ATL Life Magazine Spring 2022 by ATLLifeMag

ATL LIFE MAGAZINE

Spring 2022 | Issue 7 | Volume 2

ATLLifeMag.com

PUBLISHER'S NOTE Spring has "sprung" and it feels a little different this year than the past few years. More people are out and about getting fresh air and enjoying the simpler things in life around themmyself included. In this issue we speak with some talented clothing designers and learn about their awesome platforms, as well as introducing some new people with amazing backgrounds and stories

As usual- we hope you enjoy this issue and get out and enjoy life! Cheers.

Staff: Publisher- Teia Hill CEO & President- Halo DavenportVP of Sales & Operations- Elijah Summerour

Teia Hill | Publisher ATL | Miami | LA Life Magazines 2

ATL Life Magazine URBAN

LIFE

CULTURE

CONTENTS [ What's Inside ] www.ATLLifeMag.com Pg 2 Publisher's Note Pg 8 Fitting Room B and it's owner Robert "Middle Man" Pg 12 Oliva Restaurant Group

For Advertising Inquiries, Content, Subscriptions or Story Submission Publisher@ATLLifeMag.com

Pg 15 Meet Dr. Dwan Abrams- Life Coach, Bestselling Author Pg 22 ATL Hawks 75th Anniversary Limited-Edition Retail Collection Pg 27 Dessert Wars Georgia

ATLANTA HAWKS AND STATE FARM® OPEN NEWLY RENOVATED

‘GOOD NEIGHBOR PANTRY’ WITH ‘STOCK THE PANTRY PARTY’ AT ‘MEALS ON WHEELS ATLANTA’

Volunteers from Hawks and State Farm Stocked the New Pantry, Set To Help Triple Meal Production Across Metro Atlanta

ATLANTA – the Hawks and State Farm teamed up for a special ‘Stock the Pantry Party’ service event at Meals On Wheels Atlanta (MOWA) on the westside of Atlanta. The event involved executives and team members from both the Hawks and State Farm volunteering their time to both honor and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy of service. The volunteers helped stock, sort and label food as well as write cards and assemble breakfast bags at the newly renovated and expanded ‘Meals On Wheels Atlanta’, a non-profit organization that supports senior independence through meals, shelter, education and community. Dr. King believed that all people should have equal opportunity in life through making sure people everywhere can have three meals per day.

“Our partnership with State Farm has continued to help us fight food insecurity in Atlanta,” said Hawks’ Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility Andrea Carter. “Not only today, but going forward, our employees will have an opportunity to volunteer at Meals On Wheels Atlanta, and we are excited about this continued relationship with a nonprofit organization who strives to help so many in our community.” The new 1,000-square-foot Good Neighbor Pantry is located inside the recently renovated and expanded 18,000-square-foot ‘Meals On Wheels Atlanta’ and will help MOWA triple the meal production seniors across metro Atlanta. South Gwinnett native and current Hawks guard Lou Williams joined volunteers on-site to lend a hand. “As State Farm, in partnership with the Atlanta Hawks continue our many efforts to fight food insecurity we look forward to working with Meals On Wheels Atlanta to serve the nourishment needs of our neighbors in and around Atlanta,” said Victor Terry, State Farm Vice President Public Affairs & Chief Diversity Officer. “We welcome this unique opportunity to make a difference in the communities we serve.” The ‘Good Neighbor Pantry’ is the first food pantry that the Hawks and State Farm provided support for, and the newly renovated and expanded space also features more shelving and storage for food to greater assist ‘Meals On Wheels Atlanta’ in its mission to service the local community. “We’re thrilled to partner with State Farm and the Atlanta Hawks to open our first ever adopted pantry, and to move the needle forward against senior hunger in our community,” said Charlene Crusoe-Ingram, Chief Executive Officer, Meals On Wheels Atlanta. The ‘Stock the Pantry Party’ was a part of the Hawks and State Farm’s continued efforts to fight food insecurity in Atlanta. Since 2018, the Hawks and State Farm have made fighting local food insecurity in Atlanta a major component of their partnership. In 2019, the Hawks and State Farm previously teamed up to pack one million meals for the Atlanta community. Since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Hawks and State Farm, with assistance from Goodr, hosted pop-up grocery stores to provide more than 27,000 meals for families across metro Atlanta. The Hawks and State Farm continue to work together to build a stronger Atlanta community.

To learn more about the Hawks’ work in the community, visit Hawks.com/community. 6

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Fitting Room B Owner Robert "Middle Man" Fresh

Tell me about your background and how your career began in the fashion industry I’ve styled my clients for over 25 years. I first realized my “passion for fashion” in high school. I would always win “best dressed” awards, my friends would always come to me for help with putting their outfits together. Then I realized this was something that I could actually get paid for- that’s when I decided to move forward and said to myself“I want to make this my career!”

I started off selling throw-back jerseys- which were very popular back in the day, they were $300-$500 jerseys. I would go to the clothing store that sold these jersey’s and I’d try to make a deal with the owner. I then started styling more athletes and entertainers- but at the time, I wasn’t aware of how to set my pricing- so I would say “Just give me what you think I deserve.” They’d say “Okay, I’ll give you $10,000 to go shopping.” To me, that was a lot of money and I knew I could make it work so I just hit the ground running! Everything from that point was basically given to me. At that time- Atlanta really didn’t have that many stylists. Tomeka Foster and myself were really the only stylists in Atlanta who had the name recognition and clientele. We didn’t have instagram or social media- everything was by word of mouth then.

Please describe for our reader’s your Flex Designer Program that you offer Initially, once I got my store here Fitting Room B- I said that I wanted my store to be a platform for up and coming designers. A way for me to give back and assist with budding designers who may not have the 9 resources and contacts in the industry that I have.

Think “each one teach one”. I want to give up and coming designers an opportunity to showcase their clothing lines and portfolios. Here at Fitting Room B we want to give the designers a platform, so what we do, we select 2 or 3 designers who are handpicked by myself and my team. We go over their designs and make sure that they fit with the concept of Fitting Room B. From there the designers that are selected have their line displayed in the store for 2-3 months, it’s a place where they can showcase their designs. What are the requirements and qualifications that each designer needs to have before applying to the Flex Designer Program? The designers need to have an instagram following, a brand boom service, a tech pack and designs. We get questions and applications everyday, so there is a lot of weeding

through to find the best designers. There is a lot that goes into it. The entire premise of the Flex Designer Program is to give other designers the opportunity to get their work out there! My store is very different from any other male boutique in Atlanta, we are very unique. 10

"My ultimate goal is to have Fitting Room B in New York, LA, Chicago, DC, etc. The next most immediate goal is to have Fitting Room B become a franchise. I feel that it’s the natural progression with The Flex Program." - Middleman Fresh- Owner Fitting Room B

Oliva Resturant Group Oliva Restaurant Group was founded in 2015 by Tal Baum with the opening of Bellina Alimentari in Atlanta, Georgia. The group now encompasses some of Atlanta's most beloved restaurants inspired by Baum's cross-cultural upbringing, including Aziza and Falafel Nation in the City's West Midtown neighborhood, Atrium at Ponce City Market and Rina, located alongside the Atlanta BeltLine's Eastside Trail. Oliva Restaurant Group's mission is to share flavorful moments that celebrate worldly cuisine, honor local ingredients and deepen connections to each other.

Atrium

Opened at Ponce City Market January 2022, Atrium serves a Modern American menu with European influence for lunch and dinner. It's a destination where guests can settle in for a quiet and relaxing evening sipping finely crafted cocktails and enjoying a meal by Executive Culinary Director Brandon Hughes and Culinary Director Todd Immel. The refreshing menu features seasonally driven, vegetable-forward appetizers, crudo, light pastas, and larger entrees for sharing. The restaurant's design by Smith Hanes Studio is eclectic and bright, with thoughtful elements like bold florals, expansive tropical leaves and focal walls in a palette featuring pinks, greens and golds 13

Aziza Located in West Midtown and open for dinner, Aziza ("happiness" in Arabic) offers modern Israeli cuisine with fresh takes on traditional dishes, paying homage to Founder Tal Baum's childhood in Israel. With influences of Moroccan, Lebanese, and Persian kitchens, the menu features dishes meant for sharing, including hummus, larger appetizers and entrees, mostly prepared on a wood-burning oven. On the beverage side, the bar serves exceptional cocktails, plus a tight list of wines from the Mediterranean, California, Austria, France and more, as well as Israeli and craft beers. Designed by Smith Hanes Studio, the cozy space features an open kitchen, is rich in texture and materials, low ceilings, exposed brick walls, comfortable green banquettes and handmade ceramic light fixtures.

Meet DR. DWAN ABRAMS LIFE COACH, BESTSELLING AUTHOR, ENTREPRENEUR AND OWNER OF

LUXE SPA MECHELE

I'm always inspired by the conversations that I have with women who have achieved so much in life and are still striving for more. Dwan was no different and her story is inspriring to say the least...

Tell me about yourself and your background.. My name is Dwan Abrams and my background may be a little different because it covers a lot of areas. I grew up in a military family—both my mother and stepfather were in the United States Army. My parents were strict but not super hard on me with discipline. However, we did have a family ‘Code of Conduct and Honor.’ I didn’t give my parents any trouble. I had a great upbringing and actually graduated high school early. I was a senior in high school at sixteen years old. By the time I’d finished high school, I was still too young to join the Air Force. As a result, I was on the Delayed Enlistment Program until my eighteenth birthday. I stayed in the Air Force for four years. I would have meetings with my company commander who was a Lieutenant Colonel. Here I was this young girl, an Airman, but socializing in that way. My supervisor, a Tech Sergeant, saw so much potential in me. He wanted me to have a career in the Air Force, but that wasn’t the direction I wanted to go with my life. Even at an early age, I had a lot of drive and ambition. While I was in the military, I completed three years of college. I was focused on school and getting it completed, because I really did not want to retire from the military. Immediately after getting out of the service, I enrolled in college full-time. After I graduated college, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia. I was fortunate enough to land a position as an Advertising Sales Representative. I didn’t really like the stress and demands of a sales job, so I got into management. After nine years with the company—and multiple leadership positions, I found myself in a quandary. I knew that once I got ten years with the company, it would be incredibly hard to leave. As if it were divine intervention, our company merged with another company. I was given the opportunity to take a voluntary severance package, and I took it. That’s when I left corporate America and never returned. My real passion was writing. I had dreams of being a published author. Throughout my professional career I had been writing manuscripts. I submitted my third manuscript to a major publishing house and ended up getting a two book deal with a third book option. That was really life changing for me. It confirmed for me that I did have a gift. In high school and college, writing was where I excelled. When I became a published author, I surrounded myself with other writers. All of my friends were writers. I belonged to a writers group, and I would go to conferences and retreats specifically for readers and writers. Anything I could do to improve my skills and knowledge I did. Travelling for book tours afforded me the opportunity to meet interesting new people and visit places I wouldn’t ordinarily go.

I totally immersed myself in the culture of writing.

How did your career change? One of my friends worked at a college and told me they were looking for a business instructor. I felt comfortable speaking in front of people, so I did a demo teach and got hired. I taught at the college for several years. I then went to graduate school and earned an MBA. Not long after that, I started a small cosmetics line. My daughter and nieces were experimenting with make-up at the time, and I wanted something that was safe for them to use without harmful toxins. It was more of a passion project than an actual business venture. I then decided to pursue a doctorate degree. Once I finished, I had time on my hands. I would go to the spa twice a week. That’s when I decided to open my own spa. I started doing research and looking into what it would take to own a spa, because it was something I was really interested in. I then opened Luxe Spa Mechele—Mechele is French, and it happens to be my and my daughter’s middle name. So, it’s very close to my heart. What makes Luxe Spa Mechele different from other spas in Atlanta? I wanted people to realize they don’t necessarily have to go under the knife to get results for their body—at least not as a first resort. Not everyone has the money for, or the desire to get surgery. I learned about body contouring and the lymphatic system. I even got certified as a post-op specialist so that when a person does get cosmetic surgery, I can assist him or her. Besides body sculpting and skincare services, we offer Reiki Energy Healing and Health & Wellness Coaching. It’s all about your total body wellness, because beauty is from the inside out! What is it that you’d like our readers to know about you and your company? When my clients come to Luxe Spa Mechele, they get a peaceful and relaxing spa experience. Our clients come back again and again because our staff respects them; values them and pampers them. For booking information, please visit www.luxespamechele.com Follow us on social media: IG: @luxespamechele Twitter: luxespamechele FB: luxespamechele 17

Left to Right: John Bryd-Olivieri (Designer), Amanda Harvey (model), Jason Harvey (CEO of WORLDLY)

Jason Harvey (son of Marjorie and Steve Harvey) and NY- Designer John Bryd-Olivieri debut their new collaborative collection "Eden on Hush" at Magic City in celebration of the launch of Jason's new creative house, Worldly. The popular gentleman club was jam-packed with key influencers from Atlanta fashion scene. The night was full of everything "Atlanta"ready-to-wear fashion, great music, and more.

About Worldly: WORLDLY, A CREATIVE HOUSE CURATED BY JASON HARVEY TO EMPOWER DESIGN TALENT OF COLOR, IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF ITS FIRST-EVER COLLABORATION WITH DESIGNER JOHN BYRDOLIVIERI. ENTITLED "EDEN ON HUSH", THE NEW COLLECTION IS A RICH BLEND OF HARVEY'S AND BYRD-OLIVIERI'S STYLE OF AVANT-GARDE CIRQUE, STREETWEAR, THEATRICAL COSTUMES, AND GRAND CLASSICISM.

Left to Right: Jason Harvey, Marjorie Harvey

Harvey’s brand, Worldly, embodies the celebration of culture, empowerment and society, while also building a support system for the next generation of Black and Brown fashion designers. At the end of the day, Harvey says supporting someone who looks like him is very important. “That’s what it’s all about,” Harvey said. Everybody knows I come from a place of parents who have money or things like that, but at the same time, it doesn’t matter. I’m grateful for that, and any kind of way that I can be able to give to others and be able to share my knowledge, I will. It doesn’t always have to be on a financial level. From a business standpoint, there are just so many things that all these businesses and ventures look for, and I’ve taken all of this and gained so many resources and connections to those things.”

HAWKS SHOP TEAMS UP WITH MITCHELL & NESS & WISH ATL TO CELEBRATE NBA 75TH ANNIVERSARY WITH LIMITED-EDITION RETAIL COLLECTION

The Hawks' Retro-Inspired Retail Collection is On Sale at the Hawks Shop at State Farm Arena and HawksShop.com

"We are excited to be a part of this retro capsule retail launch alongside iconic brands Mitchell & Ness and Wish ATL," said Hawks' Senior Vice President of Brand Merchandising Amy Serino. "Through this collection, we stay 'True To Atlanta' by incorporating the styles of the past and a re-imagination of the present." The collection includes snapbacks, bucket hats, jerseys, shorts, vintage ringer tees and a velour warm up jacket and tear-away pant. Paying homage to the Hawks' rich history, the collection features elements inspired by the 'player' aesthetic of the 70's, including plush velour, bold striping and metallic gold highlights. The collection also nods to the state of Georgia's heritage with peach-colored accents accompanied by a rich burgundy reimagination of the Hawks' primary team red. 24

"We are so excited to team up with our hometown team, the Hawks, for this retro collection," said Julie Hogg, Partner/CEO of WISH ATL, LLC. "This collection pays homage to the Hawks' rich history and looks ahead to the future as we reimagined the traditional red and yellow colors into a rich burgundy velour and added some 'Georgia Peach' color to the stripes." To capture the collection's essence, Wish ATL worked with influential members in Atlanta's community. Photos of these members wearing the new retail capsule collection include: Former WNBA All-Star and Atlanta Dream Owner Renee Montgomery, accredited music producer and executive Don Cannon, Hawks' PA announcer Big Tigger, WNBA star Angel McCoughtry and recording artist and activist Killer Mike.

For more information on the Hawks, log on to www.hawks.com or follow us on social media @ATLHawks

A super sweet event

On a sunny saturday afternoon in April, hundreds of dessert lovers including myself enjoyed many different local tastes from some of the best bakers and cake makers, tasty and sweet treat creators at Cobb Galleria Convention center.

There was plenty of space to move about and sample some awesome treats. I briefly chatted it up with some of these amazing business owners and listened to their hopes for their company and products as they served a crowd patiently waiting in iine to try and review their desserts and presentation.

If you love sweets and treats music, prizes, networking and meeting new people, and overall fun... I'd reccommend attending the next time Dessert Wars comes back around! Cheers.