe that I have been featured in there too, now!

Jezebel featured me in their "Tweet Elite," a section that highlights folks around town with fun-to-follow Twitter accounts. This issue, though, the "Tweet Elite" are all "uber-stylish Atlantans" to follow "for the latest fashion 411." Yay! How flattering!! :)

And this is the fun write-up they did for me, along with their handpicked tweet from my Twitter account:

Maybe my mind wandering isn't just a recent trend? ;) 

Thank you so much, Jezebel Magazine, for featuring me! I am honored, and you totally made my day week month!!

 

New to the Neighborhood

Being in Buckhead for over four years now has allowed me to see a lot of places come and go. Little boutiques open and then shut because they are located on a horrible corner. Old standbys move locations and succeed even more, like Fado did around the corner. New restaurants open to critical acclaim, old favorites close after management decides to retire. It's just the way of the world, and when you live somewhere long enough, you start to really notice each individual change.

There's a new addition to the Buckhead neighborhood that I hope will be staying around for a long, long time. Last night I was lucky enough to be invited to the soft-opening of a brand new bakery on Lenox Road. Mae's Bakery opens today, and features cupcakes, croissants, cookies and a full coffee bar, making it a great new spot for you and the gals, or you and your wife, or you and the kids to head for a little sweet something-something.

Beth, the fabulous owner and momma to Mae herself (who is a cute little girl of six or seven), loved making others happy through baking so much that she has decided to take that big step and open up her own shop. Nothing better than that - go Beth! I think this is so awesome. Even better, though, is that her sweet and sugary concoctions are fabulous. Check out this display case.

I relaxed last night with a crazy-good s'mores cupcake that had a graham cracker base, a marshmallow topping and a piece of chocolate sitting right up on top.

And then I may have brought some home to "share" and maybe ate another half of a Banana Chocolate Chunk cupcake.

Note: and to top it off, I skipped this morning's run as a result, oh my! ;) 

What I really enjoyed about Mae's Bakery is that it's tucked away in that quaint little strip on Lenox Road in between Lenox Mall and Buford Highway. I have driven past there so many times, looking longingly over and wondering how nice it must be to be able to walk across the street from your highrise home to grab a drink and a bite to eat. Now, those same residents can walk across for a sweet bite at Mae's!

And I might be altering my commute to/from work a bit to make sure I can stop in more, too :)

Thanks, Beth and Mae, for inviting me to stop by! The cupcakes were great (and note: they were my only compensation for this post, ha! ;) )