Perimeter North Lifestyle May 2014

Perimeter North

may 2014

PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com

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the best of dunwoody & sandy springs

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© 2014 Piedmont Healthcare 03253-0513

Editor's Letter

T

Happy Spring, Dunwoody and Sandy Springs

may 2014

his month, we are thrilled to take you to four fabulous destinations, no passport required. In our first ever travel issue, we asked some of our favorite writers to share their stories from recent trips, near and far. Robin Jean Marie takes us to the hills of France, Dennis Malcolm Byron hits the Bahamas beaches, Valerie Reed shares her Valerie Reed favorite spots in the Florida Keys and Marian Mendenhall spent a week in Vail on the Epic Pass. Pat Culpepper also writes about her extended no-travel adventure, spending a year away, living in the quiet country (Parting Thoughts, page 35). Next month, I will continue the travel theme with a new quarterly feature called Road Trip where we will write about destinations perfect for long-weekends away from Atlanta. You’ll get a taste of adorable Beaufort, S.C., in my June feature.

Speaking of upcoming issues, if you would like to share your love of the magazine, tell your friends, neighbors and business colleagues that they can grab a free online subscription to the magazine by visiting our website, PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com. And, even if you are lucky enough to get the magazine delivered to your home, you should check out the online issue and click on our partners’ ads for some special promotions.

Dennis Malcolm Byron

Marian Mendenhall

I am thankful for all of you who kindly provide feedback and encourage you to keep the story ideas and comments coming (again, head to our site or join our Facebook conversations, too). One reader loved our Hot Spot restaurant reviews so much, he asked if he could contribute and shares his insight on international cuisine this month on page 20.

publisher

Jim Newman | JNewman@LifestylePubs.com

editor

Sue G. Collins | SCollins@LifestylePubs.com

senior business development manager

Karyn Slovin | KSlovin@LifestylePubs.com

Business Development Manager

Kimberly Bleyzgis | KBleyzgis@LifestylePubs.com

contributing writers Dennis Malcolm Byron, Patricia Culpepper, Robin Jean Marie, Marian Mendenhall, Valerie Reed, Katherine Watson

contributing photographers Jack Affleck, Jeff Andrew, Steve Bly, Bob Care, Dennis Malcolm Byron, Patricia Culpepper, Liam Doran, Ruksana Hussain, Robin Jean Marie, Andy Newman, Valerie Reed Published monthly, subscriptions are also available for $22 for 1 year, $39 for 2 years by visiting PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com

770. 217. 1282

corporate team chief executive officer | Steven Schowengerdt chief sales officer | Matthew Perry chief financial officer | DeLand Shore national editor | Lisa Cooke Harrison director of marketing | Brad Broockerd national art director | Carrie Brophy advertising director | Mike Baugher production director | Christina Sandberg regional art director | Sara Minor ad coordinator | Cyndi Vreeland national copy editor | Kendra Mathewson executive assistant | Lori Cunningham application architect | Michael O'Connell it director | Randy Aufderheide

Enjoy your next adventure, and make today memorable.

Pat Culpepper's perch

Sue G. Collins, Editor SCollins@ LifestylePubs.com A diver explores the coral reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Key Largo, Fla. The reef system is the only contiguous coral barrier reef in North America. Story on page 18. on the cover

Photo by Bob Care/Florida Keys News Bureau

4 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

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P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 Proverbs 3:5-6 Perimeter North Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Atlanta's most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Perimeter North Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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May 2014

16

Departments 8

Good Times

10

Around Town

20 Hot Spot 25

Sold Properties

26

Driver’s Notebook

28

Giving Back

30 Lifestyle Calendar 34

Parting Thoughts

12 Get EPIC

Vail Resort’s Epic Pass makes for the best year in travel.

14 Great Exuma, Bahamas

Perfect weather for swimming with pigs.

16 La Joie de la Detoir

A local couple ambles their way through the south of France.

12

14

18

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Good Times

Let’s Celebrate

Perimeter North Lifestyle applauded advertising partners, writers and friends at The Capital Grille Perimeter, celebrating one year of publishing in this great community. Photography Ruksana Hussain

Karyn Slovin

Veronika Hill of Skinucations and a winner

Dr. Sharon Harley presents her door prize

Flowers from Blooms of Dunwoody

Eric Stallings from The Grove Studio

Rhiannon Bankes and Ben Hammett Walkuski

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Robertson Runs With 30 years of experience, first as a police officer then as a Public Defender, as a City attorney currently in private practice, Shelitha Robertson says she has the most diverse legal background and is ready to be Judge. Shelitha’s memberships include Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Georgia Association of Black Women Attorneys, Georgia Association for Women Lawyers, Gate City Bar Association, American Bar Association, and Georgia Carry.org.

Vote May 20 and go to ElectSRobertson.com for more information on this candidate.

New Bank in Town The Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that KeyWorth Bank has officially opened a branch in our very own Dunwoody Village. The new KeyWorth branch is located in the former office of Signature Bank of Georgia on Dunwoody Parkway. KeyWorth Bank has already shown incredible support of the Dunwoody Community offering a $1,000 donation to the YMCA. “The Dunwoody Parkway redevelopment is underway and is honored to have this business as our newest addition,” says Chamber Executive Director Beth Summers. “On behalf of the Dunwoody Chamber of Commerce, we would like to welcome KeyWorth Bank to Dunwoody Village.”

Frinkle Honored At the recent Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate / Metro Brokers statewide award ceremony, Metro Brokers recognized Curt Frinkle, director of marketing and sales at the Mount Vernon Towers senior condominium community in Sandy Springs, and sales associate with Metro Brokers, as 2013 Top Producing Agent (Top X-celerator) in Georgia from the ranks of the company’s more than 2,100 agents statewide. In addition, Curt also won the 2013 Silver Award for Sales Production, as well as 2013 Top Rookie of the Year companywide.

“It is obvious that Curt really has a passion for his job, and for the people he serves,” notes Tommy Miller, executive director of Mount Vernon Towers. “He understands that moving here is a major life decision, not only for the prospective residents, but for their families as well. I am convinced that building excellent relationships with all parties involved is the basis of Curt’s outstanding success. Congratulations!” MountVernonTowers.com

Pets Place The Pet Resorts - Dunwoody is now open.

They are not new to the pet services business, with sister company, Atlanta Dog Trainer Pet Resort nearby, and recently voted the number one animal boarding and training facility in Atlanta for 2013 by Kudzu voters. The Pet Resorts - Dunwoody offers a top notch full grooming salon, daycare, and boarding for dogs 40 pounds and under and all cats in a climate controlled facility with luxurious boarding suites and two large indoor turf play yards. Pets are not cooped up all day but are free to run and play up to 7 hours per day based on owner preference, all fully monitored by a very experienced Pet First Aid Certified staff, and at one all-inclusive price. ThePetResorts.com and AtlantaDogTrainer.com

Editor Honored Perimeter North Lifestyle magazine congratulates editor, Sue G. Collins for being honored with this year’s MAGnolia Award for excellence in editorial from the Magazine Association of the Southeast. The annual MAGnolias are presented to five individual publishing professionals for their talent, creativity and drive with a print or online magazine in the region. This year’s winners included D’anne Cagle Heckert of Modern Luxury for excellence in management; Avi Gelfont of Eide Magazine for excellence in online design, Caris Hannah Fairfax of Modern Luxury for excellence in sales and Lane Gregory of Alabama Magazine for excellence in design. Congratulations to all these professionals who are among the best in the industry.

We are excited to hear your stories and triumphs. Write to SCollins@ LifestylePubs.com or go to PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com.

May 2014 | PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com 11

EPIC GET

Vail Resort’s Epic Pass makes for the best year in travel.

Article Marian Mendenhall | Photography Jack Affleck, Jeff Andrew and Liam Doran

I

f you consider yourself a wanderlust, then you’ll agree, the mountains out west are best! From the Sierras to the Rockies is some of the most soul satiating terrain in the world. Thankfully, Vail Resorts has just the tonic for that borderline obnoxious, yet chronic travel bug. The Epic Pass is the ultimate year-round, must-have ticket for anyone looking to explore, hike, bike, ski or board at any one of the 12 Vail Resorts locations, and not to mention, an excuse to have a heck of a lot of fun along the way. Seriously, the possibilities for exploration are endless. Here’s why...

The Resorts

When you begin to think of the sheer amount of terrain an Epic Pass holder can take advantage, it almost seemingly pays for itself.

Among thousands of backcountry acreage, bowls, and basins, there are other key components that make an Epic Pass worth the investment. Vail’s constant technological updates, new gondolas and lifts plus the $10 million in renovations at Afton Alps and soon to be Mt. Brighton Resort in Michigan make make the Epic Pass a dream for a cross country adventurer.

And while the Epic Pass is good at Colorado resorts such as Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, the Pass goes on to cover Utah’s Canyons Resort, Nevada’s Heavenly Resort, California’s Northstar and Kirkwood Resorts, Minnesota’s Afton Alps as well as Michigan’s Mt. Brighton Resort. That’s a lot of mountain to cover! Did I mention it also gets holders five consecutive days at Niseko United, Japan, and up to five free days at 12 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

Verbier, Switzerland, and Les 3 Vallees, France? And the best part: no blackout dates.

The Activities

Since Epic Pass holders have limitless terrain accessibility at any one of the Vail Resorts locations, it should go without saying that there’s plenty to do. During these warmer summer months, Epic Pass holders are able to take advantage of complimentary lift service atop the mountains where at any moment there are a number of opportunities to hike, bike, and dine. Additionally, there are a number of activities off-site for guests. Additional activities may be non-inclusive with the Epic Pass, but just are definitely just as fun. Many of

the Vail Resorts in the Colorado and Tahoe areas make it convenient for individuals to participate in everything from horseback riding to whitewater rafting and fly fishing. Breckenridge even offers open safari style 4X4 tours. How cool!?

As part of the Epic experience, pass holders can expect their winter experience to be just as fun (if not more)! Epic guests will most certainly have a blast trailblazing fresh powder or hitting up innovative terrain parks for no additional cost; but what’s even better is every Epic Pass purchase includes free access to EpicMix, a cool interactive cloud network that connects Epic Pass holders, so they can capture and share their experiences through photos and forums via Vail Resorts. At a number of resorts, guests can also benefit from scenic snowcat tours, snow tubing, and of course personal ski or snowboarding lessons. Oh, and how about Keystone’s night skiing?

Totally awesome. There are four levels of passes, granting enthusiasts different accessibility to resorts, terrain and activities.

30 locally crafted brews on tap at any given time, while Vail Valley’s Crazy Mountain Brewing Company has their very own tasting room for guests. In Tahoe, Tahoe Mountain Brewing Company truly does serve up some elevated ales with their Récolte Du Bois (harvest of the wood) series, which is barrel-aged beer that uses both new and traditional methods. This year, they have a special 2014 Peach Saison, which incorporates fresh farm peaches we Georgians find enticing. And for those looking for a more upscale night on the town, restaurants such as Splendido at The Chateau in Beaver Creek and Bol in Vail serve up an uniquely different, yet equally exceptional fine dining experiences.

For Your Convenience

If you are currently in the process of planning a trip to Vail or Beaver Creek, the Eagle County Regional Airport offers direct flights to and from many metro cities across the U.S.

Night Life

Year around, many of these slopeside destinations are also slammed with exceptional nightlife activities. Complete with everything from beer and wine tastings, to summer festivals, the list goes on. In the Colorado and Tahoe area, you won’t have any problem accessing the number of fantastic craft breweries throughout the Snow.com state. Aprés Handcrafted 2014-2015 season passes are now on sale.

Libations in BreckenFour different levels, three age groups. ridge, for instance, has

Details

May 2014 | PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com 13

Great Exuma,

Bahamas Perfect weather for swimming with pigs

Article and Photography Dennis Malcolm Byron

W

ith the sometimes overwhelming degree of hustle and bustle in our great city of Atlanta, getting away is both medicinal and necessary. Luckily, Delta’s headquarters are based in this continuously burgeoning metropolis, and the numerous islands of the Bahamas have graciously partnered with this airline, resulting in direct flights to explore their exotic environs.

Strongly consider the opportunity to be pampered and enlightened in the still thankfully unadulterated Great Exuma—the largest cay of Bahamas’ extensive collective of islands—and reside at Sandals Emerald Bay to indulge in their all-inclusive hospitality. Enjoy these memories and images from our recent visit, and find a way to ex14 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

plore Exuma thanks to Delta’s new service for the 2014—there are now flights to and from Great Exuma’s city of Georgetown every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. And yes, automobile traffic is nonexistent unlike other overdeveloped Caribbean destinations, so your escape from the big city will be complete.

Tee time

Spend the day sipping beverages including crisp, local Sands lagers while trying to hit a hole-in-one on Sandals’ Greg Norman-designed championship golf course.

Bay of pigs, literally Book a 007 Thunderball Luxury Tour with Island Routes Caribbean Adventures in the Sandals lobby and fully take in the beauty of the Exuma. Activities can include snorkeling, walking tours alongside exotic iguanas, and safely swimming with pigs of the island in the crystalline waters of the Bahamas to make your stay truly unforgettable experience.

Fine dining Indulge in seven different restaurant themes including the white-gloved, French-inspired La Parisienne (“The Parisian Girl”) thanks to Sandals’ Discovery Dining program.

Beauty rest

The list of room packages is extensive, so virtually every demand you seek in rooms, suites, and villas will be met. From walking directly on the beach from your patio to luxurious bathrooms, and 24-hour butler service, it’s realizing your every wish.

Playtime!

How about some watersports, having a pint at the Drunken Duck Pub, shooting billards, or enjoying the swim-up bar in the island’s largest pool?

Ahhh

A visit to Sandals’ Red Lane Spa will fully complete your relaxation.

For more information on Delta flights, visit Delta.com.

To explore the numerous specials Sandals has to offer, visit Sandals.com/Specials.

Courtesy Sandals Resorts May 2014 | PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com 15

La Joie La joie du détour Ambling Our Way through the South of France Article and Photography Robin Jean Marie

W

e waded into the Gardon River until the water was up to our necks. Then we began to swim. We drew nearer to the massive stone structure that spanned the river, and in moments we were doing the backstroke beneath the gigantic arches of the Pont du Gard. I don’t have a bucket list, but if I did, this would be on it.

My husband and I had come to France to celebrate our 25th anniversary. But we weren’t going to spend our milestone vacation jogging through castles, museums and must-sees. No, we’ve done that before. This Gordes time, we would stroll through Europe. We would linger in the spots that we wanted to see and enjoy them with friends along the way.

Our amble through France began by visiting friends in their renovated farm house in the Burgundian village of Availly. They toured us through Cluny, known for its formerly immense and powerful abbey. During a walk through the countryside near their home, they introduced us to their farming neighbors who gave us a lesson on making goat cheese and invited us inside. I attempted to follow the French conversation while we drank white wine around the farmhouse table—I nodded, laughed, and even answered a question or two. As we left, the Frenchwoman looked at me with a pleasant smile and said, “Your French is coming back.” Thus encouraged, I spattered through French for the rest of the trip.

From there we drove south, taking our detour for the Pont du Gard. Our destination was Gordes, in the windswept hills of the 16 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

Luberon, where we were meeting another couple. We had chosen the laid-back Luberon for our base because our requirements were so simple: my friend and I wanted to walk cobbled streets of provençal villages; our husbands wanted to avoid cities.

Our hotel at Gordes was hiking distance from the popular Abbaye de Sénanque, and we wanted to make the trek. The Cistercian abbey, stunning in its simplicity and flanked by a field of lavender, was built in 1148 and is still a functioning monastery. As the four of us meandered down the hillside path, we were rewarded with sweeping views of the monastery in its valley, and that heightened our experience: we weren’t tourists, we were pilgrims. We visited the cloisters and attended mass in the austere chapel, the a cappella chants of the monks reverberating against bare stone walls. Our relaxed, yet deliberate pace helped us to appreciate the essence of what has become a very popular tourist site.

Itinerary AVAILLY—two nights

Dinner and a view on the Mediterranean at Cassis

*Abbaye de Cluny; Burgundian countryside UZÈS—one night

*Tour town; Pont du Gard GORDES—four nights

*Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque; Roussillon *Gordes market; Mont Ventoux; picnic; Côtes du Rhône; hill towns; Domaine de Coyeux winery; view Dentelles Mountains *Sault market day; lavender hunt *Drive to Aix-en-Provence (lunch and self-guided tour); proceed to Cassis Pont du Gard CASSIS—two nights

I admit that I did have one particular goal in mind for our vacation: I wanted to walk to a town on market day and buy fresh provisions for a picnic. As it happened, the Gordes market day fell on our anniversary, which was perfect. We all decided to combine a picnic with some sight-seeing, and that made for a wonderfully layered day—our lovely picnic slipped between a trip up Mont Ventoux and a drive through the Côtes du Rhône.

The one drawback of this trip was that we were in Provence frustratingly close to the time that the lavender bloomed. We could see that the buds were just about to pop; within days the countryside would be awash with the fragrance and color of lavender. As my husband and I drove through the Luberon (the area fondly portrayed by Peter Mayle in A Year in Provence), we searched for lavender in bloom. And then he spotted it: a patch of purple on a distant hillside. Perhaps the sun hit that spot just so and caused that crop to bloom before the rest? We agreed to go there, and between his remarkable navigational skills and my sputtering French, we actually did reach the place. What we found, though, was not lavender—it was a solar panel farm glistening grayish-purple in the sunlight. But it was an uncharted day exploring unchartered territory, and that

*Calanques boat tour, explore port town, swim in Mediterranean *Drive to Cannes (self-guided tour); proceed to Nice

was the point, after all.

We spent the rest of our trip along the Mediterranean and Côte d’Azur. Our NICE—two nights detours led us to the Russian *Promenade des Anglais Orthodox Cathedral in Nice *Old Town, flower market; view from (which my husband couldn’t Colline du Château (Castle Hill); enter because he was wearHotel Negresco; Russian Cathedral ing shorts) and to some of the freshest, tastiest food we ever ate (and in one of the most sensational settings) at a metal-framed beach bar I spotted in Cassis. Our ambling attitude urged us to linger at a portside restaurant and enjoy a French duo singing American music, for a truly memorable evening.

The south of France is so jam-packed with noteworthy attractions and breath-taking vistas that it is impossible to experience all of it in ten days. However, my husband and I got a fine sampling of what the area has to offer, and for us, the pace and itinerary were perfect.

May 2014 | PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com 17

key the

to Island Memories

Article Valerie Reed | Photography Steve Bly, Bob Care, Andy Newman and Valerie Reed with thanks to the Florida Keys News Bureau

W

hen most people think of the Florida Keys they think of Key West, Parrotheads and colorful drinks holding little umbrellas. While these ingredients are key to the Keys, there is so much more to discover and enjoy.

The Florida Keys start where mainland Florida ends and continue for 126 miles across 42 bridges linking the islands. Leaving the mainland and entering the Keys is more than just a change of scenery, it’s a change of everything. The Keys are known for their laid back, relaxed approach to life. Locals refer to locations by mile markers, flip-flops are appropriate just about anywhere and being in a hurry just usually isn’t allowed.

Kick your shoes off, grab a cold drink and let’s take a drive down the Keys to see even more of what they have to offer.

Key Largo

First in the chain of Keys, an hour’s drive from South Florida’s two major airports, Key Largo is a world away.

Key Largo is sandwiched between Everglades National Park to the west and the coral formations of North America’s only living coral barrier reef to the east. Locals consider their home the Diving Capital of the World but the island is nearly as famous as a sport-fishing destination. Kayaking and boating are also popular ways to get out and see the natural beauty of the island and its waters. Operator-led or self-led tours are available from vendors on the island. Key Lar18 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

go’s five-acre Wild Bird Center has a display of native and migratory birds that have been nursed back to health but can’t be released into the wild. Key Largo also features six unique Sanctuary Preservation Areas where even hook and line fishing is prohibited.

Where to stay: Dove Creek Lodge is an intimate island style boutique

hotel, literally surrounded by water. DoveCreekLodge.com Get this: When guests visit Jules’ Undersea Lodge they must actually scuba dive 21 feet beneath the surface of the sea. The world’s only underwater hotel. Jul.com Marathon

Marathon is a 10-mile-long, family-oriented island community conveniently situated in the middle of the Keys island chain.

One of the Keys’ most marine-friendly The author takes it all in. cities boasts nearly 1,200 wet slips, 1,200 dry slips and major facilities to accommodate transient cruisers. Crane Point is a favorite where you can explore the many trails that exist on the 63-acre property and enjoy the natural Florida Keys hardwood hammock. Also, Creature Feature is a changing exhibit featuring hermit crabs and lizards. According to the International Game Fish Association, more saltwater world records have been established in the Florida Keys than any other angling destination on the globe, so fishing is a must.

Tranquility Bay Beachfront Hotel and Resort. Guests enjoy the private white sand beach, multiple swimming pools and putting green overlooking the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Mexico. TranquilityBay.com Get this: The Turtle Hospital opened its doors 1986 with the goal of rehabilitating sea turtles and returning them to their natural habitat. The Turtle Hospital has successfully treated and released more than 1500 Sea Turtles since its founding in 1986. TurtleHospital.org Where to stay:

Big Pine Key

If you’ve had enough of an overcrowded and weary world, the islands of the Lower Keys are the place for you. Here, you can snorkel

Angler Doug Easter strips his fly line while fishing off Sugarloaf Key in the lower Florida Keys. The flats of the Florida Keys are renowned for light tackle fishing for bonefish, permit and tarpon. Photography Steve Bly

or dive over the Looe Key coral reef, ride a bicycle through Key Deer country, take a fishing adventure in the back country or troll the deep blue waters beyond the reef. Nearby, you’ll find Bahia Honda State Park and Recreation Area. White sandy beaches and endless views earn Bahia Honda a frequent place on the list of the most beautiful beaches in America. It’s not to be missed.

Deer Run Bed & Breakfast. This Caribbean-style eco-friendly home is a State of Florida Certified green lodge.

Where to stay:

DeerRunFloridaBB.com

The National Key Deer Refuge was established in 1957 to protect and preserve Key deer and other wildlife resources in the Florida Keys. These tiny deer run free on the 9,200 acres they call home. FWSs.gov/NationalKeyDeer/

Get this:

Key West

Above: This female green sea turtle was a patient at the Marathon Turtle Hospital, the world’s only state-certified vet hospital for sea turtles.

Photography Andy Newman Below: A diver explores the coral reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary off Key Largo, Fla. The reef system in the Keys is the only contiguous coral barrier reef in North America. Photography Bob Care

Key West is the most southern city in the U.S. and is known for Duval Street, The Southernmost Point and Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square. There is so much more to discover. History is alive in the real estate in Key West; with properties dating back to the Kings of Spain. A simple stroll through the palm-lined streets leads you through the footsteps of Thomas Edison, Ernest Hemingway, Lou Gehrig, Harry Truman, John Audubon and Tennessee Williams. A visit to Fort Zachary Taylor provides a history lesson on the Fort’s significance in the Civil War and Spanish-American Wars, while also giving you a chance to enjoy Key West’s favorite beach.

The Orchid Key is located on Duval Street and Truman Avenue right at the very crossroads of Historic Old Town Key West. OrchidKey.com Get this: Key West First Legal Rum Distillery. Local Chefs have joined together to open this first of its kind distillery in Key West for original white rums, made with Florida sugar cane and with infusions of Coconut, Vanilla Crème Brulee and Real Key Lime.

Where to stay:

KeyWestLegalRum.com May 2014 | PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com 19

Hot Spot

Sandy Springs’ Best Kept Ethnic Dining Secrets Revealed Article Drew Appleby, Ph.D.

W

hen I moved to Indianapolis in 1972 to begin my teaching career, I discovered that my new hometown had few ethnic restaurants and my choice was limited primarily to Italian and Chinese. By the time I retired in 2011, Indianapolis had over 900 international and American regional restaurants (representing 62 different ethnicities) that my friend John Baldwin and I had collected and categorized at IndyEthnicFood.com.

The site developed a loyal following within the Indianapolis food community composed of more than 300 patrons who kept the site current with news of restaurant openings and closings.

One of the many benefits of the site for Indianapolis was its use as an international recruiting and retention tool by large companies and organizations such as Eli Lilly and the Indiana University Medical School.

When I retired and moved to Sandy Springs in 2011, I hoped my new hometown would afford me a similar ethnic bounty. When I arrived, I uncovered an interesting incongruity. Although I discovered a rich and varied assortment of international restaurants as I explored my new surroundings (including an amazing cultural corridor of 70 ethnic eateries on Roswell Road), I failed to find a comprehensive online list of ethnic restaurants in Sandy Springs.

It was almost as if our abundance of ethnic dining opportunities was our best-kept municipal secret. Online, I found only a short list of 20 restaurants, a mere 13 of which offered international or 20 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

American regional food. My reaction to this discovery was to create a list of over 110 ethnic restaurant (including their addresses, telephone numbers, and websites). The goals of my list are to provide factual evidence to support our claim that we offer a wide and varied selection of international restaurants and promote the success and longevity of these businesses by making potential customers aware of their existence, locations, contact information and descriptions.

My fondest desire is for my list’s existence to be made more public by its inclusion in local websites where its information and message can be brought to the attention of both current and potential citizens of Sandy Springs. I would also appreciate the cooperation of my fellow Perimeter North foodies to help me keep my list Find Drew’s list at current by emailing me (dapIndyEthnicFood.com/Displays/ pleby@iupui.edu) when they IEFInfo/SandySpringsRestaurants.pdf become aware of openings and closings of ethnic dining establishments. This will help me continue producing an accurate international dining list that can serve as an economic engine that generates and attracts human, cultural and financial capital to Sandy Springs.

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Sandy Springs Sandy Springs Sandy Springs Chastain Chastain Buckhead Chastain Park Rivermeade Dunwoody Dunwoody Sandy Springs Dunwoody Dunwoody Chastain Dunwoody Sandy Springs Sandy Springs Dunwoody Sandy Springs Sandy Springs Sandy Springs Dunwoody Dunwoody Dunwoody

BA 7 6 6 5 5 4 5 5 5 6 5 4 5 4 5 6 5 5 4 4 3 4 4 5

1/2BA

Original List Price

Closed Price

3 2 0 2 1 1 0 1 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 2

$2,495,000 $1,895,000 $1,895,000 $1,599,000 $1,395,000 $1,125,000 $995,000 $995,000 $875,000 $849,000 $765,000 $750,000 $699,000 $659,900 $619,000 $599,900 $595,000 $575,000 $545,000 $499,900 $489,900 $450,000 $450,000 $425,000

$2,170,750 $1,895,000 $1,500,000 $1,540,000 $1,390,950 $1,025,000 $960,300 $950,000 $865,000 $815,000 $740,000 $740,000 $680,000 $630,000 $614,000 $554,000 $575,000 $553,000 $527,500 $472,000 $484,000 $500,000 $435,000 $406,750

7 6 7 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 5 3 3 3 5 3 4 3 3 3 3 2 4 3

% SP DOM* 78.94 100 79.16 99.42 99.71 91.11 96.51 95.48 98.86 90.66 96.73 95.48 97.28 91.97 90.43 92.35 88.6 96.17 96.79 85.82 98.8 111.11 96.67 84.92

129 74 38 210 100 38 98 96 4 59 262 15 152 46 28 44 59 14 34 148 19 2 8 107

Information compiled from First Multiple Listing Service from dates of 01/01/2014 through 01/31/2014.

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed and not a complete list of all activity. *DOM =Days on Market

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May 2014 | PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com 25 3/24/14 4:56 PM

Driver’s Notebook

Street Lines:

The 2014 Equus Ultimate One word: Loaded Article Dennis Malcolm Byron | Photography Provided

I

f you needed one word to describe the 2014 Equus Ultimate, it’s “loaded.” And that term can be perceived in at least two ways: The owner of this gorgeous vessel would flaunt the perception that he or she is “loaded” financially, or it’s referring to the numerous features this top-of-the-line series from Hyundai comes with. Respectively, the Equus Ultimate’s elongated exterior, HID headlamps, heated power-folding mirrors, large grille, 19-inch premium alloy wheels, and overall slick design rivals the high-end luxury brands in exterior flamboyance, but not in price starting at a gracious $61,000.

The second “loaded” perception is validated by a seemingly countless list of amenities for both the driver and passengers (especially in the backseat) to enjoy. With smart cruise control; buttery soft leather interior with genuine wood trim; electronic air suspension for a pampering ride; heated and cooled seats throughout; the Hyundai Blue Link telematics system; Bluetooth; and a 17-speaker Lexicon 7.1 Discrete Surround Sound audio system to

26 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

name a few attractions, the luxurious cabin treats riders like royalty. And that is the Signature grade.

For $7,000 more, the Ultimate line boasts an extended roster of highlights for everyone in its spacious 126 cubic feet of space, such as the driver’s heads-up display; 12.3-inch front LCD monitor display; a multi-view camera system; a forward view cornering camera to assist parking and forward positioning; a powerful “Tau” 429-hp 5.0L V8 GDI engine; 8-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC; three driving modes (sport, normal, snow); rear-wheel drive; power rear side-window sunshades; power lumbar in the rear seats; and a phenomenal rear entertainment system with two 9.2-inch monitors for viewing pleasure.

Figure in the revered perks Hyundai provides including “America’s best warranty”—a three-year/36,000 no-cost maintenance with valet delivery service, 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, and five-year roadside assistance; plus the numerous safety features (pre-collision warning system, nine airbags, electronic stability control, blindspot detection, lane departure warning system, Rear Cross-traffic Alert system); and Hyundai’s signature “At Your Service” program where the carmaker comes to you to provide complimentary maintenance and vehicle service while you are maintaining your everyday practices uninterrupted.

Ultimately, the owner’s ever y wish is rea lized in this stellar automobile.

The Numbers: 2014 Equus Signature MSRP: $61,000 2014 Equus Ultimate MSRP: $68,000 (plus $920 inland freight and handling) MPG: 15 city/23 highway, 18 combined For more information, visit HyundaiUSA.com.

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May 2014 | PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com 27

Giving Back

CAC Combats Hunger in our Own Backyard 2nd Annual “Food `n Fun Festival” Aims to Feed Children in Summer Months Article Helen Grebe

A

re the kids fed? Check.

Do we have enough clean laundry? Check.

Is the milk in the fridge? Check.

Is the car filled up with gas? Check.

This reads like a simple “to-do” list for any modern household.

Yet meeting these basic needs are things we often take for granted. The Community Assistance Center (CAC) is raising awareness for many that hunger starts in our own backyard.

The CAS is a community, volunteer-based organization that helps support neighbors in need by providing financial assistance for rent/utilities, food through their food pantry, clothes and household items through their thrift boutique and additional education or work skills for better employment. CAC Development Associate Pam Jones emphasizes that those in need are our neighbors and may have been fine yesterday but extenuating circumstances (such as extended illness, loss of a job, car trouble, a reduction in work hours) have put them into financial woes today.

“When you think of those who serve your coffee, check you out at the grocery, take your lunch order…these individuals are hard-working members of our community,” says Jones. “They may only make minimum wage and living at or below the poverty level, $10 an hour is only $20,000 a year to live on. That won’t pay all the bills. It takes a lot to live today. Many of CAC’s clients work two or three jobs to pay the bills. An emergency throws them into a tailspin that they can’t recover from. That’s where we enter to help families become self-sufficient again.” CAC prevents eviction, homelessness and families from living on the streets. “These are our children’s friends. It is imperative that we work together to lift our community.”

28 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

It’s a lesson in giving that many parents would be wise to pass on to their children. Serving and assisting others help young minds understand what poverty looks like, as well as experience being part of the solution.

“There is a need in our own backyard and people forget that,” notes Jones.

The CAC has an urgent need for food for the summer months when requests for food are highest. As a result the CAC food pantry goes bare. When many families are on vacations, others who receive subsidized school lunches struggle to feed their children in the summer. Statistics show that more than 50 percent of elementary school children in Sandy Springs receive government subsidized lunches.

“Just think what happens to those children when school is out,” Jones says. “We know from experience that they go hungry.”

To raise awareness and combat hunger in our own back yard, CAC is hosting their second annual Food `n Fun Festival 11 a.m. 2 p.m. on May 10, a festive day in the park complete with a hunger awareness walk, a shopping cart decoration contest, activities for kids, a cake walk, fitness games with the US Army and outdoor fun. The festival is open to individuals, families, groups and businesses. Teams are encourages to enter the team food drive. Last year UPS, Whole Foods and North Springs United Methodist Church took home the food drive contest awards.

Pack up the kids, neighbors, your co-workers and friends and attend the Food `n Fun Festival. Not only will it be a fun day out in the park spending quality time with others, you just may help cure a hunger in our part of the world.

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Lifestyle Calendar

May

enjoy a day full of smiles, laughter, awareness and fundraising to support those with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Children, parents, family members and friends are encouraged to come show their support for their loved ones by walking 1.5 miles, creating team t-shirts or signs! Enjoy children’s activities, games, crafts, meet with resource vendors and grab a bite to eat. WalkNowForAutismSpeaks.org

101 DALMATIONS AUDITIONS

May 18

ACT3 ARTS ACADEMY

Concert in the Park

Auditions for Disney’s 101 Dalmatians KIDS, a summer musical theater workshop for students in grades K-5, will be held by appointment. This workshop is part of Act3 Art’s Academy’s Summer Stages 2014, a series of performing arts workshops for grades K-12. maggie.act3@gmail.com, Act3Productions.org.

DUNWOODY NATURE CENTER

MAY 1-3

The Nature Center is excited to be bringing back their popular concerts in the park series, brought to you by Mother Earth Brewing and Moondog Growlers! The first concert of the season will feature everyone’s favorite garage band, The Bad Neighbors. DunwoodyNature.org

MAY 3 Downhome Derby 17875 BIRMINGHAM HIGHWAY

Celebrate the Kentucky Derby with live horses, Bluegrass music, delicious food and mint juleps! Put on your boots and jeans, wear your festive hats and enjoy a fabulous evening in a beautiful setting while raising scholarships funds for our deserving children through the Child Development Association. The Child Development Association provides affordable early learning programs and childcare for preschool children of low-income families in the metro Atlanta area. CDAKids.org

MAY 3 MARCH OF DIMES DINING OUT

REGISTRATION THROUGHOUT MAY

RESTAURANTS THROUGHOUT ATLANTA

SUMMER CAMP AT MUSEUM OF DESIGN ATLANTA

Giving back has never been so tasty! Top Atlanta restaurants and chefs have partnered with the March of Dimes for the 29th Annual Dining Out, an event dedicated to providing an entertaining dining experience while funding research and programs that help all babies be born healthy. The March of Dimes Dining Out is one of the premier social events in the area, featuring over 50 of Atlanta’s best restaurants.

MarchOfDimes.com

MUSEUM OF DESIGN ATLANTA

MAY 10 BUCKHEAD SPRING ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL CHASTAIN PARK

The award-winning, two-day festival will be held in Atlanta’s beautiful Chastain Park featuring two days of art and activities sure to delight the entire family. An estimated 40,000 visitors will attend this event with up to 185 displays of fine art and crafts, folk and “outsider art.” In addition to the abundance of unique art, there will be a children’s area, local gourmet food, beverages and a small stage for acoustic musical performances. Best of all, it’s entirely free. BuckheadArtsFestival.com.

May 18 Walk Now For Autism Speaks Atlantic Station

Join Autism Speaks for the 10th annual Walk Now For Autism Speaks Georgia in partnership with the Marcus Autism Center. Come ready to 30 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

Each summer, Museum of Design Atlanta (MODA) offers children the opportunity to build and design robots using LEGOs during weeklong campMODA sessions. Students 6 to 14 years old learn basic robotics, programming principles and science, technology, engineering and math concepts while having fun! At campMODA, children use their own curiosity and ingenuity to envision possibilities and develop innovative solutions to difficult technology problems in a small group setting where the ratio of campers to knowledgeable staff is 4:1. MuseumOfDesign.org

May 31 – June 1 Festival of the Arts Peachtree Hills Park

The Third Annual Peachtree Hills Festival of the Arts will bring 125 artists to the shady, tree-lined neighborhood. The community has embraced the event, with homeowners and local businesses posting signs inviting visitors to their historic neighborhood. The two-day festival will be held in and around the Peachtree Hills Park & Recreation Center, including food, acoustic music and activities for kids. Visitors will enjoy fine art and crafts, a children’s area and local food and beverage concessions including the “gourmet” food trucks. Local acoustic musicians will enliven the atmosphere. This event is organized by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces and volunteer artists. Best of all, it’s entirely free to attend!

PeachtreeHillsFestival.com.

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May 2014 | PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com 33

Parting Thoughts

My Country Year Words and Photography Patricia Culpepper

A

s 2012 drew to a close, I packed up my life and put it in a storage unit on the east side of town. I loaded my Toyota Tacoma with just the bare essentials – clothes, computer, corgi, cat -- and made the 90-minute trip to a tiny, rustic cabin in the woods where I would live for at least the next year. I had built the cabin during the preceding decade on weekends and holidays with the help of family and the occasional hired professional. It had been a fun project and made the perfect weekend retreat, but now it would be my home, at least for a while. I was launching a freelance career and the cabin provided the low-cost living I needed to allow my new venture to take flight.

Some thought I was crazy, and at times I tended to agree. Others immediately romanticized about Henry David Thoreau and his retreat to Walden Pond. In retrospect, I can tell you that it took more than an ounce of craziness – I prefer to call it courage – to make this move. I had already made one huge career leap a decade earlier when I walked away from an executive position with a software company, and I had been working quietly and happily from home ever since.

The thought of returning to the rat race with its daily commute to a cubical somewhere in the city seemed truly crazy to me.

When I arrived at the cabin on the evening of December 21, 2012, it was cold and dark. Then it started to rain. Any romantic ideas I had about this move quickly dissolved in the torrential rains that continued for the better part of the next four months. I missed my friends, my CrossFit gym and the daily intense workouts it served up. I missed Starbucks, Whole Foods and Farm Burger take-out. I missed having everything I needed, and anything I wanted, just around the corner.

As the record-breaking rains continued well into spring, I developed

34 PerimeterNorthLifestyle.com | May 2014

a new appreciation for pavement. Muck boots became normal daily attire. I missed my city life.

A practice of gratitude helped me get through the rough times.

I delighted in the rain on the metal roof and gave thanks that I was warm and dry inside. I studied the bumper crop of mushrooms and took pictures of the pretty ones. I watched the birds and the deer. I created paths in the woods and cleared the briars away from my favorite spots down by the creek. Chopping wood became one of my favorite workouts. I went to bed early and got up with the sun. With time, I adjusted to country life.

Fifteen months have passed since I made my move to the country.

My freelance career is well on its way, and I am eagerly planning a return to the city. I’m looking forward to restoring the cabin’s status as a second home. The time here has served its purpose. It has helped me make the transition to a new career, validated my love of simplicity and need for autonomy, and confirmed, that after 30 years in the city, the city is my home. And the country is a very close second.

Pat is an Atlanta-based freelance writer. Visit her professional website at PatriciaCulpepper.com

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