17th South July/August 2018

MIDTOWN WESTSIDE VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND INMAN PARK GRANT PARK ANSLEY PARK REYNOLDSTOWN CABBAGETOWN OLD FOURTH WARD PONCEY-HIGHLAND MORNINGSIDE n

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JULY/AUGUST 2018 ISSUE 18 | FREE

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Authentic Living in the Heart of Atlanta

Brian Worley of Bold Catering & Design

Trendsetters

& TASTEMAKERS Meet seven Atlantans at the top of their industries, from fashion to filmmaking

Inside Grant Park's Social Goat B&B Beachy, blended cocktails for summer

Local, low-stress workouts to try now

WE ARE PROUD TO REPRESENT THESE BEAUTIFUL HOMES

ANSLEY PARK

MORNINGSIDE

155 The Prado NE, $1,075,000 4BR/3BA. FMLS: 6006536 RANDALL LOEHRIG, 404-234-9261

1106 McLynn Avenue, $899,000 3BR/2.5BA. FMLS: 6023924 BOYNTON & MYRICK, 404-323-2012

PLANTATION AT LENOX

MORNINGSIDE

24 Plantation Drive NE, $320,000 2BR/2.5BA. FMLS: 6027386 JARED DEAL, 770-356-7316

MIDTOWN

874 Piedmont Avenue NE, $1,299,000 5BR/4.5BA. FMLS: 6011493 CARTER & ASSOCIATES, 404-944-6577

just listed

1785 Noble Drive, $1,295,000 4BR/4.5BA. FMLS: 5981745 JEFF MASAREK, 404-314-1104

VIEWPOINT

1785 Noble Drive | Morningside

855 Peachtree Street NE, $899,900

by J E F3BR/3BA. FMASAREK FMLS: 6013962 Listed at $1,295,000

TIM MULLINS, 678-592-4996

INTOWN OFFICE

We love helping our clients find beautiful new homes. In fact, the Intown Office is excited to be moving into our own new home soon. If you are looking for a new home, please contact me today.

404.897.5558 | 1531 Peidmont Avenue, NE | Suite B | Atlanta, GA 30324 | HarryNorman.com/Intown LESLIE JOHNSON, Sr. VP/Managing Broker | 404.897.3462 | Leslie.Johnson@HarryNorman.com

COUPLE #2

COUPLE #1

HELP!

THESE COUPLES NEED A HOME!

This family of 4 currently lives in Decatur and have a grandparent who needs independent space. Aupair/inlaw suite is a must. They love older homes yet needs it to be updated as they are both busy physicians.

Which of these descriptions match yours or a friends home?

Who do you know? How can you help?

CALL OR TEXT ME!

Location: City of Decatur Size: 4 bedrooms / 3 baths (Minimum) Budget: Max $1,000,000

This couple is moving to Atlanta from Portland to be closer to their extended family.

They love the energy of the city and access to everything intown has to offer.

Location: South Buckhead, Midtown toward Decatur Size: 3 bedrooms / 2 baths – or 2 bedrooms with an office Budget: Max $1,000,000 Harry Norman, REALTORS® The Intown Office | 1531 Piedmont Avenue NE, Suite B | Atlanta, GA 30324 | Leslie Johnson, Sr. VP/Managing Broker | HarryNorman.com Information is believed to be accurate, but is not warranted. Offers subject to errors, changes, omissions, prior sales, and withdrawals without notice.

C. 770.630.6668 O. 404.897.5558 ButchWhitfield.com Butch.Whitfield @HarryNorman.com

There is no room at our tables for the expected.

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Experience Bar Margot at Four Seasons Hotel Atlanta with a new selection of inspired entrees that will make your dining neighbors jealous. We invite you to sit and be enthralled today.

Reserve your table at barmargotatl.com or call (404) 881-5913.

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CONTENTS JULY/AUGUST 2018 7 Editor’s Letter 9 LATEST

The newest restaurants, shops and other spots to arrive on the scene

Living 12 Shelter

Inside Grant Park's Social Goat B&B

15 People

So Refreshed founder Shakeera Springs

18 Wellness

Workouts without the stress

21 In-Town Escape

Augusta beyond golf

22 Out of Town

Napa Valley update

Culture

30

Indulge

Happening

28 Restaurant Review

43 Events

Taking a slice out of the Local Pizzaiolo

30 Liquids

32 Fresh Bites

Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival turns 10

Cover Story

26 Headliners

33 Trendsetters & Tastemakers

Atlanta Theatre Club's Rebeca Robles

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Beachy, blended cocktails

24 Creators

MIdtown jeweler Mark Edge

What to see and do when you’re off the clock

Meet seven Atlantans at the top of their game

JULY/AUGUST 2018

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Photos: Erik Meadows : 12, 30, 32, 33.

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P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355 n 17thsouth.com For advertising rates call: 404.538.9895 or email: advertising@17thsouth.com

Join the Movement!

JULY/AUGUST 2018 | ISSUE 18

Moving in the Spirit is an award-winning creative youth development program that uses the discipline of dance to help children and teens build the skills they need to thrive.

Dance Classes Performances Leadership Training Ages 3-18, Boys & Girls Beginner to Advanced REGISTER TODAY!

www.movinginthespirit.org Financial aid available.

Serving Midtown, Ansley Park, Morningside, Virginia-Highland, Westside, Old Fourth Ward, Inman Park, Poncey-Highland, Cabbagetown, Reynoldstown and Grant Park Brian Worley of Bold Catering & Design

Publisher and Founder

Cover Photo: Erik Meadows

Chief Financial Officer

Joanne Hayes Sonny Hayes

Editor-In-Chief

CONTRIBUTORS

Lindsay Lambert Day

Laurel-Ann Dooley WRITER

“Even though I was familiar with the cat cafe concept, Java Cats came as a surprise.

I’d expected the fully equipped cat lounge, but hadn’t anticipated a full-blown cafe for people! Not only can you meet the cats, you can hang out with a laptop, too!”

Creative Director

Alan Platten

Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Cheryl Isaacs

cheryl.isaacs@17thsouth.com

Senior Account Executive

Jeannine Blanco

jeannine.blanco@17thsouth.com

Account Executive

Bill Garst

bill.garst@17thsouth.com

Website Development Management

Muriel Vega WRITER

BHG Digital

"The powerhouses behind Brutal Studio are bringing so much creativity to the Atlanta arts scene. It's incredible to see this womanled team think outside of the box for in-town events. They really bring joy to my day with their work when I see their beautiful flower installations in unexpected places."

Director of Audience Development

Proud sponsor of

Lia Picard

Copy Editor

H.M. Cauley Contributing Writers

Karina Antenucci H.M. Cauley Juliette Cheatham Caroline Cox Laurel-Ann Dooley Jennifer Bradley Franklin Nicole Letts Katie McElveen Hope S. Philbrick Lia Picard Claire Ruhlin Muriel Vega Karon Warren Photographers

Erik Meadows Stephen Payne Proud member of

Graphic Designer

Layal Akkad

Legal Counsel

Scott I. Zucker

We welcome all contributions, but we assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. No portion of this publication can be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission.

Copyright © 2018 by 17th South®. All rights reserved. Printed by Walton Press, Inc. Distributed by Distributech and Distribution Services Group.

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ince our launch in June 2016, we've covered a wide range of topics in the pages of 17th South—

businesses, community leaders, style, food, drink, travel and entertainment, to name a few.

Without a doubt, our Trendsetters & Tastemakers issue, which has become a regular on our editorial calendar, has also become my favorite issue of the year. As I've previously said here in this same space, the number of deeply creative and thoughtful people who call Atlanta home never ceases to amaze me, and it's a thrill to introduce them to you each summer and to give you a glimpse behind the scenes at their offices, studios and more unconventional work places.

This year's cover story is no exception. To create it, five writers pulled back the curtains and took a look into the lives of six such individuals (seven, actually, as the creative force behind Brutal Studio is a duo) to find out what motivates them, what inspires them and what about their work they find most fulfilling. From producing glitzy, A-list events to making documentaries about human rights issues, this year's trendsetters and tastemakers are an especially inspiring group.

As much as I personally enjoy producing this feature each year, in reality, every issue of 17th South is a tribute to the smart, innovative and forward-thinking folks who make this city so special. People like Shakeera Springs, who gave up the corporate grind to launch her own passion project, an all-natural skin care line (page 15). And Mark Edge, a Midtown jeweler whose medium of choice is recycled materials (page 24). And Rebeca Robles, who's on a mission to make sure women's talents are showcased in the world of theater (page 26).

I hope you're as inspired by them all as I have been. Enjoy!

Lindsay Lambert Day  EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Find us online: 17thsouth.com

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@17thsouth

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TO 17TH SOUTH

For information, email us at advertising@17thsouth.com or call 404-538-9895

Welcome

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ife

YOUR GUIDE TO LIVING WELL IN ATLANTA

JULY/AUGUST 2018

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now open

OPENING SUMMER 2018

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taste

Bhojanic | Dantanna’s | Roots Juices | Seven Lamps

subscribe to our E-newsletter for exclusive happenings and invites!

ShopsAroundLenox.com

3400 Around Lenox Drive | Atlanta, GA 30326

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For reservations please call 404.844.4810

Latest OPENINGS & ARRIVALS | STORIES: Claire Ruhlin |

SCOOTER SURGE The future of public transportation is here, and it’s arriving in fleets

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ou’ve probably noticed more Atlantans traveling by scooter. That’s because Bird, an electric vehicle-sharing company, introduced its fleet of app-accessible, electric scooters to Midtown, as well as Tech Square, Downtown and the West End, in May. The dockless vehicle is meant to be used for short-distance travel

or during the “last mile” of your journey—distances too far to walk and too short to drive (think from MARTA to your destination). “While public transportation is great, it often doesn’t take you exactly where you want to go,” says Bird spokesman Kenneth Baer. “Adding more cars to the road is not the solution; they add to congestion and create more carbon emissions.”

The app will help you locate the Bird “nest” nearest to you. Just keep in mind that rides are only available from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., after which Birds are picked up for storage, charging and repairs. Nests can be found at private properties across the city, with three scooters per nest unless the property owner agrees to host more. One charge will get you 15 miles, and each scooter acceler-

ates up to 15 miles per hour.

Each ride is just $1 to begin, plus 15 cents for each additional minute. Riders must be at least 18 years old and upload a driver's license to the app before riding.

Bird will give $1 per vehicle per day to city governments to support more bike lanes and promote safe riding. n bird.co

JULY/AUGUST 2018

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Latest

OPENINGS & ARRIVALS

Industrial Revolution

Laid-back Luxury

West Midtown’s “creative flex space” offers lofty offices and plenty of parking West Midtown is booming, and Inland Tract, the latest revitalization project from developers Third & Urban and Granite Properties, is one of the latest examples of this resurgence. Formerly warehouse facilities, Inland Tract will occupy more than 70,000 square feet of former warehouse facilities and maintain industrial, mid-century features. Atlanta architectural firm Kronberg Wall is updating the development with modern touches to bring the buildings into the 21st century.

Lovely Bride brings “indie bridal” retail to Atlanta

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tlanta brides looking for a dress that sets them apart have a new (and Instagram-worthy) spot to dress shop. National franchise Lovely Bride opens its new, roughly 2,000-square-foot showroom in West Midtown’s Brickworks development this summer.

Lovely Bride was founded by fashion industry veteran Lanie List in 2010 in response to the abundance of traditional options in the bridal industry. Seventeen locations across the country later, the shop’s ethos remains the same: Shopping for a wedding dress should be fun, from the selection of gowns down to the atmosphere of each store and the personalized shopping experience.

Indeed, Lovely Bride carries an assortment of dresses from emerging designers and in a range of styles from bohemian to refined.

“Lovely Bride was the first indie bridal shop; there were no other stores like it, and we created a category,” says franchisee Emily Dantus, who owns Lovely Bride stores in Atlanta and Charleston.

At the Atlanta location, expect a selection of gowns and acces-

Going to the Dogs Patients find comfort with canines at Grady Health Systems’ new Dog Therapy Program

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hey say dogs are a man’s best friend, and this is particularly the case with Atlanta’s Grady Health System, which introduced the Grady Dog Therapy program to its specialty care options earlier this spring.

Research has shown that animals can provide an array of benefits to patients, from lowering blood pressure and improving recovery time to decreasing anxiety and helping

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maintain motor skills, says Lindsay Caulfield, senior vice president and chief experience officer at Grady.

“We’ve had so many patients say, ‘This just made my day,’” says Caulfield. “We’ve had nurses tell us their patients smiled for the first time or sat up on their own because of a visit with the dogs.

In several cases, we’ve had patients with severe traumatic injuries who were struggling and depressed find hope and determination after a visit. It’s truly remarkable.”

sories, some of which are exclusive to Lovely Bride, by designers from around the globe, such as Dear Heart, Emmy Mae, Jane Hill, Louvienne, Lovers Society, Made with Love, Studio Levana and Suzanne Neville. The store will also carry a range of plus-size samples by designers who specialize in curvy brides, such as Israeli designer Studio Levana. n lovelybride.com

Therapy dogs, affectionately nicknamed “furlunteers,” make rounds throughout the week based on a schedule, but they can also be specifically requested for certain patients. All dogs are certified through pet therapy organizations Pet Partners or Happy Tails, and both dogs and their owners, whom Grady calls VIPPs (Very Important Puppy Parents), go through extensive training to become therapy dogs and owners.

“Sometimes, when people have given up or are withdrawn, a dog can communicate with them in a way people can't,” says VIPP Elayne Miller.

“I can’t tell you how many times patients have literally cried and said the dogs have made their day,” adds Mary Webb, also a VIPP. “Dogs offer unconditional love. I also believe dogs have the extraordinary ability to sense things humans cannot. As soon as they walk in to a patient’s room, dogs can tell if a patient is in pain, stressed or anxious, and will immediately to offer comfort.” n gradyhealth.org/grady-furlunteer

Slated to reach completion in the fourth quarter of 2018, Inland Tract will primarily be comprised of lofty, modern office spaces with features including large windows, skylights and open-air courtyards.

In addition, the development plans to house showrooms or warehouse spaces for companies with a small retail footprint, as well as entertainment concepts, says Joseph Rogers, a partner at Wilson, Hull & Neal Real Estate, the company representing Inland Tract. “We envision this as being a lot of creative loft office types but with the ability to provide a small warehouse component, whether it’s a showroom or retail,” says Rogers.

Sited near Westside Provisions and the future BeltLine, the development will also provide ample parking, a feature Rogers says makes it a desirable office space for commuters as well as those who live in the area—especially as more young people are moving to the Westside. “It’s an easy commute where you don’t have to go to Midtown and navigate parking decks and more traffic,” Rogers says. “We’re seeing a transition of users who have typically been in Midtown proper and wanted to have a new feel for their office space—that open loft feel with convenient parking. West Midtown in general has had a good run with parking space.”

inlandtract.com

Living

SHELTER n PEOPLE n WELLNESS IN-TOWN ESCAPES n OUT OF TOWN

12 SHELTER

CREATURE COMFORTS

Photos: Erik Meadows

Fun with furry friends at the Social Goat B&B

JULY/AUGUST 2018

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Living

SHELTER

Creature Comforts A thoughtful renovation and a gaggle of furry, four-legged companions combine to create a comfortable guest house in Grant Park

Above: The yellow Queen Anne Victorian home sits on a verdant lot in Grant Park.

Below: Goats and turkeys are among the animals that call the Social Goat home.

| STORY: Muriel Vega | | PHOTOS: Erik Meadows |

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t the end of the driveway of the Social Goat Bed and Breakfast on a tree-lined street in Grant Park, a three-story yellow Queen Anne Victorian home reveals itself.

Kristy Smith, owner of the Social Goat B&B, painstakingly renovated the property to reflect her love of vintage style.

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In 2004, current owner Kristy Smith purchased the property, which, she says, was originally built in 1900 and was meant to house 13 children.

After Hurricane Ivan came through that fall, Smith and her partner, Paul, gutted and renovated the home, structurally modernized its interiors and highlighted Smith’s affinity for vintage style, all while maintaining the original character.

“Disassembling a house allows you to reimagine its purpose,” Smith says.

In doing so, the couple moved the

stairs from the front of the home to the back, where they led to a thenunfinished attic. To the new staircase, Smith added a triple stained-glass window that injects soft, natural light into the space. The unfinished attic was then remodeled to create the third-floor suite that includes a private bath, a queen and two twin beds, a sitting area and a separate workspace.

“Initially we moved in and started to decorate with our taste in mind and an appreciation for vintage accents and antiques to go with the

11-foot ceilings,” says Smith. During the renovation, the couple complemented the signature moldings and high ceilings with solid wood furniture they found at antiques auctions.

The mostly large-scale pieces are “not only beautiful, but functional,” says Smith, adding that each room of the house is outfitted with a combination of oversized, antique furniture and “something personal that I either grew up with, or that came from a loved one and reminds me of them.”

Another personal touch, and one

Left: The Master Suite displays Kristy Smith’s love of large, antique furniture and vintage style.

Below: Smith serves homemade breakfasts to her guests at a long table in the dining room.

Above: Antique furniture and vintage accents appear throughout the bed and breakfast.

that ultimately led to the property’s unusual name, was the addition of the five goats that roam its grounds— a nod to her partner’s upbringing on a farm surrounded by the animals.

Pleased with the results of their renovation and the home’s refreshed style, in 2011, Smith decided to make use of the extra, empty rooms by opening them for bookings.

They set up a listing online and, within 24 hours, had a handful of reservations for the next week.

Since then, the bed and breakfast has welcomed 15,000-plus guests.

“The Social Goat was born out of building a business on things we enjoy,” says Smith, who relishes the memories guests have made while staying at the house.

Today, the property comprises three structures, all of which are available for bookings: the main house, whose first floor is where Smith lives and whose second and third floors house guest rooms

and suites with private baths; a onebedroom carriage house with 114-yearold pine floors, located behind the main house; and, across the street, a standalone, two-bedroom abode Smith calls the Hog Heaven House.

The main house, where a long table in the dining room invites guests to enjoy Smith’s daily home-cooked breakfasts, recently underwent renovations that included a repainted

exterior, the addition of private bathrooms to the upstairs bedrooms and wrap-around porches where guests can relax in new rocking chairs. In the coming months, Smith plans to build a treehouse in the backyard that visitors can book. Until then, she hopes guests continue to enjoy a little Southern hospitality, if even

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Living

SHELTER

Above: Light floods the Third Floor Suite.

Below: A large, fourposter bed adds drama to The Yellow Room.

“The Social Goat was born out of building a business on things we enjoy.” KRISTY SMITH KRISTY SMITH’S FAVORITE ANTIQUE SPOTS Scott Antique Markets on the second weekend of every month to find large furniture and eclectic decor to add a little flair to your space. scottantiquemarket.com If your space skews more European, stop by Jere’s Antiques in Savannah for shipments of antiques straight from Europe.

Smith shares that the warehouse is full of containers shipped from England and France, just waiting to be plowed through. “Having a conversation with Jere is itself worth the trip,” says Smith. jeresantiques.com

for a night away from home.

“Often, grandparents come into town and stay with their grandchildren to give the parents a night off,” says Smith. “The parents then come stay with us for the night as a staycation, instead of driving to [popular regional vacation spots such as] Asheville or Savannah. They stay the night with us following a nice dinner in the city and then relax

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with breakfast in the morning before heading back home to their kids.”

The B&B’s equally popular main attractions are its animal inhabitants.

Along with the five goats, the property is home to 10 ducks, three turkeys, chickens and cats, all of whom roam freely in a fenced backyard area. Black goat triplets Maverick, Angus and Minnie Pearl hang out nearby while guests find a quiet spot to read and relax near the small pond or in the gazebo decorated with vibrant purple

blooms and winding green vines.

The Three Tenors, a trio of turkeys that often can be found walking up and down the driveway, will welcome you with their gobbles upon arrival at this hidden gem in Grant Park, where a stay is truly a social affair. n

The Social Goat B&B

548 Robinson Avenue, 30315 404.626.4830 thesocialgoatbandb.com

“It’s always fun to catch an auction where you get the best prices,” says Smith. The Atlanta Auction Gallery is a place to get your feet wet and transition from spectator to buyer as your confidence grows. atlantaauctiongallery.com For vintage furniture with a modern take, Kudzu Antiques has a variety of price points and large pieces with industrial style, if you’re looking to add another layer of texture to your living space. kudzuantiques.com

Living PEOPLE

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t’s a narrative that has become increasingly common in the corporate workforce: Employees feel unhappy with the rigidity of office life and find themselves yearning to spend less time in their cubicles. Shakeera Springs, the founder and CEO of the all-natural skin care brand So Refreshed, can relate.

Suffocated by work-related stress and long hours away from home as a financial analyst, the mother of four jumped the corporate ship to spend more time with her family and to pursue a lifelong passion of holistic skincare. Since launching the line in May 2015, Springs has been stocking the shelves of local Midtown, West Midtown and Downtown salons with organic skincare and bath products. Her products will soon find their way to Whole Foods in Old Fourth Ward as well.

“When I was 8 years old, I said I wanted to be a brain surgeon,” Springs says, laughing. “I guess I’ve always been obsessed with the human anatomy, and this career allows me to get back to focusing on health and holistic living.” Springs, a self-proclaimed risk taker, left the corporate world in early 2015, and in just three short months So Refreshed launched online. Although an exciting endeavor, Springs admits her new career has been a bit of a slow burn.

Starting from the launch date Springs would process one or two orders a week. After tireless social media initiatives via Instagram coupled with attending local beauty and wellness conferences, Springs is happy to report orders are now flooding in at a rate of up to 100 per week.

The So Refreshed line currently includes an eyelash serum, clay and mud masks, a lip scrub, a dark spot remover, bronzers and body scrubs, to name a few. Springs also designed a line of all-natural healing acne products inspired by her teenage daughter’s experience suffering from severe acne and eczema. Harsh chemicals and soaps designed to dry out the

From

Finance to

Facials

Shakeera Springs says “goodbye” to corporate life and “hello” to her own, all-natural skincare line

complexion unnaturally seemed to make both conditions worse. “We were unable to find a cure through prescription medication or chemical treatments, so I created my own,” Springs says. The So Refreshed Acne Facial Wash, which retails for $25, combines raw African black soap and organic tea tree oil to cleanse, as well as organic coconut oil, aloe vera juice and organic sage oil to moisturize.

The FDA-approved Hydrating Aloe Vera Facial Toner ($20), which is So Refreshed’s best-selling item and comes in rose, lemongrass, laven-

der and tea tree, will be available at Whole Foods on Ponce de Leon this fall. Locals can currently purchase an assortment of products at Universal Salon Suites in West Midtown and at Swēt 209 at Sweet Auburn Market. Guys looking for a grooming fix can stop by Klipz ATL barbershop Downtown to pick up So Refreshed moisturizers and beard oils. Due to the pure and preservative-free nature of So Refreshed products, lip scrubs and bath bombs are available online only and made the day they are shipped to ensure that ingredients stay fresh.

| STORY: Juliette Cheatham | | PHOTOS: Stephen Payne | For her corporate cohorts who are also considering ditching their gigs for something more fulfilling, Springs has three pieces of advice: Don’t rush, choose something that is a passion and, despite what anyone says about your ideas, make sure you have the courage and self-assuredness to stick to it. n

To view So Refreshed’s complete product line, visit sorefreshed.com.

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Living WELLNESS

Feel-Good WORKOUTS These new classes and studios want you to stress less and enjoy more

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burgeoning fitness movement is happening that is the opposite of the popular boot-camp models we’ve seen in the past. Instead of stretching you to heart-palpitating, muscle-quaking limits—and perhaps even stressing you out or causing pain in the process—some new studios and classes are all about bringing on the fun or the calm. The goal: feeling inspired and rejuvenated, getting stronger and having a great time while you’re at it. Hear, hear to that! Here are a few of our new favorites:

Vibe Ride Grant Park This welcoming little studio with bright-white walls and a large picture window overlooks a walkway in the new Larkin on Memorial development. It offers Pound, a fitness class that encourages you to rock out while burning calories, as well as spin and

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| STORY: Karina Antenucci | Classes at (from left to right) YogaWorks, Vibe Ride and The Daily are designed to make workouts less intense and stressful and more calming.

We’ll sweat to that!

barre. In this jammin’ 45-minute cardio session, you’ll use drumsticks and “pound it out“ with choreography that syncs up with pop and dance tracks. The lighthearted concept, also available at Vibe Ride’s Midtown location, will have you laughing throughout, while squat after squat will make your buns and legs feel the burn. $20 per class, theviberide.com

YogaWorks Old Fourth Ward Yogis may recognize this space. Until recently, it was Infinity Yoga, and it still boasts the same exposed brick, wood ceilings and loft-like windows.

Now YogaWorks (with more than 45 locations nationwide and several in Atlanta), the class offerings include some pretty chill options amongst its more active vinyasa flow classes. Find your zen in Warm Yin, a 60-minute yoga class that focuses on deep stretches and holding poses for two to four minutes each. You’ll use props such as a bolster, a blanket and blocks, and feel

parts of your body from hips to chest open up. Best of all? The poses not only improve flexibility, but also give your mind a chance to decompress and initiate deep relaxation. $20, yogaworks.com

The Daily Inman Park A gorgeous new Pilates studio in Inman Park, sister to its West Midtown location, The Daily does everything in its girl power to create an unintimidating environ-

ment—even though you might initially think “uh oh” when you eye its brand-new, white and gray Reformer machines. The classes, a mixture of reformer and nonreformer (mat) options, will challenge you for sure, but the serene backdrop of white walls, ballet-pink ceilings and inspirational “Do It on the Daily” and “Keep It Peachy” quotes will keep you chill through those muscle-isolating movements.

Plus, the classes are small and approachable, and you can take a foundational session to learn the basics if you’re new to Pilates. $15, doitonthedaily.com n

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550 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 1230 Atlanta, GA 30308 404-215-6520 MidtownMed.com Our multi-specialty practice has provided primary care and dermatology services to adult patients for nearly two decades. Our physicians, Dr. Mark Koralewski, Dr. Jeffrey Rollins and Dr. Mack Rachal are board-certified and extensively experienced, and are committed to serving you with the highest quality of care in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We accept most insurance plans, are welcoming new patients and offer a convenient location within walking distance of the North Avenue Marta Station and close to major downtown employers.

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IN-TOWN ESCAPES

Photo: Courtesy of Georgia Department of Economic Development/ExploreGeorgia.org

Living

BEYOND THE

GREENS

From historic tours to water sports, Augusta features so much more than just golf | STORY: Karon Warren |

Built in 1845 as a source of power, water and transportation for the city, the Augusta Canal today serves as one of the most popular outdoor recreation areas. Along with miles of hiking and biking trails beside the canal, visitors can canoe and kayak on it. Guides from Petersburg Boat Tours provide history and background on the development and evolution of the canal and its impact on Augusta.

Not only is seeing a different side of Augusta from the water a lot of fun, but gliding along the canal‘s calm waters is profoundly peaceful.

Petersburg also offers options based on guests‘ interests, including history, nature, the Civil War, music and even the sunset. In addition to Augusta’s natural beauty, other points of interest to check out during a tour include

Left: Kayaking near a railroad trestle on Betty’s Branch.

Photo: Karon Warren

Take a Tour

Photo: Sanjeev Singhal

Right: Try your hand and test your aim at disc golf.

S

ay “Augusta” and most people usually think of just one thing: the Masters golf tournament held each spring at Augusta National Golf Club. But this Georgia city on the South Carolina border approximately two hours east of Atlanta offers much more outdoor recreation than hitting fairways and putting on the greens.

Above: Take a peaceful boat tour on the Augusta Canal.

the Confederate Powder Works, the city’s 19th-century textile mills and two 18th-century houses.

Hit the Water Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy being on the water will love kayaking on Betty’s Branch, a tributary to the Savannah River. Put in at Riverside Park in Evans, 20 minutes from downtown Augusta. Along the way, boaters will travel under a railroad trestle, see wildlife like turtles sunning on tree logs and catch a glimpse of the Savannah River. The waters here are much more sedate than the quick current of the Savannah River, making it ideal for first-time or less skilled kayakers.

For those who want to experience both the quick and the slow, get in on

the Benderdinker, one of the area’s most popular annual kayaking events.

It brings together a fun paddle, live music and delicious bites and drinks along the route. Paddlers follow a path up Betty’s Branch and return down the Savannah River, arriving back at the starting point in Riverside Park.

Play the Course No, not that course, although golfers can head to the Forest Hills or the Bartram Trail greens to get in a few rounds. The courses at the Professional Disc Golf Association headquarters in nearby Appling, Columbia County, however, are designed for disc golfers with three championship courses composed of “holes” among the trees, shrubs and open fields.

Even the most skilled frisbee throwers will likely be challenged by disc golf, a sport that, like traditional golf, requires use of different clubs, that is, discs, each with its own functionality: distance, accuracy and control.

Hitting the “hole,” which consists of a chain basket on a pole, is a feat made particularly difficult thanks to obstacles including trees and shrubs, as well as hilly terrain. Even though the sport, like golf, does take skill, the real fun is competing with friends to see who leaves with bragging rights. Plus, it’s a great workout that doesn’t really feel like one.

While Augusta certainly draws a crowd each spring for The Masters, there’s plenty of reason to visit this city throughout the year for its other outdoor offerings. n

VISIT Augusta Canal augustacanal.com Kayaking visitaugusta.com/listing/riversidepark-at-bettys-branch/438/ Professional Disc Golf Association pdga.com/IDGC

JULY/AUGUST 2018

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Living OUT OF TOWN WHERE TO STAY SONOMA A prime downtown location makes Hotel Healdsburg an easy choice; spacious rooms and fun extras such as afternoon wine tastings, a fridge full of complimentary snacks and a serene pool make it a smart one. Oversized bathrooms have deep soaking tubs, spa showers and organic bath amenities infused with fragrant herbs. hotelhealdsburg.com NAPA Located on the site of the old Vintage Inn in Yountville, Vintage House has re-emerged with glorious rooms—think velvet furnishings, private balconies and wood-burning fireplaces pre-loaded with easy-to-light kindling—a pampering spa and partnerships with top wineries that provide free tastings and other goodies for resort guests. vintagehouse.com

WHERE TO SIP Idlewild idlewildwines.com

Wine Country

Revival

GrapeSeed grapeseedwine.com Above: Jordan Winery offers hikes and tours around its 1,200 acres.

Below: Tasting Bordeauxstyle blends among Jordan Winery’s vines

I

wasn’t sure what to expect when a friend suggested we meet at Idlewild, a tiny tasting room tucked into a side street just off the leafy town square in Healdsburg, California. On my three previous trips to Sonoma, I’d avoided intown tasting rooms in favor of those situated amid acres of vines, which somehow seemed more authentic. Yet here I was, sipping a glass of Cortese and chatting with owner and third-generation wine maker Sam Bilbro about wine and his passion for Italian varietals as if we were old friends, and he had all the time in the world. Later, at GrapeSeed, a tasting room located in a Healdsburg art gallery, I sipped with Matt Smith, a partner in this collective that gives artisanal winemakers a way to showcase and sell their products. It’s a win-win: Vintners have a marketplace for their

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small-production wines; visitors can taste—and bring home—unique bottles not available at their local stores.

Although Healdsburg was spared the fury of the fires that swept through the region in October, reminders abound. GrapeSeed’s 12-foot tasting table is one: Pulled from the burning home of a friend of GrapeSeed founder Dave Trebilcock, the charspattered slab ended up being the only possession to survive the tragedy.

Trebilcock, like many others, said the best thing anyone could do to help the region recover is to come for a visit. But there’s another reason to make the trip to California. Throughout Napa and Sonoma, new wineries and tasting experiences are transforming the winery trek from a quick sip in a bustling tasting room into a leisurely affair complete with a reserved table, a dedicated staff member, food and other diversions.

Located just outside of Healdsburg in the Alexander Valley, Jordan

Ram’s Gate Winery ramsgatewinery.com Ashes & Diamonds Winery ashesdiamonds.com Lucy in the Bardessono hotel in Yountville bardessono.com/lucy-restaurant-baryountville-california Valette valettehealdsburg.com

In Napa and Sonoma, new wineries and tasting experiences invite oenophiles to linger longer—and support the region’s post-fire recovery | STORY: Katie McElveen |

Jordan Winery jordanwinery.com

Winery crafts Bordeaux-style blends that are both elegant and refined.

But where the famous chateaux of Bordeaux don’t always encourage visitors, Jordan welcomes them with open arms and interesting programs such as vineyard hikes and tours that pair views and exploration of the nearly 1,200-acre estate with Chardonnays, Cabernet Sauvignons, cheese, charcuterie and estate-produced honey and olive oil. At Ram’s Gate Winery, the Palate Play tasting shows off Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and an agile Rhone blend against an umamirich, five-course menu. Napa’s new cool kid is Ashes & Diamonds Winery, which opened in November of 2017 in a Barbara Bestor-designed, mid-century building adorned with a zig-zag roof and an interior filled with lowslung chairs, bottle-green bar stools and curvaceous tables, consoles and bookshelves. The wines are equally retro, trading Napa’s traditional bold fruit for polished flavors that come

alive with food and aren’t turbocharged with alcohol. Creative bites of sourdough squares with miso-onion dip and house-cultured butter are the work of Chef Emma Sears, who also oversees cooking classes, special dining events and meal pairings.

Restaurants are shaking things up, too. Book the Garden Table at Lucy in the Bardessono hotel in Yountville, and you’ll dine on farm-focused flavors behind a fragrant screen of lemon trees and rosemary bushes surrounded by lettuces, fruits and herbs, all of which will end up on your plate. On the way out, feel free to grab a guava or two for breakfast from the prolific trees.

In Healdsburg, Dustin Valette, chef and owner of Valette, has turned the tasting menu on its head with the Trust Me menu, a brilliant stroke that allows diners to choose the number of courses they’ll be served, with a minimum of four. Even those with lighter appetites will need them: Valette’s inspired combinations—Dungeness crab with toasty coconut chips, pork with roasted mustard seeds—are bait for foodies, making it nearly impossible to choose. Be sure to wave at Bob Valette, Dustin’s father, on the way out. The local pilot spent hours rescuing families stranded by the fires, often delivering them to the restaurant, which closed to paying guests to provide free meals to its neighbors. n

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26 HEADLINERS

GIRLS’ CLUB Atlanta Theatre Club’s Rebeca Robles

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JULY/AUGUST 2018

23

Culture CREATORS

Above: A bracelet featuring a Walking Liberty half dollar coin retails for $218.

Below: A necklace with a glass butterfly pendant from Edge’s Spring/Summer 2018 collection ($195)

y r l e Jew with a Past Mark Edge’s funky pieces incorporate vintage and recycled finds | STORY: Karina Antenucci |

M

ark Edge began designing jewelry 30 years ago, when he was in the eighth grade. The silversmithing class he took at that time would be the only official jewelry-making education he would ever have, and he’s not shy about saying that his creations were the best out of all the students’ designs. At 15 years old, his silver and stone jewelry landed in boutiques in his native Birmingham, Alabama. “My mom had to drive me to deliver the jewelry and also to pick up my checks,” he says.

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JULY/AUGUST 2018

After taking a break from jewelry making and graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Alabama, Edge decided to get back into the jewelry business. “It was fun and interesting, and I have the gift, basically,” he unabashedly admits.

Edge moved to Atlanta in 1988 to be near AmericasMart, where he meets and sells to retailers. “Because I was a designer, I thought it would be wise to be near it. It’s kind of a big deal. It’s the most important market regionally.”

Despite having hands that felt like sandpaper from soldering and polishing, he continued to create his signature silver jewelry. Shortly after 9/11, his simple silver-and-turquoise cross necklace on a brown leather cord “went viral” by way of newspaper.

The AJC fashion section included it in a jewelry roundup, and then it was syndicated in newspapers all over the country. “People were in mourning, and there was all of this spirituality going on,” says Edge. “There were waves of orders—one week, the cross was featured in Los Angeles, and then Seattle the next. We sold about 800.”

After almost 10 years of designing his contemporary silver collection, an idea for a new line sparked while Edge was renovating his 1909 Craftsman home in Midtown. The 4,400-squarefoot abode was originally owned

by Governor William J. Northen and his family for about 100 years and featured dark wood, brass doorknobs and all sorts of “vintage-y, antique-y things,” as Edge calls them. “Halfway through the project, which took about a year, it just hit me that I should do to the jewelry what I was doing to the house. By the time the renovation was complete in July of 2008, I had an eco-vintage house and an EcoVintage jewelry collection!” In fact, the line’s logo was inspired by green and bronze wallpaper found in the dining room.

All the necklaces, earrings and

bracelets in the line incorporate vintage and recycled items with history, such as coins, semi-precious stones, chandelier crystals, keys, mixed metals, charms and more. To find his pieces, Edge goes on sourcing trips to places such as Brimfield, Massachusetts, home to one of the largest outdoor antique shows in the country, and Scott Antique Markets in Atlanta, where each month he collects African handmade beads and recycled glass.

“I just putz around, looking for what someone has that is kind of cool, and a good supply of it—maybe 50 pieces of whatever I find. I love antiquing anyway. I’m a big art and antique collector. The whole business is almost play!” Edge says.

Edge prides himself on designing conversation pieces that are handmade in Atlanta and notes that he has been doing it since before buying “local” was cool. “All I need are the materials to inspire me,” Edge adds.

“I’m going to make it interesting, and my pieces always have opposites in them—they are dressy in a way, casual in a way. For example, maybe there’s something ornate or rough and tarnished, and then a faceted stone makes it a little bit dressy.

I look at it as wearable art. There’s got to be some funk in it.” n

Today, you can find Edge’s pieces in retailers nationwide, including Peridot on Atlanta’s Westside, and on his website, markedge.com.

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Culture HEADLINERS

’ s l r Gi

Club This start-up theater troupe aims to put women’s stories at center stage

| STORY: H.M. Cauley | | PHOTO: Stephen Payne |

W

hat Atlanta lacks in beachfront it makes up for in cultural arts. Across the city, comedy clubs, theaters, music venues, galleries and niche museums share the scene with a world-renowned symphony, art collection and, yes, puppet center.

So why does Rebeca Robles feel something’s missing?

“I’ve spent a lot of time auditioning for plays and movies where there aren’t a lot of complex and interesting female characters or stories driven by them,” says the 24-year-old. “I’d like to produce more of them and focus on female playwrights.”

To accomplish that, Robles launched the Atlanta Theatre Club last fall. While still searching for a permanent stage, the Club has mounted two productions, one at Seven Stages in Little Five and another at the Pinch ‘N’ Ouch Theatre in Kirkwood.

“I don’t think we can ever have too many people trying to create art,” says Robles, who lives in Old Fourth Ward. “The Atlanta theater community is very supportive, especially to someone who is very new and doesn’t have any following: At least, four theaters have reached out to us to do a marketing swap. It’s always good to have more people jumping in to make things happen.”

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JULY/AUGUST 2018

Like her club, Robles is fairly new to Atlanta, having moved here last fall from New York. The South Carolina native lived here for a short time after graduating from college in Kentucky and then heading to New York, and in that short time, she laid the groundwork for lasting theater relationships.

“I’m fairly connected with other companies; I’ve worked with Actor’s Express and was an intern at Horizon,” she says. “I also had a role on the Netflix show ‘Insatiable’ and have been auditioning for other roles. And I’ve been acting in the Club shows, which is exhausting when I’m also producing.”

The up side for the fledgling troupe is that Robles doesn’t pay herself and plows the proceeds back into the business. That’s helped cover some

of the company’s start-up costs, but it’s not a situation she wants to go on for too long.

“I do prefer to be on the stage, I think,” she says. “Acting is my first love, and I wouldn’t want to stop completely, but it’s great to be involved in another aspect of theater. Right now, I enjoy being able to do all these things, but in an ideal situation, I’d hand over some tasks to someone else.

Doing everything is very stressful.”

As co-artistic director with her boyfriend, Joshua Owen, some of that “everything” includes finding material that meets the Club’s mission of producing plays grounded in realism and driven by strong women characters. The first two shows, “Blackbird” and “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecologic Oncology Unit

at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City,” dovetailed nicely with that goal.

“They’re fairly new works, but I’d also like to do some world premieres” Robles says. “I want to create new works that can be adapted, maybe filmed, to bridge the gap between theater and film that’s not been done successfully too often. I’m also looking to provide more opportunities for women. The directors of both our shows have been women, and we’d love to do that again. Right now, we’re growing and figuring out what we want to do next. One thing I’m sure of: With so many artists coming here because of the film industry, I’d like to find a way to make Atlanta a permanent hub for the arts.” n

atlantatheatreclub.com

Indulge n

REVIEW n LIQUIDS n FRESH BITES

28 REVIEW

UPPER CRUST

Photos: Erik Meadows

The Local Pizzaiolo knows good pie

JULY/AUGUST 2018

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Indulge REVIEW

r e p Up

t s u r C With its consistently tasty pies, The Local Pizzaiolo's bold, multi-location debut is a big bite worth taking

| STORY: Hope S. Philbrick | PHOTOS: Erik Meadows |

T

ypically, when a new restaurant concept is launched, there’s just one location. It stands alone to be tested and refined in real-time.

When The Local Pizzaiolo was announced last year, four locations were planned right from the get-go. That struck me as bold and, perhaps, slightly nuts. So many restaurants— even really good ones—come and quickly go from Atlanta’s dining scene. The plan was for two locations to open in October 2017: West Midtown and Toco Hills, while Sandy Springs and Madison Yards would follow in 2018. In reality, Westside opened in January, and Toco Hills opened in May. Delayed restaurant openings are routine, but The Local Pizzaiolo is run by trendsetters and tastemakers who stand firm with their plan for multiple Atlanta locations.

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These entrepreneurs are President/CEO Allison Hill, who previously worked with Miller’s Ale House in Orlando, Florida; Chair Fiorenzo Bresolin, founder of Secured Equities Corporation; and Giulio Adriani, a four-time World Pizza Champion and Master Pizzaiolo whose upscale pizzeria, Forcella, in New York has been ranked by Food & Wine magazine as the best Neapolitan pizza in the U.S. Their credentials help the gamble seem like a sound bet.

The West Midtown location occupies a corner of the Brickworks complex. The interior is white and airy with seating options that range from upholstered furniture to wooden benches.

Additional metal table and chair sets fill the wrap-around porch outdoors, creating a welcome feeling even as you park your car.

Service is fast casual. Walk in the front door, order at the register straight ahead and pay using a credit card, Google Pay or Apple Pay. The nocash approach aims at simplicity. As you key in

Three slices, please: Dante's Kiss, The Local and The Exception

payment, the cashier prepares your drinks and hands them over, along with a gizmo that lights up when your order is ready. Grab napkins, plates and utensils at a station down the aisle then sit wherever you want. A server delivers your food as soon as the kitchen finishes prep.

Items come out as they’re ready, which on our first visit meant that my husband and I were almost finished noshing our way through three pizzas before realizing we hadn’t yet received our pear and gorgonzola salad.

We asked a server to check on it, and after a brief powwow with the cashier and a cook, it was quickly whisked out, along with an apology and a new receipt, showing that the cost of the salad had been deleted. Both the gesture and the salad were impressive.

On our second visit we ordered a Marinara pizza and received a Margherita.

The correct replacement arrived within minutes, along with our two other pies.

Above: A slice of marinara (left) is topped with herbs and garlic. The Gypsy (right) is topped with wild mushrooms.

Right: The Pear & Gorgonzola salad is piled high with savory crumbles.

Meet President/CEO Allison Hill What’s your personal favorite pizza?

My favorite has been switching, so I’m not sure that I have one. It was the Mona Lizza with spicy salami, fresh ricotta, yellow tomatoes and hot honey. Now it’s the Margherita.

Fingers or forks?

We have a saying: “Fold it; don’t hold it.” Your toppings are so hot they could slide off, but if you fold the

slice into a little pocket, every bite is super delicious.

You’re an entrepreneur, mom, wife…How do you juggle it all?

A lot of communication! I’ve got a good, supportive team at work and at home, too. Every day be present in the moment. Make sure to not miss out on big moments. If you let the other stuff clutter your mind, that’s when problems start.

Each pizza is an 11-inch round cut into four slices. It would be easy to devour one alone. To taste multiple combinations, we like to order three and box up any remaining slices to-go.

Adriani uses his own special blend of three types of imported flour to make the crust (a gluten-free version is also available). Each pizza looks different: Some are approximately the same thickness across the whole pie (which is how I like it), while others have a thick edge and paper-thin middle (my husband's preferred style). The difference may be due to the fact that each crust is shaped by hand.

Neapolitan pizza has “the flavorful crust people crave from thin pizza,” says Hill.

“It’s authentic Italian changed for American taste. In Italy pizza is more wet. Ours is more dry for the American palate. We use fresh dough, premium ingredients.”

The menu is straightforward with 14 different pizza topping combinations, from vegan to meaty. There are also three salads, two desserts, cocktails, wine, beer and coffee. Every pizza top-

ping combination we tried was yummy. Classics of Margherita (the best-seller) and wild mushroom (dubbed The Gypsy and also popular) are offered alongside creations such as The Local (another best-seller) that features Heirloom Market BBQ beef brisket and honey infused with ghost peppers. The popular Eggplant Parm and Montanara both feature flash-fried dough so special it’s the documented reason Adriana’s U.S. Green Card was approved. Dante’s Kiss, my personal favorite, is a zesty, tongue-tingling combination of spicy salami, fresh jalapeño, fresh mozzarella, crushed San Marzano tomatoes and Sicilian oregano. Every pizza is delivered hot; expect the crust to be crisp around the perimeter, sometimes soggy in the center, but consistently scrumptious. Even the Marinara, which is essentially crust with sauce, is lip-licking good.

Save room for the Nutella Bites dessert, an airy confection reminiscent of beignets.

The menu will evolve. When the Toco Hills location opened, gluten-free crust was made available for any pizza, no longer limited to

three options. Four sandwiches and a less-complicated house salad are also being introduced.

“Our strategy is fast incubation,” says Hill.

“If we’re going to do it, let’s do it. We know it’s going to be stressful, we know it will be a lot of work, but acting as fast as possible is the best success model for us. At least we’re out there giving it our all.” n

THE LOCAL PIZZAIOLO 1000 Marietta St. N.W., Suite 202, 30318 678.705.2672 thelocalpizzaiolo.com Recommended: Dante’s Kiss ($11); The Exception ($11); The Gypsy ($12); Pear & Gorgonzola salad ($7); Nutella Bites ($5); Negroni ($9).

Bottom Line: Neapolitan-style pizza sized and priced right to devour solo or share several different combos. Salads, drinks and desserts are also on the menu. The atmosphere is casual, service fast and drive to succeed strong.

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Indulge LIQUIDS

y h c Bea

DAIQUIRI Serves 1 A daiquiri in its purest state shouldn’t be confused for a slushy like the ones you had on spring break in Cabo.

Blends

2 oz. rum 3 oz. fresh lime juice ¾ oz. simple syrup 1 c. ice Lime slice, for garnish Combine ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Pour into a coupe glass and garnish with lime.

These blender-friendly cocktails will offset summer's heat and humidity like a dip in the cool, blue sea | STORY: Lia Picard | PHOTOS: Erik Meadows |

I

f you can’t swing a four-hour drive to the beach, why not bring the beach to you? At least, grab a few of the best elements of a beach getaway: frozen cocktails.

All you need is rum, a few key ingredients and a blender, and you’ll be on your way to beach bliss from the comfort of the backyard patio.

Mention tropical cocktails such as mai tais, daiquiris and piña coladas, and cloyingly sweet frozen concentrates and syrups may spring to mind.

Damian Clark, the beverage manager at Establishment in Midtown, advises to forget all that. “Your drink is only as good as its weakest ingredient,”

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JULY/AUGUST 2018

he says. “I can use the highest-end tequila and Demerara sugar but then, if I use store-bought juice? I just ruined the whole thing.” Instead, use freshly squeezed juices or even fresh fruit for beach drinks that are refreshing without the familiar sickly sweet aftertaste.

Besides being a wiz with a shaker, Clark is also the Atlanta ambassador for Brugal 1888 Rum. Produced in the Dominican Republic, 1888 is smooth and spicy with notes of coffee and red fruits. “The rum is aged for eight years in used bourbon barrels, which gives it a lot of oakiness and vanilla notes,” he explains.

After aging in the barrels, it’s aged again in sherry casks,

Damian Clark, the beverage manager at Establishment is the Atlanta ambassador for Brugal 1888 Rum (below).

adding another layer of smokiness.

Because of its similarity to bourbon, it’s a good introductory rum. While it can be enjoyed neat (the company recommends bringing it to 75 degrees, the temperature it’s tasted at in the distillery), it also works wonderfully in blended tipples.

Here, Clark share recipes for three easy beach drinks. Grab your lei and get mixing. n

Establishment 1197 Peachtree Street N.E., 30305 404.347.5291 establishmentatlanta.com

PAINKILLER Serves 1 A heavenly twist on the classic piña colada, this classic will chase the summertime blues away.

2 oz. rum 3 oz. fresh pineapple juice 1 oz. fresh orange juice 1 1/4 oz. cream of coconut Pineapple slice, for garnish Dash of nutmeg, for garnish Blend ingredients together and serve in a hurricane glass. Garnish with nutmeg and pineapple slice.

HURRICANE Serves 1 Warning: This drink will rock you like a, well, you know.

3 oz. rum 2 oz. passion fruit juice ½ oz. simple syrup ½ oz. grenadine Maraschino cherry, for garnish Orange wheel, for garnish Blend ingredients together and serve in a hurricane glass. Garnish with cherry and orange wheel.

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Spend the day or evening on the Town!

17th South

Discover over 50 shops, services and restaurants.

Town Brookhaven is truly your one stop shopping and dining destination with a blend of interesting boutiques, delicious restaurants and useful services.

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ANCHORS CinéBistro/Cobb Theatre • Costco • LA Fitness • Marshalls • Publix

APPAREL & ACCESSORIES Boogaloos • Dress Up Boutique • Vestique

SHOES Big Peach Running Co.

HEALTH, WELLNESS & BEAUTY 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon • Benchmark Physical Therapy Brookhaven Orthodontics • Emory Clinic • European Wax Center GNC (General Nutrition Center) • Intown Pediatrics The Joint - The Chiropractic Place Julian’s Cosmetics and Skincare • Massage Heights Nail Talk & Tan • Saks Salon Salon Red • Salon Red Kids • Town Dentistry Vein Clinics of America • Vida-Flo: The Hydration Station

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DINING Amore Cucina & Bar • Bua Thai and Sushi The Flying Biscuit Café • HOBNOB Neighborhood Tavern Jefe’s Tacos & Tequila • Lucky’s Burger & Brew Marble Slab Creamery • Moe’s Southwest Grill • Newk’s Express Café Olde Blind Dog Irish Pub • Sweetwaters Coffee & Tea – Coming Soon Tanaka Ramen • There Restaurant and Bar • Tin Can Oyster Bar Tropical Smoothie Café • Which Wich? • Yogurtland

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Indulge

SUMMERY SNACK

FRESH BITES

Get in the spirit of tomato season with this recipe provided by Drew Belline, culinary director of the Optimist on the Westside.

Simple yet delicious, roasting the tomatoes brings out their natural sweetness.

ROASTED TOMATO BRUSCHETTA Servings vary

2 lbs. ripe tomatoes (any variety), sliced 5-6 sprigs of basil 3 oz. extra virgin olive oil 6 sprigs of thyme Fresh cracked black pepper Coarse sea salt Loaf of sourdough, sliced and toasted 3 oz. creamy soft goat cheese

Tomato

A CELEBRATION Ford Fry reflects on the The Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival’s 10th anniversary

The Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival (AKTF) celebrates its 10th anniversary on July 15 by returning to its original home at the Westside Provisions District. This quintessential summer fête is a benefit for Georgia Organics, a nonprofit that connects Georgia’s farms to families.

The July air is always hot and sticky, but chefs flex their creative muscles and whip up unique tomato dishes that most of us would never dream of—tomato cheesecake, anyone? Free-flowing cocktails and a live band round out the festival

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Photo: Emily Schultz

A

we had them all over our menu. I thought it’d be really fun if we did an event where all the top chefs of the city come and do tomato tastings, so we did it the following year. All the farms sold out of their tomatoes.

I also wanted to have a super-casual festival that celebrates the farmers.

How many chefs were doing “farm-to-table” in 2009?

That was early [in the movement], but there were chefs in the city who were ahead of the game. Annie [Quatrano, of Bacchanalia and Star Provisions] for me was one of the biggest players. She’s always been cooking like that, so it was normal for her.

| STORY: Lia Picard | | PHOTOS: Erik Meadows | tlanta has no shortage of food festivals, but only one is dedicated to the iconic summer vegetable (er, fruit): the tomato.

AKTF celebrates tomatoes in every imaginable form.

atmosphere. This year’s performer is G. Love & Special Sauce.

We chatted with Ford Fry, owner of Ford Fry Restaurants and the creator of the AKTF, to learn more about the festival as it approaches its milestone anniversary.

How did you come up with ATKF? It was our second summer at JCT. Kitchen, and I remember Nicolas [Donck] of Crystal Organic Farm would come to our door with stacks and stacks of tomatoes. He said, “I can’t give them away,” and even

How do the recent festivals compare to the first one?

For the most part, it gets bigger with more interesting tomato tastings.

Chefs come for their first year, and they’re not sure what to do, and they play it safe. Then they see everyone else doing crazy things, and they bring it the next year.

How hard was it to get chefs on board for a collaborative event?

It was easier back then. It’s getting harder now because chefs are pulled in so many directions. A few chefs opt out because it’s too much volume. But there is a waiting list of chefs hoping to participate.

Pre-heat oven to 285 degrees. Arrange tomato slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and toss in 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Roast for 3-4 hours. Check to make sure they’re not roasting too quickly; if so, lower the heat. They should be slightly caramelized when finished.

Smear a generous amount of goat cheese on a slice of the toasted bread. Arrange tomatoes on top and garnish with a torn basil leaf, drizzle of olive oil, twist of fresh cracked black pepper and a pinch of sea salt.

Leftover tomatoes can be preserved in olive oil, used as an accompaniment to fish or pureed into a sauce to add complexity, acid and richness.

What sets ATKF apart from other food events in Atlanta?

It’s super-casual. I would say every “healthy" restaurant in Atlanta has a holiday party for its staff. Farmers don’t get that; they’re working every day, whether they’re growing, picking or delivering. No one’s throwing them a party. So my take is that this is a party for the farmers.

It’s not for the chefs or the community; it’s to celebrate the farmers.

What are some particularly memorable tomato dishes from past festivals?

[Executive Chef] Brian Horn did one for JCT. Kitchen that I still remember to this day. It was a warm jelly doughnut with a bacon fat mayonnaise, and something about it all came together.

The brioche doughnut was filled with tomato jam, and it was so yummy. n

Ticket pricing for the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival begins at $65; killertomatofest.com.

COVER STORY

Trendsetters

& TASTEMAKERS

An event planner with a Hollywood pedigree. An attorney with a knack for efficiency. A filmmaker with an affinity for the human story.

A twenty-something, trailblazing business woman. A fashion designer who draws inspiration from her African roots. A pair of visual artists driven by bold design.

Meet seven Atlantans who are boldly blazing their own trails through our city’s creative landscape. | PHOTOS: Erik Meadows |

| STORY: Claire Ruhlin | | PHOTOS: Stephen Payne |

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BRIAN WORLEY Director of Design, Bold Catering & Design | STORY: Caroline Cox |

Y

ou’ll be hard-pressed to find someone who fits the “tastemaker” profile more than Brian Worley. The dapper, Louisiana-born and Texas-bred designer spent more than a decade immersed in L.A.’s splashy event scene, executing soirees that ranged from the Grammys red carpet to star-studded film premieres, with TV stints on E!’s Oscar preshow and TLC’s “Battle of the Wedding Designers” in between. After spending more than a decade honing his skills as a planner and designer, he made the move South in late 2017 to join the team at the Westside-based Bold Catering & Design as the company’s director of design. Through Bold, Worley, who lives in Midtown, is transforming Atlanta’s wedding industry and beyond—one flawlessly fabulous event at a time.

How did you get your start in the events industry?

I moved to L.A. my senior year of college and decided I should try acting. I did that for a while and didn’t like it. I fell into events by working at Banana Republic in Beverly Hills. A guy who was in the events industry came in, and I started working with him. Eventually, though, we dissolved the company because he was stealing money.

Where did you go from there?

The next week, someone from a production company called me looking for a new designer. My first job was to produce and design the first Harry Potter movie premiere in New York. All of a sudden, I was in big leagues. I did a lot of movie premieres: all the Harry Potter films, Big Fish, The Cat in the Hat, Meet the Fockers, Daddy Day Care—the list goes on. I’ve done weddings, all the “American Idol” parties for nine years, the Teen Choice Awards for 10 years, the red carpet for the Emmys. Once you prove you can do it, it just leads to word-of-mouth [jobs].

What’s been a particularly memorable moment in your career?

The job that made me feel like I’d “made it” was producing a premiere actually on Alcatraz for a show called “Alcatraz.” If you can do an event there, you can do one anywhere. I designed everything in L.A., sent the shipping containers to San Francisco, got them craned to a barge, shipped them to the island and then craned off the barge. We opened all the containers, transported them to flatbed trucks and got everything into the kitchen of Alcatraz, all overnight.

We were off the island by 6 a.m., back at 4 p.m. and had to set up the entire party, which had around 300 guests.

That sounds hard to top.

Another would be hosting Prince William and Kate Middleton for a polo event in Santa Barbara right after they got married. I designed it, and there was private palace security, 4,500 guests, a VIP lunch, polo horses, cars, all of that.

What are you working on now?

A lot of weddings. I’m currently working on local Atlanta weddings, but I also [have done weddings] at Old Edwards Inn and Spa in Highlands, North Carolina, and at Barnsley Gardens outside of Atlanta. I just did a killer one at The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia, and I have another one coming up there in November.

The bride looked at me like I was crazy for suggesting an entire tent in red carpet and everything else in white, but two weeks later she said, “I’m going to trust you.” It was bold and made a statement, and she was so glad we did it. My goal is to not just be focused on Atlanta, but to also travel and do weddings all over.

There’s nothing better than creating an atmosphere for a bride that’s a magical space where I can sit by the door as guests walk in, and they just go, “Wow!” That’s when you know you’ve done your job. n

COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

H

igh school angst inspired Charlene Dunbar to create Suakoko Betty (pronounced “SWAH-ko-ko”), her own line of vibrant, contemporary women’s clothes made from printed fabric popular in her native Africa. “I came to Gwinnett County as a teenager from Liberia, West Africa, and I joked that it wasn’t cool to be African then,” says the 39-year-old designer. “I struggled with adjusting.” While most kids were into the grunge trend, she started wearing African clothes. Fast forward more than 20 years and Dunbar has a chemical engineering degree, experience selling her designs at one of America’s major retailers and a collection available locally at The Beehive in the Edgewood shopping district.

Though she felt drawn to designing and creating beautiful things, the hardships that came with emigrating to Atlanta from Monrovia, Liberia’s capital city, in the early 1990s inspired her to use her strong math and science skills to get a degree from Georgia Tech and a subsequent job at a Fortune 500 company. “[I thought]

‘your parents didn’t fight to come to this country running from bullets for you to do some frivolous career.’

I wanted to get a good job and help my family,” Dunbar says. Still, she didn’t quite feel satisfied. “I was grateful for the opportunities, but there was something missing.”

Dunbar went on to learn draping and pattern making and earn a design degree in 2006 from American Intercontinental University in Buckhead while working full-time, simply because it fed her love of fashion.

She had an “ah-ha” moment in 2010 when her husband, who works in the music industry, found an opportunity to showcase her designs at a Tennessee music festival. She sewed a striking, 30-piece collection of mini-dresses and vibrant skirts made of African wax print fabric, a traditional style of carving prints into wax, stamping the print onto fabric, dyeing it and melting the wax to reveal the print. She sold every single piece that weekend.

“I wanted to create African clothing that wasn’t garb,” the mom of two

says of the tribal attire often worn only for special occasions. “I knew there had to be other people who wanted to recognize their culture and celebrate it.” She began making capsule collections, selling out at festivals and using those experiences as minifocus groups to learn more about her clients’ preferences. She named her fledgling brand Suakoko Betty, fusing the name of her father’s hometown in Liberia (Suakoko means “place of new beginnings”) and Betty, which Dunbar thought sounded like the name of an American girl next door.

Dunbar’s next big break came at the end of 2013 when her mother encouraged her to apply for Belk’s Southern Designer Showcase competition. From a field of more than 300 applicants, she made it to the semi-final round of 60 designers who went to Charlotte, North Carolina, to pitch their pieces to buyers in person. The designer positioned next to Dunbar confidently told buyers of the thousands of dresses she sold in a year. “I thought I’d never make it over these people who were so seasoned,”

CHARLENE DUNBAR Owner/designer, Suakoko Betty

| STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin |

recalls Dunbar, who typically sold only a handful of each design, all of which were stitched by an Atlanta-area seamstress. She was asked to attend what she thought was an additional callback at the Phipps Plaza Belk store only to be surprised with the good news. As the 2014 winner, Suakoko Betty was sold in Belk stores around the country for a year. “My corporate self had to merge with my designer self,” she says, since she went from selling a couple hundred dresses a year to more than 2,000 that year.

Now, Dunbar retails a rotating collection of 10 to 12 Suakoko Betty styles both at The Beehive and through its e-commerce site, all made from fabric she sources during onceyearly buying trips to Africa. This summer marks another milestone for the designer: She’s leaving her long-time corporate gig and will throw herself into taking the brand to new heights. Though her modern jumpsuits, blazers, pencil skirts, maxi and mini dresses, clutches and head wraps are made with the same durable wax print fabric her mother wore in Liberia, Dunbar insists that Suakoko Betty is for every stylish woman, regardless of their heritage. She says, “When I see someone rocking it, it’s a celebration of the culture I love.” n

suakokobetty.com thebeehiveatl.com

ALVARO ARAUZ Founder, 3A Law Management H

elping lawyers make more money by doing less work seems like a lofty promise. But that’s exactly what Alvaro A. Arauz delivers.

And with clients in more than 35 states, he’s clearly on to something.

As founder of 3A Law Management in Midtown, he and his eight employees work with law firms across the country to improve their operations, marketing, business practices and more. He’s also launching a website for online consulting subscriptions in the fall. But with plans to become a doctor and then a writing teacher, Arauz, who lives in East Cobb, says he never expected this to be his career.

Now with a booming business and a day-to-day that doesn’t feel like work, it’s safe to say he’s found his calling.

How did you go from graduating with an English degree to working with attorneys and law firms?

I was studying medicine in Brazil, but then I realized it was not for me.

So I went to Cambridge [in the UK] and studied British Literature, started a screenwriting program, and I was

going to get an MFA in creative writing and be a teacher. I was back in Atlanta, bartending and applying to MFA programs, and I met this guy who was a law student at Emory. He said, ‘Somebody needs to review the boilerplate language for this law firm.’

I’d been [helping manage] my dad’s medical clinics since I was 10, so I got in there and was like, ‘Why are you doing this?’ and ‘Why aren’t you doing that?’ They went from 12 years in practice with $200,000 in revenue to $1 million in three years to $5 million in five. They opened four offices, and the owner retired at 40. I just fell into it.

What have been your secrets for success?

Accountability: You have to make sure you do what you say you’re going to do. And you have to like what you’re doing. The lawyers I work with have to be forward-thinking and open.

I’m honest. I tell them what I think, and they appreciate that. Also, being specific to a target audience. I’ve been offered a lot of money by doctors or CPAs, but I stick to lawyers.

| STORY: Caroline Cox |

How does tech play into what you do?

I help lawyers be efficient: “Don’t do things in 12 steps; do them in two.

Don’t spend three hours on this; spend a few minutes.” These days, you can automate a lot of your steps.

If you want an email to go out in 15 days, you can automate that. Technology is almost like an employee.

If you automate [tasks], you have consistent brand quality.

What’s been a highlight of your career so far?

This year has been a highlight. We opened a San Francisco office, and we’re opening in D.C. in July. I got asked to be an adjunct at UGA—I’m the only non-lawyer [instructor] there. It will start on August 14, a two-hour class once a week in Athens on solo and small-firm practice management. I’m also writing a DIY practice management book for law firms, since nothing has been updated on the subject in over a decade. I wanted it out by fall, but now it’s looking like January. It will

be available through Amazon.

What are your favorite places to go in Atlanta when you’re not working?

I have floor seats for the Hawks, so that’s my favorite place if there’s a game. Nothing’s gonna beat that.

SkyLounge above the Glenn Hotel downtown if it’s a nice night out. And I mountain bike three to four times a week. I like the Sope Creek and the Cochran trails (along the Chattahoochee River near Marietta).

How does giving back play into your life?

It’s always been [important to me]. My high school in Tampa was an all-boys select school, and we had to perform a certain number of hours of community [service]. The minimum was 60 or something, and I did 1,700, because it just felt good. Giving back was always important to me. I’ve been on eight nonprofit boards. It’s important because it doesn’t feel like work. n 3alawmanagement.com

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COVER STORY

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HADYN HILTON Founder, Java Cats Cafe | STORY: Laurel-Ann Dooley |

I

t’s been only a year, and Haydn Hilton has already found homes for more than 255 abandoned cats. And we’re not talking kittens, those tiny balls of fur that melt even the hardest of hearts. No, these guys are past the adorable baby phase. They’re a tougher sell.

But Hilton makes it happen, usually within two months of their arrival at Java Cats Cafe, the combination coffeehouse/cat rescue she opened in Grant Park in 2017. Since that time, the list of what she’s accomplished is nothing short of remarkable.

Hilton stumbled upon the cat cafe concept while working on a paper for a Georgia State film class. The idea is to create a relaxed coffehouse atmosphere where customers can hang out with adoptable cats. The phenomenon started in Taiwan and spread worldwide, but at the time, it hadn’t hit Atlanta.

Hilton was intrigued. Not surprising, given that she’d grown up in Savannah immersed in animal rescue. “We were known as ‘the animal family,’” she says. “Whenever anyone found an injured animal, they brought it to us.” A bird without any feathers or a crow needing leg surgery—“The kind of creatures that no one really cares that much about.”

Fast forward a few years. Hilton was a senior at GSU, majoring in film and four classes away from graduation. She’d been single-mindedly preparing for a career in film production, and the movie industry had just landed on Atlanta’s doorstep.

The stars seemed aligned.

Except she couldn’t stop thinking about that cat cafe. “All my life, I’d been going to do this one thing, and then my plan completely changed,” says Hilton. She decided to leave school and partner with PAWS Atlanta, the Decatur-based no-kill adoption shelter to open Atlanta’s first cat cafe.

The undertaking was significant, with complicated permitting, business planning, fundraising and siting.

And Hilton had a further agenda: She wanted to support the local community in the process.

She teamed with The Gathering, a nonprofit that teaches homeless Atlantans culinary skills, to supply packaged food. She called on local artists to create cat-themed merchandise. She hosted animal rescue classes, brought in “cat celebrities” to spread awareness and started a support group for young women entrepreneurs.

The community has responded in kind. She recalls one Thursday morning when she discovered the city had shut off the water.

It was a mistake, but one she was told wouldn’t be fixed until Monday.

“I had 20 cats and no water.”

She posted on social media, notified local press, and before she knew it, she had 60 gallons of water. Weeks later, people were still dropping it off.

Another time she posted that her litter supply was low. “I had 1,100 pounds within four days.”

Social media, she says, is key, and she devotes about five hours a day to answering messages and posting on Instagram and Facebook.

But even with all the photos and updates, many people don’t understand the way it works.

A common misconception is that the cats have the run of the house.

But they have their own wellappointed lounge with cushioned perches and cozy nooks on one side of a glass partition. Visitors pay to enter and spend time getting to know them. The other side is 100 percent coffee shop, with string lights, couches, tables and, like any self-respecting coffee house, Wi-Fi. It’s been so successful that Hilton opened a second location in Marietta in May. Profit is measured more in placement and community outreach than in dollars. “It’s a labor of love,” says Hilton.

Her feline charges agree. n

javacatscafe.com

COVER STORY

SARA SANTAMARIA AND ALLIE BASHUK Partners, Brutal Studio

I

f you visited multi-use development Atlantic Station sometime this spring, you most likely spotted a large, floral throne welcoming the perfect Instagram opportunity.

The installation, decorated with various colorful flowers and moss, and with enough space for two, was the brainchild of design and

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| STORY: Muriel Vega |

installation company Brutal Studio.

The female-owned outfit, whose mobile studio often sprouts at the Goat Farm, came together as a lucky encounter in 2015 when event designer Allie Bashuk, who previously worked with the Goat Farm and Scoutmob, needed assistance with arts nonprofit WonderRoot’s event, WonderNight. Bashuk invited artists Danielle Brutto and Sara Santamaria

to bring the evening to life. They clicked over their creative processes and decided to fill the gap in outsidethe-box event design in 2016.

“Our name was inspired by Brutalist architecture,” says Santamaria. “We all looked up to the bold, brash and confrontational buildings from Brutalism, and took it as a reference for a company of builder-girls designing and constructing from raw materials.”

Since then, the team has kept busy executing experimental installations, always tapping into the local arts scene to ignite collaborations with artists. One of their biggest projects included a commissioned float for the Atlanta Pride Parade, complete with rainbow-patterned foam pool noodle installations and metallic textures, in partnership with MailChimp and Wussy magazine.

Another eye-catching project included fruit-filled headgear and costumes for a 250-person wedding at the Goat Farm. Most recently, the Christmas spirit was brought to life with several installations at Miracle Bar, two holiday-themed pop-up bars in Midtown and Buckhead.

The project included a sea of Santas and plush snowman toys, tons of silver streamers and hundreds of rolls of wrapping paper.

“Every project has been such a learning curve. We are getting better and more refined with each project,” says Santamaria. “We mostly get approached for projects, and we decide as a team whether or not it’s a good fit. We get the freedom to be more picky with our projects.”

When choosing a project, the team looks beyond timeline and budget and prioritizes creative freedom. They also make sure it’s a good fit for their skills. With a penchant for nature, the team gravitates toward organic materials such as plants and flowers.

While Brutto has moved to New York City to acquire further business opportunities, Bashuk and Santamaria are holding down the fort in Atlanta—Sara lives in East Atlanta Village, and Allie in Grant Park— playing to their strengths.

“We don’t have set roles or positions, but rather have our strengths and weaknesses. Depending on the project, we naturally take on the necessary roles,” says Santamaria. “Allie handles a lot of communication and logistics, and I’m really great at design and execution. Together we are a great team.”

Brutal Studio is already gearing up for upcoming projects this summer, including local startup CallRail’s Atlanta Pride Parade float, while keeping their schedule open for one-of-a-kind opportunities to flex their muscles within Atlanta’s art community. n

brutal.studio

A

t 32, filmmaker and PonceyHighland resident Erin Bernhardt has two Peabody Awards and an Emmy under her belt. She has served in the Peace Corps, written and produced at CNN and spent hours volunteering with Nexus Global, the BeltLine and LEAD Atlanta. To say she has a heart for change would be an understatement, and she puts her talent where her passion is.

“My goal with filmmaking is more about building movements around issues that I care about than it is actually making a movie,” she says.

Her first independent film, Imba Means Sing (2015), took viewers to Africa to meet Moses, the celebrity drummer for the African Children’s Choir. It’s now on Netflix and Delta’s in-flight entertainment.

When a violent white supremacy rally occurred in Charlottesville earlier

this year, Bernhardt, a University of Virginia grad, couldn’t stand by. “I felt compelled to make a film about the opposite of hate,” she says. Inspired by those events, the Georgia native directed her attention closer to home.

DeKalb County’s Clarkston lies just 10 miles outside of Atlanta and has been designated by Time as “the most diverse square mile in America.”

Here, refugees otherwise torn apart by war, persecution or prejudice are living in harmony. Surprised?

Bernhardt says you shouldn’t be. “I love the South and think there are a lot of misconceptions about this part of the country. But there are also little glimpses of heaven on earth happening in our own backyard in Clarkston where people are welcoming these refugees with open arms,” she says.

The film, titled Clarkston, depicts a town that embodies Atlanta as “the

city too busy to hate,” a nickname coined in the 1960s when, unlike other southern cities, Atlanta blazed toward racial progress. While we earned this label in 1965, Clarkston’s residents continue its legacy. “Clarkston is a microcosm for a lot of what America has done right. It’s what we were founded on. The Americans who were privileged to be born here, like me, who choose to spend their time in Clarkston, feel the freedom America promises deeply and are eager to help make that promise come true for more,” Bernhardt explains.

Bernhardt is using her film as an opportunity to broaden her impact beyond theaters and red carpets. She intentionally hired a team comprised of women and minorities. “As a female filmmaker, I think long and hard about the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. As a white woman, I know it’s

ERIN BERNHARDT

Filmmaker

not right for white people to always be telling the stories of people of color. As a millennial, I can’t sit by and watch the world happen to us,” she says.

“Being a producer is not as glamorous, creative or rewarding as being a director, but it does give me the power to hire our team, and with that power, I decided to hire the people the industry doesn’t usually hire first.”

Through Clarkston, which will premiere at film festivals in 2020, Bernhardt hopes to demystify the refugee experience, but her dreams for the film don’t stop there. “We want America to continue living up to its founding promise of freedom and justice for all people. We want to share a positive story out of the South. We want to empower and educate the future filmmakers of Atlanta. We want world peace. Is that too much to ask for from a film?” n

| STORY: Nicole Letts |

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I want

to be a

FIRE FIGHTER – Luis, age 12

At CURE Childhood Cancer, our mission is to support kids like Luis during their fight with cancer and to fund research that will one day lead to a cure. So that every child will be able to reach for their dream.

Save childhood dreams.

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Donate today or learn more at CUREChildhoodCancer.org

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Happening WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND TOWN | STORIES: Claire Ruhlin |

PARTY ARTY ATLANTA CONTEMPORARY FETES 45 YEARS WITH A ’70S-THEMED BASH

F

ounded in 1973 as a grassroots artist collective, the Atlanta Contemporary has become one of the primary art centers in the Southeast. In addition to commissioning and showcasing new works by artists from across the globe, the organization also makes art accessible to everyone by providing free admission every day.

In support of this initiative, the center’s annual Art Party on August 25 celebrates the center’s artists, patrons and donors with an evening of DJ music, food, dancing drinks and, of course, artwork.

“Art Party originated as the party of the year and ran for decades—it was a night of celebrations, art and experimentation,” says Veronica Kessenich, executive director at Atlanta Contemporary. “In 2013, Atlanta Contemporary brought the party back as a way to celebration the renovations completed with our capital campaign.”

This year, in honor of the center’s 45th anniversary, admission to the event will cost $45, and the celebration will follow a ’70s theme as an homage to its founding year. Guests are encouraged to wear their grooviest

attire to the event, which will be rain or shine from 10 p.m. to midnight.

In addition to food stations throughout the event, there will also be a celebratory craft cocktail created by a mixologist-in-residence.

Guests will also be able to view site-specific installations and works by artists such as Allison Janae Hamilton, Charles Harlan, Monica Kim Garza, Hasani Sahlehe, Jacolby Satterwhite, Patricia Satterwhite and Nick Weiss.

After viewing the on-site installations, visitors are encouraged to meander throughout the campus.

“Peruse, circulate and shop—support our acclaimed artists participating in the Studio Artist Program,” says Kessenich. The on-site store offers hand-selected, artist-made goods, books and magazines for sale.

“Atlanta Contemporary succeeds because of…our artists, patrons, donors and friends,” says Kessenich.

“Art Party is just one night where we recognize the range of voices necessary to create a vibrant arts community.” n atlantacontemporary.org

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Happening

EVENTS

WILD WORLD WEEKEND

JULY 28–29

Coming up...

ATLANTA FIELD DAY

Photo: Courtesy Atlanta BeltLine Partnership

July 14 Historic Fourth Ward Park

There’s no better time to travel and explore the world than summer, and while you may have a summer vacation or two planned, you’ll be able to get a taste of a multitude of cultures, global influences, traditions and experiences in Atlanta, too.

This July, Zoo Atlanta invites guests to explore cultures and traditions from countries around the world without leaving city limits.

During its annual cultural heritage festival, Wild World Weekend, Zoo Atlanta will transform its grounds into a cultural melting pot.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 28 and 29, Wild World guests will enjoy live performances, music, entertainment, crafts and activities by an array of dynamic cultures from varying corners of the world. Expect to get a taste of everywhere from Africa to the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific at the twoday celebration of the world’s biodiversity and multifaceted cultural landscape. n zooatlanta.org

GRANT PARK SUMMER SHADE FESTIVAL AUGUST 25-26 Perhaps one of the best times to stroll through Grant Park’s rolling, leafy grounds is during its annual Summer Shade Festival, which celebrates the historic site with music, artwork, food and plenty of spirit.

“I think the sense of community found throughout Grant Park helps to position Summer Shade as one of the more unique events in Atlanta,” says John Dance, 2018 Grant Park Summer Shade cochair. “From the families who live in the area, to those who come here for work and visitors from outside the city, there’s an unparalleled camaraderie found here.”

The event celebrates 16 years this August, when Atlanta’s oldest park will come alive with two stages of live music throughout the weekend, along with food trucks and an art market featuring works by more than 200 art-

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ists. Guests can also participate in a 5K run through the neighborhood, which includes a tot trot and a stroller race. For younger visitors, the festival will include a Kids Zone, which includes a Spider Jump, craft activities (most of which are free) and kid-friendly live performers, musicians and storytellers.

While the festival is free, guests have the option to purchase tickets to the VIP Lounge, a private tent offering complimentary food, wine, Monday Night

Brewing craft beer and the signature Summer Shade Cocktail.

Proceeds from the event benefit the Grant Park Conservancy, which works to maintain and restore historic Grant Park. “We’re working to preserve and improve the park around which this incredibly dynamic neighborhood and section of the city revolves,” says Michelle Blackmon, executive director of the Grant Park Conservancy.

“With all the growth and development—which is very exciting— happening right now, it’s critical that citizens work together through a group like ours to protect the park while preparing it to welcome and serve even more people.” n summershadefestival.org

Throw it back to the classic elementary school Field Days with a day of play— for adults. Held at Historic Fourth Ward Park, the event features classic competitive games and events—think tug-ofwar, relay races and obstacle courses— as well as more offbeat games. Each Atlanta Field Day team of eight will earn points at every event throughout the day, and the winning team will take home the title of King of the Field. Attendees must be 21 or older to participate.

atlfieldday.com

ATLANTA ICE CREAM FESTIVAL July 22 Piedmont Park Cool off this summer at the eighth annual Atlanta Ice Cream Festival.

Sample frozen desserts from a variety of food vendors and enjoy live music and a morning 5k Fight Cancer Walk.

The event will also include zumba, yoga, tai chi, line dancing, hula hoop competitions, a free wellness screening booth, blood donations and more.

atlantaicecreamfestival.com

GREAT SOUTHERN BEER FEST July 28 John Howell Park Celebrate summer and Southern beer at the 2018 Great Summer Beer Fest, held at Virginia-Highland’s John Howell Park from 1–6 p.m.. In addition to a selection of craft beer from across the South, the event will include Southern cuisine, rock music and lawn games and a blind, beer taste test. General admission includes unlimited tastings of select craft brews, live music, deals and giveaways from local vendors, food for purchase from food trucks and restaurants and a commemorative mason jar to take home.

greatsouthernbeerfest.com

PIEDMONT PARK ARTS FESTIVAL August 18-19 Piedmont Park Shop artwork by more than 250 artists at the The Piedmont Park Arts Festival, now in its ninth year. The free, two-day event will also include artist demonstrations, live music, a children’s play area. Free and open to the public, the event is open to all ages, as well as your four-legged friends.

piedmontparkartsfestival.com

BUCKHEAD: 3174 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305 | 404-841-2456 MIDTOWN: 950 W. Peachtree St NW, 260 - Atlanta 30309 | 404-554-8060 DRUID HILLS: 2566 Briarcliff Rd NE, Brookhaven, GA 30329 | 678-515-8880

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Price Adjusted Virginia Highland: Virginia Highland: Decatur: 1243 Stillwood Drive N.E. 789 Barnett Street N.E. 274 Adair Street 4BR • 4BA •1HBA 4BR • 3BA 2BR • 1BA • 1HBA Advisor: Ken Covers Advisors: m&m group Advisor: Charles Hayes Offered for $1,595,000 Offered for $764,000 Offered for $299,000

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226 Hutchinson Street N.E. 1135 University Drive N.E. 1818 Windemere Drive N.E. 6BR • 7BA •1HBA 3BR • 2BA 5BR • 3BA • 1HBA 5BR • 6BA Advisors: m&m group Advisor: Quinn Arnau Advisors: m&m group Advisor: Ken Covers Offered for $2,495,000 Offered for $395,000 Offered for $1,199,900 Offered for $1,985,000

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES FOR A JOB WELL DONE! Scenes from May 18-20, 2018 Special Olympics Georgia Summer Games!

Our Real Estate Family:

1430 Dresden Drive, Suite 200 Brookhaven, GA 30319

1411 N. Highland Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30306 404.874.6357 www.intownatlanta.evusa.com

4475 Roswell Road, Suite 200 Marietta, GA 30062

©2016 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage is independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.