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H A P PY 4T H O F J U LY ! Whether you plan to stick around Metro Atlanta or head to the mountains, we’ve got plenty of suggestions for celebrating our nation’s independence with a bang. From ﬁreworks at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre to watermelon-spitting contests at North Georgia state parks, use our guide to decide how your family will spend the Fourth.

With seven Metro Atlanta locations, Marlow’s Tavern is already a force in Atlanta’s American food scene, and the restaurant is expanding even further with a brand-new location at The Avenue Forsyth. Celebrate good ol’ American cooking the gourmet way this month at Marlow’s, or try a few of Chef John Metz, Jr.’s recipes at home!

Make waves this summer with a lakeside retreat to The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation on Greensboro, Ga.’s Lake Oconee. Seasonal specials include Swinging Sunday Concerts with ﬁreworks shows and Summer Family Camp. Feeling a bit more exotic? Consider an island retreat at Hotel Le Toiny in St. Barts. Visit us online for details!

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FROM ICE CREAM TO COCKTAILS, WE ASKED READERS — WHERE DO YOU GO FOR COOL SUMMER TREATS?

Take our NORTHSIDE GOURMET SURVEY and you could be invited to be a guest chef, to conduct your own food review, to win valuable prizes for your kitchen or restaurant gift certiﬁcates. Visit www.ptsnorth.com for details.

“Menchies Crabapple! To cool off !” – @debvjohnson “Pure Taqueria, Alpharetta. I’ll drink anything they’ve got!” – Todd Harkleroad “INC on Canton Street … awesome margaritas!” – Pam Pettett Dilbeck

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POINTS OF VIEW

Thanks to the Kind-Hearted Strangers On one especially steamy summer afternoon last month, I had the unfortunate experience of my car going kaput as I was coming off the 400-exit ramp in Alpharetta. There I sat with my 1-year-old daughter in the back seat baking in 90-degree weather while car after car whizzed passed us like slingshots. Luckily, I had my cell phone charged and ready, and immediately called roadside assistance as well as my husband, who both later rushed to my aid, but what if my cell phone was left at home? Or friends and family couldn’t be reached? Or perhaps my cell battery was as kaput as my engine? That is why I was so especially touched by the kindness of two strangers, even in our technologically advanced society. First, a woman stopped her car and walked across the busy exit ramp to my car window. She asked if she could drive me to a gas station down the road. I thanked her profusely and assured her help was on the way. About 15 minutes later, a man wearing a Georgia Department of Transportation vest popped out of nowhere and asked if I needed help as well. I thanked him for stopping, but assured him, too, that help was just minutes away. Sadly, I must admit I was pleasantly shocked that two people had taken time out of their busy days to help. Before the advent of cell phones, it was a common occurrence to stop and offer assistance to stranded drivers, but not these days, I’m afraid, as people assure themselves, “I’m sure they’ve called someone by now.” But I’m sure that is not always the case and I will keep my eye out for someone else who needs assistance and see if I can lend a helping hand. I’m going to pay it forward. And it’s all thanks to two strangers, who I now call neighbors, though I don’t even know their names. Do you have any random acts of kindness from the community that you would like to share? If so, please email your stories to editorial@ptsnorth.com. Perhaps we can publish your thank you to that special stranger.

Julie Hostetter Editor To send comments and/or suggestions on this or any other subject, e-mail us at: myturn@ptsnorth.com.

Editor

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Enter to Win Free Outdoor Lighting! Want to transform your home into a resort getaway? The Outdoor Lights, Inc. can turn your outdoor area into a beautiful setting with their exterior residential lighting. Headquartered in Cumming, The Outdoor Lights is an award-winning company that designs and installs lighting around the world. President Chris Wakeﬁeld ensures the artistic quality of his company by collaborating with architects and interior designers. The Outdoor Lights has multiple lighting products and even special options like “Starlight” lanterns or hand-blown glass pieces to tailor to everyone’s desires. The company will cater to your needs and offers customized consultations with lighting experts. A unique design is then built based on the features of your home. Worried about budget? Don’t. No matter what your budget is, The Outdoor Lights can work with you to create your perfect setting and even add to the value of your home. www.theoutdoorlights.com — Kristin Hiller

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One lucky Points North reader will win a free outdoor lighting system, valued at $2,500, courtesy of The Outdoor Lights. This prize package, valid through Dec. 1, 2011, consists of ﬁve brass wash lights, ﬁve brass uplights, one 300-watt transformer, one digital timer, and one electrical hookup. Installation is also included within a 50-mile radius from The Outdoor Lights office. To register to win, visit www.ptsnorth.com and select this prize.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID MASSENGILL

Enter to Win a Three-Day Rental for a Honda VTX1300 Motorcycle Did you know Georgia has some of the most world-famous riding roads right in our own back yard? Explore the beautiful winding roads of North Georgia. Feel the cool air as you pass by creeks and rivers. Smell the honeysuckle as it goes into full summer bloom. Take a ride on the easy side and enjoy the natural beauty that North Georgia has to offer. www.wowmotorcycles.com, www.eaglerider.com

The Prize

One lucky reader will ride away with a three-day rental for a Honda VTX1300 from EagleRider Atlanta. Certain requirements must be met by the winner, including a motorcycle license. Taxes, insurance and fees not included. Prize valid until December 2011. Enter to win before Aug. 31. Winner will be notiﬁed Sept. 2. To register to win, visit www.ptsnorth.com and select this prize.

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

A PB PHOTO COURTESY OF LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER

JULY

LEGOLAND DISCOVERY CENTER Looking for a way to engage the creative architect in your child? Soon, look no further than Phipps Plaza, where LEGOLAND Discovery Center will open its doors in March 2012. The new attraction will give children ages 3 – 10 a chance to experience indoor exhibits on life-size proportions of their favorite toy. Kids will be able to learn LEGO building tips and tricks from the masters in Master Model Builder classes; see, hear and feel the excitement of the 4D cinema; and take the LEGO experience to new heights with thrilling LEGO rides. The center will also offer private party rooms, ideal for LEGOthemed birthdays and celebrations. The LEGOLAND Discovery Centers are unique to each location — the MINILAND exhibit will feature the familiar sites and skyline of Atlanta in miniature LEGO form. Site construction is expected to begin this month. With an attraction this accessible and fun, the only downside is the wait! Find out more about the LEGOLAND Discovery Centers at www.legolanddiscoverycenter.com. — Katie Valentine

ALL POINTS BULLETIN

A GAMBLE IN GEMS Who would’ve thought that a poker player could become a well-known jewelry designer? Of course, it takes untapped creative talent along with a lucky roll of the dice to be successful, and Atlanta’s Chris Adkins, a former professional poker player, did just that. Adkins established Thirteen Crowns Jewelry, an edgy and eclectic line of unique, handmade bracelets and rosary necklaces for men and women. His inspiration for Thirteen Crowns began when he started experimenting with his own bracelets by mixing and matching various styles, designs and colors. With only the best gemstones, precious metals, Swarovski Crystals, pendants and charms, quality is the foundation of Thirteen Crowns, and for this reason, Adkins’ pieces quickly became favorites for celebrities such as Ne-Yo. “The key is to produce pieces that make people feel like royalty and do so at an affordable price,” Adkins said. Visit www.thirteencrowns.com to set up an appointment to customize your own jewelry or to purchase online. — Brooke Humphries

PHOTO COURTESY OF THIRTEEN CROWNS JEWELRY

FREE PRENATAL YOGA CLASSES

PHOTO COURTESY OF OH BABY FITNESS

Baby bumps are cute, but baby thighs, hips and arms? Not so much. Kaiser Permanente and Oh Baby! Fitness are offering free prenatal yoga classes to help women stay active during pregnancy and keep off that extra baby weight. The classes are led by a certified prenatal instructor and help pregnant women breathe, relax, stay flexible and feel rejuvenated. Not only that, regular exercise during pregnancy can actually help reduce chances of a c-section birth and shorten labor time. With benefits like those, how could you not sign up? The classes are available to Kaiser members and non-members and are offered at six Kaiser locations, including the Alpharetta Medical Center and TownPark Medical Center in Kennesaw. For more information and to sign up for a class, visit www.ohbabyfitness.com. For more information about exercising while pregnant, visit www.acog.org. — Katie Valentine

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

A PB

ALL POINTS BULLETIN

JULY

EXERCISING STARTS EARLY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF CJ SENTOR

Think that it is too early to motivate your child to start exercising? Think again! CJ Sentor, one of America’s youngest fitness instructors at 10 years old, just released his national fitness DVD, “Workout Kid.” Throughout his workouts, CJ offers encouraging phrases and motivates his audience while he emphasizes the proper warm-up technique, water breaks, stretching and cool down time. His video includes two 40-minute long workouts and targets kids who need to get off the couch by exercising, listening to music, and having fun with kids their age! Named the “Workout Kid” as a result of his determination, optimism and leadership for a child of his age, CJ is constantly changing the lives of other kids around the world. CJ thought that if he can motivate his Atlantaarea football team, he has the ability to change the notion that “exercise” is a bad word. CJ definitely knows how to reach the minds of children as well as parents. Throughout the workouts, factoids about exercise and health risks appear on the screen. The “Workout Kid” DVD is $19.99. For more information or to order, please visit www.workoutkid.com. — Brooke Humphries

BERT’S BIG ADVENTURE BIRTHDAY BASH Birthdays only come once a year and should be celebrated in big fashion accordingly. For children with special needs or chronic illnesses, birthdays are an even bigger deal. To make these cherished days even more memorable, Bert’s Big Adventure has teamed up with Posh Tots Events to launch Bert’s Big Adventure Birthday Bash. Held monthly, Bert’s Big Adventure Birthday Bashes feature custom themes, decorations and activities designed to appeal to the children celebrating birthdays that month. And as expected from Bert’s Big Adventure events, the children and their families are pampered from start to ﬁnish. Bert’s Big Adventure is currently in the process of securing sponsors and locations for the upcoming Birthday Bashes throughout the metro Atlanta area. For a full list of opportunities, please contact Bert’s Big Adventure Program Director Molly Parrish at mollyp@bertsbigadventure.org; for more information, visit www.bertsbigadventure.org. PHOTOS COURTESY OF RUSTIC WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY

GIVEAWAY WINNERS To ﬁnd a list of giveaway winners, take a look in the “Online Only” section of www.ptsnorth.com!

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

JOHN ISNER:

BIG THI NGS come in

BIG PACKAGES [ W R I T T E N BY J OH N M A N AS S O ]

When

you think of pro tennis player John Isner, try to think big — conceptually. Not just big as in, “former University of Georgia player turns pro and makes respectable millionaire living,” but big as in epically big. Homerically big. As talented and proficient as Isner is — last year he hit No. 18 on the ATP rankings — his recognition climbed exponentially last summer when he played the longest match in the history of professional tennis during the sport’s biggest and most historic event, Wimbledon. Over three days, he and Frenchman Nicolas Mahut spent 11 hours and 5 minutes pounding the ball at each other, with Isner finally coming out on top, 6–3, 3–6, 6–7 (7), 7–6 (3), and 70–68! So emotionally draining was the match, that Mahut was said to have cried for an hour after it ended. Isner defeated Mahut again during the first round at Wimbledon this year, but in less dramatic fashion, winning in straight sets in a match that lasted just 2 hours and three minutes.

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

Isner’s “bigness” also comes across in his physical size. At 6-foot-9, 245 pounds, he’s the second tallest player on the pro tour. Go to the home page of his Web site and you’ll see him towering over New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi as the two shake hands after Isner threw out the ﬁrst pitch at a Yankees’ game last year. Yet even with his newfound world-wide fame, Isner is looking forward to playing in a much smaller tournament — one in only its second year — when he competes at the Atlanta Tennis Championships, which run from July 18 – 24 at Racquet Club of the South in Norcross. A Homecoming of Sorts “It means a lot,” Isner said of the opportunity to play before friends and family and so close to Athens, where a good part of the Greensboro, N.C., native’s heart remains. “Last year, the tournament’s ﬁrst year, I just remember the crowds, they were awesome. It’s a pretty small venue, but the courts were packed out in every match.”

In 2007, Isner led Georgia’s men to the NCAA team title and he reached the singles final the same year. He remains the school’s all-time leader in singles and doubles victories. “Obviously, there are a lot of Bulldog fans in Atlanta,” Isner said. “I had friends and family come up from Athens. I know a lot of people and I get a lot of support and that’s something that’s really neat and it definitely helps me on the court, as well. I’m definitely looking forward to coming back to this year’s event and experiencing much of the same support and, hopefully, I can play as well as I did last year.” Last year, Isner lost in the finals to current world No. 9 Mardy Fish, 4–6, 6–4, 7–6 (4). This year, Isner hopes to get over the hump, perhaps in more ways than one. As much popularity as last year’s match with Mahut brought him, Isner said his aspirations are higher than becoming famous for a moment that, in a tennis sense,

did not accomplish very much. “Yeah, I won’t go into too many speciﬁcs, but I am a little bit more recognizable because of that match,” he said of potential endorsement deals he might have earned as a result. “But it’s surely not something I want, really. I look at the tournament and what I did was extraordinary, yeah, but I still lost in the second round.” “My goal is not to lose in the second round of Grand Slams. But the match did catch a lot of people’s attention. It caught on really all over the world and rightfully so. It was a pretty extraordinary event. So, in that sense, yeah, I am little bit more recognizable, for sure.” What Matters Most Isner’s Web site indicates that his sponsors include Nike and Coca-Cola. If you want to make a career in pro sports, it’s hard to think of two better companies to represent. Fame also brought him to “The Late Show With David Letterman,” where he read a “Top 10” list,

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF SUSAN MULLANE/ CAMERAWORK USA

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

John Isner which serves as an exclamation mark for many American’s 15 minutes of fame. Isner also got to throw out that first pitch at a Yankees game last year, a moment that he cites as his favorite from all of the hoopla. However, as noted before, Isner wants to be known for something more than just one match. Earlier this year at the French Open, a golden opportunity arose before him. In a first-round match against the world’s No. 1 player, Rafael Nadal, he led two sets to one before succumbing in five sets. Afterward, Nadal, who has won that tournament for six of the last seven years, talked about how he was in danger of losing. “I was close to being out,” he said. “I didn’t have many chances to break and when you play against these kinds of players the pressure is there all the time. You have to play very safe all the time. So I couldn’t play freely for the whole match, it was tough and I’m very happy to be through.” Isner said that after he won the third set, Nadal didn’t make a single mistake in the fourth set and that the Spaniard was hitting winners left and right. The fifth set was similar. Asked if he needs to play a perfect game to beat the likes of the world’s top three players — Nadal, Roger Federer, whom some consider the greatest player of all time, and Novak Djokovic, who rode a 43-match winning streak into the French Open semifinals before succumbing to Federer — Isner said no. He said by definition, his game — a combination of a lethal big serve with a willingness to take risks to earn winners — is not one suited toward playing a perfect match. While unhappy with the loss, Isner said the match did make him proud in some ways, especially in terms of how he competed, and that he could draw on confidence from it moving forward. “But I also made him work to close out the match,” Isner said. “He was just better. It was as simple as that.”

he is still learning to adjust to his massive size. Before choosing to specialize in tennis when he was 15, he also played basketball competitively — and he thought he was equally good at both sports — but he was much shorter than he is now. He said he picked tennis because he thought he had a better chance of earning a college scholarship. Yet when he was 18, he grew six inches. Had he known he would grow to 6-foot-9, he said, he “probably” would have stuck with basketball. Apparently, some things happen, or don’t happen, for the best. Would he have been the world’s 39th best basketball player? Maybe, but it’s impossible to know what might have been. Isner needed time to adjust to his growth spurt he said, which is why he went to UGA to play tennis instead of attempting to turn pro, as many elite tennis players do near that age. “I’ve always been a late-bloomer,” Isner said. “I just feel like I’m just starting now to grow into my body. I really do feel like my best tennis is a few years ahead of me.” In some ways, Isner’s giant growth spurt followed by a slow, steady climb also serves as a metaphor for his pro career. In his first year on the circuit, he enjoyed some initial success then overshot his learning curve and regressed in 2009. Last year represented improvement, as he won his first tournament, the Heineken Open in New Zealand. Last July, after the match with Mahut, he hit the lofty No. 18 ranking. “I definitely haven’t been overwhelmed by anything, by any means,” he said of his somewhat sudden fame. “But now I had a good 2010 and I had a lot of stuff happen. I had a lot of good tournaments and I had that one, crazy, crazy match. But, really, I don’t think it has affected me whatsoever. I’m a little bit more experienced and I know how to deal with certain situations better than I did before.” As a result, bigger things could be on the horizon for Isner. PN

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N

Standing Tall If Isner is to make it to the next level of professional tennis, he is going to have to ﬁnd a way to solve the world’s top four players. He is currently 0–8 against Nadal, Federer, Djokovic and No. 4, Andy Murray. But he has time. In some ways, even though he is 26,

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

Atlanta Tennis Championships www.atlantatennischampionships.com Racquet Club of the South 6350 Courtside Drive NW Norcross 770-449-6060

NORTHSIDE VIEW

ASHELY MUNTAN V O L U N T E E R T E A M L E A D E R O F D R E A M W E AV E R S O F G E O R G I A [ W R I T T EN BY JUL I E HO STE TTE R ]

It’s

truly a question of how big is your heart, provide,” Muntan said. “In my current season of life as a single individual with a career, full time fostering is not ideal, not how big is your home. That is the message that Ashely however respite care is. Respite care allows me to provide Muntan of Alpharetta wants to share with our community. temporary foster care for children when their parents either “I was just at a crossroads in my life, saying I really need a break or help due to travel, emergencies, etc. Thus want to volunteer,” Muntan recalled. “I’m single, I have all far, I have provided respite care for children ranging from 18 this extra spare time and it was just, that’s it, I’m going to months to 7 years and from 2 days to 13 days.” make this happen.” She has walked off of a red-eye flight She took the words that her Pastor at 8 a.m. and agreed to take a 3-year-old Andy Stanley from North Point Comchild just three hours later, and had an munity Church delivered to heart: “If The typical 18 month old delivered to her door at you are going to volunteer, do what stereotype gives 2 a.m. Time is relative, especially when you are passionate about.” foster children a you see these children smile. For Muntan, the answer was But perhaps the message she wants simple — she wanted to help children. negative stigma and to share the most is to dispel the myth So last year, Muntan began it’s not the case at that foster children are just troubled offering her home to foster children all. These children youths. with the organization Giving Chil“The typical stereotype gives dren a Chance. Now she serves as are so appreciative foster children a negative stigma and the volunteer team leader of Dreamand so loving. When it’s not the case at all. These children Weavers of Georgia, an Alpharettayou go to hug [these are so appreciative and so loving,” based non-profit dedicated to helping she confirmed. “When you go to hug foster children thrive. children] their eyes [these children], their eyes light up and “There are so many children light up and they they don’t let go of you. I don’t think who deserve and need a loving home, most people think of that. Most people daily hugs and nightly bedtime stodon’t let go of you. think of behavioral issues, ‘what if my ries that I wanted the opportunity to

“

ASHELY MUNTAN

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

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children learn bad behaviors or hear their bad stories.’ I have two nephews and it has opened their eyes and it has been an awesome experience for them to see these children come through my house, because they appreciate their blessings more.” In fact, she is quick to point out that she feels the children have helped improve her life in so many ways that it is impossible to name who benefits more, her or the children. “It is categorically true that one will gain so much more personally when giving back!” she exclaimed. “My heart and compassion have increased exponentially from investing in the sweet children, and I am continually overwhelmed by their hearts and needs. With each child’s unique situation and personality, each fostering experience is a new adventure.” And if you’ve ever had the interest in helping children, Muntan encourages you to consider the needs of foster children, as you may be surprised by how many options you have to help. The need for volunteers for foster children in Georgia is enormous. “Anyone and everyone can make a difference,” she continued. “Independent of your financial status, or the time you have. I think that’s what hinders people, ‘I don’t have an extra bedroom,’ ‘I can’t take a full-time child.’ But you don’t have to take a full-time child, you can do respite care or you can volunteer to tutor a child or even do the day dates. If you want to control the situation, this is not for you. You adapt to the child’s needs and learn as you go. The key to it all is to be flexible and really focus on the fact this child needs love.” Muntan is often asked how she can shower these children with all that affection and then say goodbye, but she points out that the goal for all foster children is to return to their parents eventually. “Whenever you decide to foster, it’s important for foster parents to ensure their heart is ready for the fact that the goal is to reunite the child with their parents. You have to go into it with that mindset,” she explained. “I look at it as love and then let go. I am being used as an instrument right now, and if I can affect that child for one day or seven days, that’s one more day of love and one more bedroom story that child may not have gotten.” She concluded, “I am truly a kid at heart and investing in foster children allows me to ‘fill my cup.’ Today’s society and our busy schedules hinders us from being able to see and appreciate the world from a child lens, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to walk alongside many children and enjoy our journey together.” If you would like more information regarding fostering a child, please call DreamWeavers of Georgia at 770-255-1019 or visit www.dreamweaversofgeorgia.org or Giving Children a Chance at www.gcacofgeorgia.com. PN

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

treats

F R OM CO CKTA I L S TO YO GU RT, WE’VE FOUND COOL TREATS TO TA ME T HE S U MMER S I Z Z LE

[ W R I TTE N BY K ATI E VA L E N T I N E W I T H A D D I T I ON A L RE P ORT I N G BY P OI N T S N ORTH ED ITO RS ]

Frozen yogurt shops have hip-checked the cupcake craze and taken the Northside by storm — a delicious, self-serving storm, at that. It seems every time we turned a corner, another shop with healthy options and a catchy name was popping up, so we did as only a dedicated staff of eager editors would. We sampled … I mean, “researched” as many as we could. And we didn’t stop with frozen yogurt, we also found ice cream shops worth dipping into and chilly cocktails that are downright delicious. We hope you enjoy our list of cool treats. We sure did!

Menchie’s Menchie’s has 10 metro Atlanta locations and boasts 43 regular flavors, seven no sugar added flavors, 24 low carb flavors and four dairy-free sorbet flavors. The flavors are rotational and include varieties such as pina colada tart, cappuccino and maple nut. Jelly Bellies, cinnamon apples and fudge brownies are among the 50 toppings that can accompany your creation. If you have little ones, Menchie’s is the

place to go. Not only do they have a party room, perfect for summer birthdays or family get-togethers out of the heat, but they also have chalkboards on the wall, so when your little ones are done, they don’t have to sit still while you enjoy the rest of your frozen concoction. Ahhh … the ability to eat in peace is oftentimes a treat in and of itself for parents! Menchie’s also offers a Passport on which you can accumulate “smileage.” Register your

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

passport for 25 free smiles and each time you spend $1, you get another smile. Who’s smiling now? Price per ounce: 44 cents www.menchies.com OoLaLa It all started with a cup of yogurt among three friends: Two doctors and one business guru. Armed with a mission to provide irresistible taste, signiﬁcant health beneﬁts and a chance to make a friendly impact

on the environment, OoLaLa was created. Named after an expression of pleasant surprise, this yogurt shop, which opened its ﬁrst store last month on Dallas Highway in Marietta, does not disappoint. Always available are 14 flavors, some of them popular ones like cake batter and red velvet, others a little different like Georgia peach and strawberry kiwi sorbet, with the promise of one or two special flavors rotating in from time to

PHOTO COURTESY OF CLIFF ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY

time. Of course, there’s non-fat, non-dairy, no-sugar options available as well. Here, the 40 toppings are set on their own island, with row upon row of different options sure to please every palate. Woodstock and Canton are also home to OoLaLa locations. Price per ounce: 39 cents www.oolalayogurt.com

Yoforia

PHOTO COURTESY OF MENCHIE’S

Yogo Ono

PHOTO COURTESY OF YOGO ONO

PHOTO COURTESY OF YOGLI MOGLI

Yogli Mogli

Pinkberry With three metro Atlanta locations, each with six flavors available at a time, Pinkberry rotates in seasonal flavors on a regular basis, and their newest addition is salted caramel. Pinkberry has all the fresh fruit and dry toppings you’d expect from yogurt shops, but they also go a step further, including “luxe” toppings like praline hazelnut crunch and swirly whip. Pomegranate juice, Italian caramel, honey roasted sunflower seeds and organic gummy bears are just a few of the other toppings to choose from. Unlike at most others, Pinkberry is more of a traditional yogurt shop where you pick the flavor and the person behind the counter makes it for you. Price: $2.50 - $4.95 for a small cup www.pinkberry.com Yoforia With its original location at Perimeter Mall, Yoforia is an Atlanta native and now has nine locations in the metro area. Yoforia has 12 flavors of nonfat yogurt available daily, but with decadent flavors like Ferrero Rocher and cookies & cream, you’d never know it was fat-free. The flavors rotate between more than 20 different choices, all of which are made with Stonyfield Organic Yogurt. Yoforia has 32 different

toppings, including fresh fruit and a few more non-traditional additions like Capt’n Crunch. Price per ounce: 49 cents www.yoforia.com The Chill Hill A locally owned yogurt shop in Cumming, The Chill Hill features 60 rotational flavors, 12 of which are offered at a time. Favorite summer flavors include pink lemonade and blood orange sorbet, and fans can see what new flavors become available on the shop’s Facebook page. The Chill Hill also offers 50 different toppings, with unique options like Dr. Pepper, Jelly Belly and Orange Crush syrup that cater to the kids. Plus, its location in a charming cottage-style building with a covered patio overlooking Cumming’s Vickery Village make this a perfect spot for an afternoon treat with the family. Price per ounce: 43 cents Yogli Mogli With 11 metro Atlanta locations and more opening soon, Yogli Mogli gets points for convenience. The shop has 16 flavors like raspberry and cake batter available each day, and they rotate additional flavors every two to three weeks. They also have more than 40 toppings to choose from, so you can add things like cheesecake squares and cookie dough bites to your heart’s content. Price per ounce: 39 cents www.yoglimogli.com Yogo Ono A Kennesaw original, Yogo Ono isn’t a chain — it has only one location and boasts more than 30 rotational flavors — unique tastes

Menchie’s ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

Food for Thought

like root beer, snickerdoodle and earl grey tea — and features 10 per day. Fresh fruit, shortbread cookies and cinnamon and white chocolate sauces are just a few examples of the 42 different toppings. The store gets its name from “ono” which is the Hawaiian word for delicious, and it deﬁnitely lives up to its name! Try the pistachio, which is a special recipe and is absolutely delicious! Price per ounce: 39 cents www.yogoono.com Yoguri Yoguri began in Athens, Ga., and recently opened a new store in Woodstock. With eight fat-free and two low-fat yogurt flavors, you’re

sure to get a treat that’s both yummy and won’t do damage to your waistline. A few of the yogurt choices are pineapple, peanut butter and taro, a hazelnut flavor that comes from the taro root. The raspberries, blueberries and other fruit toppings are always fresh, and the original Greek ﬂavor is a favorite — tart and refreshing, it pairs great with granola, honey and fruit for a light summer treat. Price per ounce: 44 cents www.eatyoguri.com Yogurtland Yogurtland has one location in Atlanta and about 36 rotational flavor options, 16 of which are

available on a daily basis. Standard flavors are always available, and seasonal flavors like mango, key lime tart and chocolate mint are regularly added to the mix. To make their yogurt, Yogurtland uses fresh fruit each day from the Atlanta Farmer’s Market, so the yogurt isn’t just fruit-ﬂavored — it actually has chunks of fruit swirled into it. Most of the yogurt is fat-free, while a few ﬂavors, such as peanut butter, are low fat. Yogurtland also has 39 fruit and dry toppings to choose from, which include mochi and frosted animal crackers. Price per ounce: 33 cents www.yogurt-land.com

YO G U R T F LOAT S ? If you’re looking for interesting ways to beat the heat his summer, head to Cowlicks Yogurt and Floats for an exciting new twist on frozen yogurt. Located in Vinings, this cool establishment not only offers 10 featured frozen yogurts with an array of toppings, but an old-fashioned soda fountain where you can create your own float. That’s right, you can turn any cup of frozen yogurt into a customized, fizzy float. Keep an eye out for a second location coming soon to Dunwoody. www.cowlicksyogurtandfloats.com — Ashley Brechtel

ice cream

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR

High Road Craft Ice Cream & Sorbet PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANNAH J. SMITH

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

High Road Craft

local chefs to create custom ﬂavors

Ice Cream & Sorbet

to compliment dessert menus. The

Now here’s a company that’s

chef-driven concept is the brainchild

thinking outside the ice cream

of Hunter Thornton and Chef Keith

carton. High Road Craft’s unique ﬂa-

Schroeder, who’s been in the res-

vors include bourbon-burnt sugar,

taurant biz for nearly 20 years, and

French toast and sweet tea sorbet,

now uses only the highest quality

but the Atlanta-based creamery’s

ingredients (think Belgian choco-

true niche is collaborating with

late ganache, New Orleans-style

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pralines and Meyer lemon cream, plus all-natural, hormone-free dairy). The

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less than a year, and already theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re

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pints at Whole Foods by August. We got a taste at Double Zero Napole-

tana, a trendy, new Italian restaurant in Sandy Springs, where the dessert menu includes High Road Craft gelatos like carrot-marscapone alongside zucchini cake, basil gelato with poached peaches, and ďŹ&#x201A;avors like Nutella, terroir espresso and strawberry balsamic sorbet by the scoop. Learn more at www.highroadcraft.com or sample it for yourself at Double Zero. 5825 Roswell Road, Atlanta, 404-991-3666, www.doublezeroatl.com â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Bre Humphries Scoops Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re deďŹ nitely in for a treat when you visit Georgiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homegrown Scoops in Milton or Dacula. Make that hundreds of treats as ice cream is just the cherry on top of what they offer here. Gourmet coffee and teas are brewing, popcorn and bubble gum are popping, and homemade fudge, chocolates, cakes and candies both sweet and sour are bursting with ďŹ&#x201A;avor. As I eyed the playfully striped walls and blueberry colored booths as well as the wide-eyed children admiring the whimsical ďŹ&#x201A;oor-toceiling candy stations, I half expected Willy Wonka to pop out behind the counter and say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;how do you do?â&#x20AC;? It is decidedly an easier decision to choose between sherbet, sorbet or ice cream than it is to choose the cone. Would you like waffle, chocolate and sprinkle covered cones or the more daring choices â&#x20AC;&#x201D; M&M, chocolate chip

Christy Haffner

D.M.D.

Pediatric Dentist

Dr. Haffner is a Board CertiďŹ ed Pediatric Dentist specially trained to treat the dental needs of children. Dr. Haffner is also on staff at Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Healthcare of Atlanta.

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www.drchristyhaffner.com Pediatric Center | 3300 Old Milton Pkwy | Suite 250 | Alpharetta, GA, 30005

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ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

Scoops

Food for Thought

cocktails

Maybe we just love the names or maybe simply the sight of these chilled drinks make summer days more bearable, but we couldn’t resist sharing a few “cool” cocktails sure to be the perfect complement for your summer soiree.

SUPERFRUIT

COOLER

DYNASTINI

ARCTIC GREAT

B LU S H I N G G I N G E R 1 part Absolut Orient Apple 1 part cranberry juice 1 part Ginger Ale Build over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

EXPECTATIONS

with VeeV, an Acai berry-derived alcohol. If you haven’t already heard the scoop on acai by now, then you should know it’s touted to have 57

DY N A S T I N I

percent more antioxidants than a pomegranate. That alone boosts it to the top of our list as perhaps the perfect summer drink.

2 parts Absolut Orient Apple 3/4 part orange liqueur 3/4 part fresh lemon juice 1 tsp strawberry/raspberry jam

1/2 oz VeeV Açaí Spirit 1/2 oz Absolut Berri Açaí 3/4 oz St. Germain Elderﬂower

Pour over ice in a mixing glass. Shake or strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a fresh raspberry.

1 oz lemon sour 1/2 oz agave nectar 3 cucumber wheels

A R C T I C G R E AT E X P E C TAT I O N S 1 1/4 part BACARDI ARCTIC GRAPE Flavored Rum 2 parts white grape juice 1/2 part fresh sour mix Shake ingredients with ice and strain over ice in a tall glass. Garnish with lemon and lime wedge.

S U P E R F R U I T C O O LE R Not only does this drink sound cool, it’s also about as healthy as a cocktail can get. Light and refreshing, the Superfruit Cooler is made

Liqueur

Cucumber wheel, for garnish Muddle three cucumber wheels in a shaker. Add ice and remaining ingredients into the shaker, shake well, and pour contents into a rocks glass. Garnish with cucumber wheel.

SAPPHIRE GINGER MINT 1 1/2 parts Sapphire Gin 5 mint leaves 4 parts Ginger Ale In tall glass, lightly mash the mint. Fill the glass with ice, pour in Bombay Sapphire Gin and top with Ginger Ale. Stir gently. Garnish with a sprig of mint.

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN HARRISON

BLUSHING GINGER

or the Oreo cookie cones? Or perhaps a pretzel cone for a delightfully sweet and salty concoction? But by far my favorite goodie in the shop is their absolutely spectacular selection of mammoth candy apples, which was a hit with the whole Points North staff. You may choose from simple old-fashioned caramel dipped apples, to caramel mixed with peanuts, chopped pecans or Reese’s Pieces. For the chocolate lover, consider the Triple Chocolate with white, dark and milk chocolate. They even have a Fourth of July apple decked out in red, white and blue. Now that’s what we call a cool treat! 2300 Liam Ave. #200, Dacula, 678-407-0707 and 12670 Crabapple Road, Milton, 678-319-0066, www.scoopssweettreats.com —Julie Hostetter The Coffee Pot Who says coffee and hot chocolate can’t be a summer treat? At The Coffee Pot in Alpharetta, you can cool down any beverage with a

shot of ice cream. My favorite is iced coffee with a scoop of vanilla. As the ice cream melts, it sweetens the coffee perfectly so there’s no need for cream or sugar. If you’re a little more adventurous, try a latte with a scoop of cinnamon ice cream or maybe a cappuccino with espresso chip. With an extensive beverage menu and more than 15 flavors of ice cream to choose from, there are plenty of options. Owner Glenda Jennings suggests hot chocolate with chocolate chip mint ice cream. It’s like Christmas in July! If you’re not a coffee person, then stop in for a good, ol’ fashioned root beer float. The best thing about these cool concoctions is that your wallet doesn’t have to take a hit — it only takes $1 to make any beverage à la mode. The Coffee Pot also serves organic and fair trade coffees as well as premium ice creams so you’re not sacrificing quality. 9 South Main Street, Alpharetta, www.iwantmycoffeenow.com —Ashley Brechtel

CELEBRATING 12 YEARS OF WORLD CLASS WINES ... AND WORLD CLASS TIMES! THE BOEGNER FAMILY is proud to present Wolf Mountain Vineyards & Winery. With over 100 medals in Major U.S. Competitions, including Georgia’s First ever Gold medals at the prestigious San Fransisco Chronicle and Los Angeles International Wine Competitions, along with multiple Best of Category Awards, Wolf Mountain has established itself as a leader in ﬁne wine production on the East Coast. With the introduction of North Georgia’s First Traditional Methode Champenoise Sparkling Wines, the honor of being Georgia’s First Wine Ever to be poured at the James Beard House in New York, NY, and our combination of traditional European and Southern Regional cuisines, Wolf Mountain provides Georgia’s Premier Wine and Food Experience.

Est. 1999

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in the

BEAT the HEAT

MOUNTAINS

As Summer Swelters on in the Suburbs of Atlanta, It’s Time to Point North for Some Cool Escapes

and three guides. Our guides were friendly and entertaining, asking us questions about ourselves and piping up with facts and funny stories about the property as we went along. We heard the shouts and whiz of zipliners as we maneuvered our way down the muddy, rocky paths, but after about 15 minutes we entered the solitude of the Chattahoochee National Forest. The day was hot, but we could hardly tell — the forest’s towering trees created a cool canopy, shading the trail from the sun. Our hour-long ride took us across 3 miles of trails, but Sunburst offers rides that last as long as four hours and cover 11 miles as well. Prices for trail rides range When rolling hills from $35 – $95, and a zipline can be added to any trail ride for $35 ($15 off the zipline’s regular price of $50). speckled with Appaloosa ponies Depending on the skill of the riders and length of the replaced highway signs and [ WRIT T EN BY KAT I E VA L E NTI NE ] ride, trotting and cantering may be allowed. Our ride speeding cars, we knew we were was more of a walk because we had a double rider in tow getting close. We were driving along the shaded, winding — a little girl who sat behind her dad on a special tworoadways of northeast Georgia, heading toward Sunperson saddle. This option is perfect for families with burst Stables just outside of Clarkesville, Ga. It was a young children who can’t handle 1,200-pound beasts summertime escape to explore the Blue Ridge Mounon their own! Sunburst also offers cabins for longer gettains on horseback, and we couldn’t wait to saddle up aways, and though secluded by forest, the cabins aren’t and hit the trails. as rustic as they look — hot tubs, flatscreen TVs and About two hours from Atlanta, Sunburst Stables fireplaces make for an almost luxurious stay. Guests who specializes in trail riding, ziplining and girls and boys have their own horses can board them at the stables for a summer camps. It’s located on the edge of the Chatnightly rate and have the option to explore the property’s tahoochee National Forest and has 30 miles of wooded trails and open and covered arenas. trails and six zip lines. It’s also only a few miles away By the time our trail ride was over, we wished from Helen and Unicoi State Park, so the area has enough we were getting back onto a horse instead of into the trails, tubing and other outdoor adventures to fit into a car for the trip home. The stables’ trail day or weekend trip — if you’re still craving S U N B U R S T S TA B LE S rides and zip lines are the perfect way to more after your stay at the stables! 3181 Georgia 255 get outside and enjoy a Georgia summer Our day at Sunburst began with a quick Clarkesville, Ga. shaded by trees in the cool, breezy Blue safety lesson, and afterward we got on our 800-806-1953 www.sunburststables.com Ridge Mountains. U horses and headed out with six other riders PHOTOS COURTESY OF SUNBURST STABLES

sunburst stables

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

the coolest destination in the southeast

PHOTOS COURTESY OF LECONTE LODGE

approximately $114 per person, but that doesn’t deter hearty individual hikers, couples and all sizes of groups that fill the lodge to capacity on most evenings. I discussed the allure of LeConte Lodge with Kathy Simpson, who is a regular visitor and provides an online tribute to Mount LeConte (www.kathleen-simpson.com). An avid hiker in the Smokies for a number of years, she said the first time she made it to the top on Mount LeConte and to the lodge she was “hooked.” “It’s almost like walking into heaven, into the clouds. You see things that a very small percentage of people get to see. I think that’s why people get hooked and go back year after year after year,” she said. “It’s getting away from electricity. It’s getting away from traffic, the office. It’s the fact that the Lodge is not accessible for everyone, that you meet people with similar interests and you develop friendships that go on for years.” Several times over the years, Simpson said, it could be raining in Gatlinburg and on the way up the trail they went above the cloud cover and had sunshine. “You look down on what we call a ‘sea of clouds’ and the only other time I have experienced that sensation was from an airplane.” That’s not the only climatic change that occurs from the base of the mountain to the top. Typically, there is a 20- to 25-degree difference in temperature. In fact, it has been reported that there has never been a temperature at 80 degrees or above ever recorded on Mount LeConte, where the average maximum temperature last July was [ WRITTEN BY CARL DA NBURY, JR. ] 69.1 and the average minimum temperature was a comAt 6,360 feet, LeConte Lodge is the highest fortable 54.6 degrees. While all of the seasons are special for different in terms of elevation of any inn in the Eastern United reasons, according to Simpson, you do have to be preStates that provides overnight lodging for visitors. pared for storms, snowfall (in colder months) and the Located near the summit of Mount LeConte in Great vast temperature difference. She has hiked all five trailSmoky Mountains National Park in Sevier County, heads leading to the lodge and suggests the Trillium Gap Tenn., the circa 1926 lodge is accessible only by one of Trail for less experienced hikers and the thrilling Alum five hiking trails ranging in length from 5 to 8 miles. Cave Trail for the more intrepid. The lodge, open from late March to mid-November, “It’s not everybody’s idea of a vacation, that’s for consists of seven rough-hewn cabins and three multi-room sure, but while it’s a challenge for us, we enjoy the lodges, lit with kerosene lamps and heated by propane, experience, the beauty, the stillness, the which can accommodate up to 60 guests solitude and peacefulness. That’s what per night. A washbasin and bucket, linens, LE C O NTE LO D G E R E S E RVAT I O N S keeps bringing you back, and you don’t a table and chair, and rocking chairs on 250 Apple Valley Road mind beating yourself up for a day to get covered porches are the amenities availSevierville, Tenn. there. It’s not something for everybody, able. Family-style breakfast and dinner are 865-429-5704 but hiking to the top of Mount LeConte served daily, and guided llamas transport reservations@lecontelodge.com is as close to touching God as you necessary supplies to the lodge three times www.leconte-lodge.com can get.” U per week. All-inclusive rates per night are www.highonleconte.com

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

Beat the Heat in the Mountains

yonah mountain vineyards cave tours [ WRIT T EN BY B R E H U M P H R I E S ]

Yonah Mountain Vineyards Tasting Room

PHOTOS COURTESY OF YONAH MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS

Just outside of Cleveland, Ga., we hung a left off of

the tasting portion of the tour, Smith selects the wines he wants to showcase on a weekly basis; in this case, Highway 255 when we saw the barn, red as the Georgia two Serenity Cellars Tuscan-style reds that will be availclay, that marks the entrance to Yonah Mountain able for purchase later this month, and the 2008 Yonah Vineyards (YMV) and followed a gravel road winding Mountain Genesis straight from the barrel. Each wine through the private, 197-acre estate. YMV is home to was already beginning to show exciting characteristics, the only wine cave in Georgia, a cool cavity dug into the and the samples made me eager to try them again. hillside by owners Bob and Jane Miller to protect their Though I’ll have to hold my horses for that, YMV wines from the severe Southern heat, and we were here currently offers nine different varietals that are ready to seek a little shelter ourselves. to enjoy right now, so we took a little road trip from Our host for the afternoon was winemaker Joe the vineyard to the tasting room in Sautee-Nacoochee’s Smith, who creates wines under the Yonah Mountain Sautee Village. A full tasting is included in the cost of a brand as well as his own label, Serenity Cellars. As we cave tour ($25), and I was delighted to discover several assembled with a group of fellow wine enthusiasts, Smith new favorites, including the Serenity Cellars Viogner, explained his painstaking winemaking process — handa bright white with aromatics of tropical fruit and ﬂasorting grape clusters, slow-process pressing and bottling vors of mango, pineapple and white peach, and Serenity by hand — in order to pursue the highest quality wines. Cellars Dolce Bello, a dessert red wine blended with We then followed him through the tank room and into Ghirardelli chocolate. As we lingered over our wine the cave itself, where the 56- to 58-degree temperatures glasses with newfound friends from the tour, an acoustic offered instant relief. “This is the only place where it’s musician began his simple serenade in the background, good to be six feet under and still breathing,” Smith bringing a leisurely end to what was quipped. Here, the temperature and YO N A H M O U N TA I N undoubtedly one of our favorite North humidity levels are easier to maintain, V I N E YA R D S Georgia winery experiences. making conditions ideal for barreling. 1717 Highway 255 Cleveland, Ga. Catch YMV’s cave tours twice a YMV maintains 13 acres of vines Tasting Room month (call for reservations), and mark growing seven different grape varietals: (Hours vary by season) your calendar for Crush Fest on Sept. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, 2454-B Highway 17 3, an all-day harvest celebration at the Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Sautee, Ga. vineyard featuring grape stomping, Petit Bordeaux and Malbec, and inside 706-878-5522 the cave, we savored our ﬁrst sips. For www.yonahmountainvineyards.com vineyard tours and wine tasting. PN

E N T E R T O W I N T H E S M O K Y M O U N TA I N H O S T S W E E P S TA K E S Smoky Mountain Host of North Carolina, which represents the seven far western counties of North Carolina (Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Jackson, Macon and Swain), and the Qualla Boundary of the Cherokee Indian Reservation are offering a wonderful giveaway opportunity online that includes seven overnight-stay packages and gift certiﬁcates to several local restaurants and attractions. Entries must be received by Aug. 15, 2011 and are limited to one entry per household. Winners may redeem their prizes through July 31, 2012 unless otherwise noted. www.visitsmokies.org/smoky-mountain-sweepstakes/index.html 28

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

SEE WHAT ATLANTANS ARE SAYING ABOUT ALPHADERM “Before you have [plastic surgery], go see Dr. Glavey. Try Thermage and Fraxel. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to look refreshed and renewed.” “Dr. Glavey recommended Radiesse and Botox. I feel like I look 20 years younger.” “My husband and I have had our regular exams with Dr. Glavey for close to 20 years. The very ﬁrst day [after Thermage], I could see the results. They were immediate and long lasting.” “It’s been three weeks since I had the Sculptra process done. My expression lines have been minimized substantially. When I look in the mirror, I see a more youthful appearance. One thing I love about Dr. Glavey is that she took the time to explain everything to me.”

“My skin had sun damage, uneven skin tone, brown spots, freckles, and wrinkles. After my second Fraxel treatment, it had become much softer and the brown spots were disappearing. It just looked so much clearer. The end results were remarkable!” “By the end of college, I had acquired some acne scarring. I found Dr. Christine Glavey and, wow! My skin is clear. I can see the improvement.”

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“Winner, Best Dermatologist 2011” – Jezebel Magazine

401 South Main Street Suite C-7 Alpharetta, Georgia 30009 770.475.2004 www.alpha-derm.com

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T-MINUTE

Summer LAST-MINUTE

Summer Vacations IN THE

Mountains

Vacations wading, biking, birding, waterfalls, watermills, a pioneer village, cultural attractions, nostalgic shops and motor lodges, family fun parks, petting zoos, more than 30 miles of untamed trout waters and Harrah’s Cherokee Casino and Hotel. August is a great time to visit, with the 10th Annual Talking Trees Children’s Trout Derby scheduled for Aug. 6, the Volkswagen Car Show Aug. 12 – 13 and the thrilling Festival of Native Peoples scheduled for Aug. 26 – 27. The ongoing event “Unto These Hills” outdoor drama continues through Aug. 13 and the Oconaluftee Indian Village runs through Oct. 22. Great fall events include the Southeast Tribes Celebration, Sept. 16 – 17, with the 99th Annual Cherokee Indian Fair slated for Oct. 4 – 8. For more information about Cherokee, visit www.cherokee-nc.com or call 800-438-1601.

Hendersonville Promotes Family Fun with Music and Dance Events

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHEROKEE

Experience Authentic Cherokee Culture this Summer and Beyond

e on the lookout this summer for the original people of the “Sha-cona-ge” or Land of the Blue Mist, a civilization older than the Inca, the Maya, the Egyptians and the Romans. At the southern entrance to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, discover the authentic history and culture of the Cherokee. Experience authentic Cherokee culture brought to life in genuine, ancient legends, history, tradition, song, dance, ceremony and fascinating period regalia. Cherokee offers activities, packages and itineraries that make visiting an affordable pleasure for all ages and interests. Visit cultural sites and enjoy cultural festivals, camping, tubing, hiking,

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

udiences will once again be treated to one of Hendersonville’s favorite summertime events at the 13th Annual Music On Main Street concert series. Music On Main Street is the premier outdoor concert series held every Friday from 7 – 9 p.m. through Aug. 19 at the Visitors Information Center, located at 201 South Main St. in Downtown Hendersonville, N.C. Music On Main Street provides a quality family-oriented event, showcasing a diverse lineup of regional musical talents, from pop, oldies, beach and rock to contemporary music. Put on your dancing shoes and head to Music On Main Street for some good toe-tapping music, where there is a dance area in front of the stage. The Hendersonville Antique Car Club hosts six classic car shows in conjunction with Music On Main Street during the concert season. For more information about the classic car shows or the Hendersonville Antique Car Club, call 828-696-4168 or 828-388-0671.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HENDERSONVILLE

Music and dance are inherent in Appalachian culture, handed down for generations. The Street Dance has been part of that tradition in Downtown Hendersonville for more than 90 years. People young and old make their way to the Visitors Information Center to enjoy mountain heritage, bluegrass music, square dancing and clogging every Monday evening from 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9 p.m. from July 11 through Aug. 15. The Street Dance comes alive with people square dancing and clogging to various bands playing traditional bluegrass music. The square dances are led by Walt Puckett, who calls out simple steps and movements. Special appearances by area clogging teams make for an entertaining, foot stomping evening. Puckett teaches audience members basic square dancing moves, such as the Right Hand Across, Open the Garden Gate and the Shoe Fly Swing. Music on Main Street and The Street Dance are Henderson County Travel & Tourism events. For additional information call the Visitors Information Center at 828-693-9708, 800-828-4244 or visit www.historichendersonville.org

GSMR hearkens guests back to a bygone era with the romance and mystique of the 19th century. If you want the complete experience combining two modes of mountain transportation, ride the train and then raft the popular Nantahala River all in one day. GSMR offers a train and rafting combination. Ride the Nantahala Gorge Excursion and whitewater raft the full length of the popular Nantahala River with Wildwater Ltd. or the Nantahala Outdoor Center. For details, visit www.gsmr.com or call 800-872-4681.

All Aboard for a Historic and Scenic Smoky Mountains Journey

dults and children alike will enjoy a delightful journey through the majestic mountains and colorful countryside of Western North Carolina with the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (GSMR). The railroad operates year-round, though schedules vary seasonally, with all trains departing Bryson City. With 53 miles of track that wind over a sprawling lake, past rushing rivers, through a deep mountain gorge and into dark mountain tunnels,

PHOTO COURTESY OF GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

Last-Minute Summer Vacations

LAST-MINUTE

Summer Vacations AT THE

Beach

PHOTO COURTESY OF SANDESTIN

More Families Finding Fun at Sandestin

andestin Florida Family Resort reports more families are finding fun on Florida’s Emerald Coast beaches as they gradually find more money in their travel budgets. “Visitors are returning to Sandestin, in not just pre-oil spill, but pre-recession numbers,” said John Russell, president of Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. “The beach is back.” Prospective travelers to Florida emphasized that deals remain important to them. In fact, many local travelers are already saving money by driving to Sandestin on one tank of gas, or enjoying discount airfares like those offered by Vision Airlines, which services the nearby Destin/Ft. Walton Northwest Florida Regional Airport (VPS). At Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, there are more Florida vacation specials and deals to be had, particularly if guests avoid the peak times favored by groups. The resort also offers a free night promotion, based on availability. If families have some degree of flexibility, there may even be a better choice of getting a great unit Sunday through Thursday. Upcoming events include the Sandestin Music Festival and the Sandestin Triathlon in August. The Marina Beach Luau every Tuesday night is the perfect opportunity for family fun with tropical music, fire pits, tropical grilled meats and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. For information about Sandestin, its great deals and all the resort has to offer, visit www.sandestin.com or call 866-91BEACH.

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

Last-Minute Summer Vacations

PHOTO COURTESY OF GULF COUNTY TOURISM

The Once Forgotten Destination, Now a Huge Hit with Families

hen Florida ofﬁcials forgot to include a unique strip of beaches in northwest Florida on its annual tourism map in 1995, locals began calling Gulf County and Mexico Beach, “Florida’s Forgotten Coast” and the name seemed to stick. On this 43-mile stretch of white sand beaches, about a 30-minute drive from Panama City, are some of the most pristine and uncrowded stretches found anywhere. In 2002, Dr. Stephen Leatherman, more commonly known as Dr. Beach, ranked St. Joseph’s Peninsula State Park on Cape San Blas No. 1 in the nation for its 50-foot tall white sand dunes and crystal clear waters. Despite the plaudits, the area still remains a quiet family destination and has become quite popular among visitors from the Atlanta area. Families with young children are drawn to the area because the calm waters, the lack of high-rise condos and latenight revelry. The area is best known for its family-friendly events, great rates and lots of water-based activities! The 14th Annual Florida Scallop and Music Festival is slated for Aug. 5 – 7. Scalloping runs through Sept. 25 and it’s relatively easy for people to rent kayaks or just wade and pick them up for a feast. Fresh local seafood is king and dining along the peaceful waters is popular at the local restaurants, which tend to be more affordable and less crowded than those at other popular Gulf Coast destinations. Live music can be found in numerous locations, with Nashville greats and surprising local musicians entertaining those who enjoy a laid-back evening. Cape San Blas Lighthouse on Cape San Blas, a 17-mile long barrier peninsula, is open for climbing to the top with its great views and full-moon climbs are incredible. Kayaking, stand up paddle boarding (SUP) and biking the new Loggerhead Bike trail

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

are popular Cape activities. Horseback rides on the area’s petfriendly beaches are popular, as are beach weddings. Indian Pass’ rich history is filled with stories of ghosts, governors, Franciscan friars and exotic game shipped from the New York Zoological Park. “The Pass” is celebrated for its excellent fishing, secluded beaches, lagoon oysters and an incredible range of habitat. Beach driving is allowed, with a permit, so it’s not unusual to see families gathered along the shore — fishing, crabbing, grilling or gathering wood for an evening bonfire. The “Raw Bar” as locals call it, has a humble existence that began back in 1903 as a commissary during turpentine days. Today, it is still owned and operated by the same family and is somewhat of an icon. Port St. Joes’ new Welcome Center, located along the BayWalk Trail and overlooking St. Joseph Bay, makes a great “first stop” for free maps, brochures and information. From there, explore Port St. Joe’s historic downtown shopping district or marina waterfront district, all conveniently connected and easily walkable. Great places to shop or grab a bite to eat are scattered all over town, on or near the bay and throughout the downtown district. Restaurants, diners and bistros offer everything from upscale and trendy to ethnic and Southern cuisine, many with outdoor dining areas. Downtown Historic Reid Avenue is a great place to find a unique gift, home furnishings or local art. St. Joe Beach sits at the border of the Eastern and Central Time zones and has made the annual “Celebrate Twice” New Year’s event one that draws revelers from around the world. Free, public trolleys carry revelers to clubs and pubs on each side of the timeline to get in a second celebration. Pristine Properties, www.visitfloridabeaches.com, is offering a “Family Fun Pass” to all Points North readers! The Family Fun Pass provides guests with a free horseback riding trip, deep-sea fishing adventure and an 18-hole round of golf for a limited time. Call 800-215-0677 and mention Points North. For more information on the Forgotten Coast, call 800-482GULF or visit www.visitgulf.com.

Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Says Slow Down and Let Loose

labama’s Gulf Coast will cast its spell over you with great summer events and attractions for children and adults. While relaxation is the favorite pastime with most visitors to the area, children ages 9 – 14 will enjoy an opportunity to become junior sailors compliments of the City of Orange Beach Parks & Recreation Department. The Summer Sail Camp has availability during the week of July 18 – 22. Beginner sessions are held each day

Pottery Last-Minute Studios Summer Vacations

PHOTO COURTESY OF GULF SHORES & ORANGE BEACH TOURISM

from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., while Intermediate sessions are held from 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Hands-on sailing instruction, classroom instruction, knot tying, daily drink and participation certiﬁcate are included. The fee for non-residents is $125. The 147th Anniversary Commemoration Battle of Mobile Bay will be held Aug. 6 at Fort Morgan. A cannon salute, followed by oral account of the Battle of Mobile Bay, and a fully stocked

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

Quartermaster Building will be on display and the resident blacksmith will demonstrate his craft in the original blacksmith shop. Candlelight tours of the Fort Morgan Historic Site are held on Tuesday evenings (July 12, 19 and 26) at 7 p.m. The tour, led by uniformed interpreters, enlightens visitors to the fort’s vital role in the Civil War. The one-hour tours feature historical vignettes about fort life, usually around the Civil War era. The Amphitheater at The Wharf, located at The Wharf resort in Orange Beach, is 9,500-seat amphitheater beautifully situated among scenic wetlands and features some great musical acts in July and August. Poison appears on July 7, and Jason Aldean with special guests Chris Young & Thompson Square are slated to appear July 14. YES and STYX will perform July 15 and Miranda Lambert with special guest Gary Allan will take the stage July 23. Kings of Leon with special guest Band of Horses are slated for July 26 and Steely Dan with special guest Sam Yahel will perform Aug. 21. All shows begin at 8 p.m., and doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are available online at Tickemaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000. For more information about Gulf Shores/Orange Beach, please visit www.gulfshores.com or call 800-745-7263. PN

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

bookworm B

BY THE

O U R P I C KS F O R H OT R E A DS BY LO C A L A U T H O R S T H I S S U M M E R

[ W R I T T E N BY SA RA S H E LTON ]

As the weather gets warmer, people are dusting off their

library cards, breaking out their Kindles, and hitting bookstores to stock up on the best reads for the summer. This year, some of the newest novels come from hometown authors right here in Georgia. We scoured the shelves to bring you four great reads from local authors to take you through the summer. So pack it in your beach bag, take it to the pool, or sit out on the front porch and enjoy a few releases from some hometown writers.

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

Atlanta-based author Michelle Au breaks into the autobiographical genre with a refreshingly witty memoir detailing her journey through medical residency, marriage and ﬁrst-time parenthood. Au’s tales from “This Won’t Hurt A Bit (And Other White Lies): My Education in Medicine and Motherhood” come from her time in residency at Columbia University Medical Center in Manhattan. She shares all the gory details of a life in medical residency: long shifts, difﬁcult patients, gross procedures, and the general drama of life in medicine. Interwoven with these challenges are tales from Au’s life outside the hospital walls, including a new husband, a pregnancy and the demands of balancing motherhood and medicine. “Grey’s Anatomy” this is not. Au does not offer an idealistic or overly dramatized look at love, life or medicine. Instead, she tells her story with real wit and

PHOTO COURTESY OF STAN KAADY

wisdom. As a reader, I found myself laughing alongside Au yet all the while feeling the struggle and weight of so much new responsibility in her world. As you read, you’ll ﬁnd yourself wanting to meet Michelle Au, grab coffee and chat like girlfriends about the stories and struggles she shares in her book. As this isn’t an option, I’d recommend picking up her book and getting to know her through the pages instead.

“TH E B E ACH TR E E S” B y Karen W hi te Nothing says “good summer reading” like a novel set against the backdrop of a white, sandy beach. Author Karen White’s novel “The Beach Trees” is the perfect Southern summer story. Though a native of London, White now lives just outside the Atlanta area and ﬁnds the inspiration for much of her work in the people and places of the South. “The Beach Trees” tells the story of long-suffering protagonist Julie. She leads an isolated, staunchly independent life in New York City, far from the family she lost contact with after the disappearance of her younger sister in childhood. She ﬁnds a friend in local artist Monica and the two quickly bond over their troubled past and estranged families. When Monica meets an untimely death, she leaves Julie behind with sole custody of her young son. Unsure of what to do or how to proceed, Julie packs up the boy and moves down to

Monica’s Mississippi beach house to meet the family Monica left behind. As she begins to know Monica’s family, Julie slowly starts to piece together her friend’s past and the story of her family while struggling to come to terms with her own. As this is her 11th novel (with four more scheduled for release in the next two years), White proves yet again why she is such a great writer. She tells the story in alternating viewpoints, giving the reader a fresh perspective on key plot points and keeping the narrative moving in an interesting fashion. Along with the story of the protagonist’s personal growth and healing, White weaves in elements of mystery and romance to create a well-written, interesting beach read. PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY/PENGUIN GROUP (USA), INC.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GRAND CENTRAL PUBLISHING PHOTO COURTESY OF NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY/PENGUIN GROUP (USA), INC.

“TH IS WO N ’T H U RT A B IT ( AN D OTH E R WH ITE LI E S): M Y E D U C ATI O N I N M E D I C I N E A N D M OTH E R H O O D” B y Michelle Au

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

“TH E SWE ETE ST TH ING” B y Elizabet h M usser Author Elizabeth Musser carries a deep-rooted love for both her family and the city where they live, the city of Atlanta. Her family’s lineage in the city dates back to before her grandparents, with Musser herself living locally until her college years. Though the author now finds her home abroad in France, her work as a writer allows her to draw back to the city and the family she loves. Her latest work, “The Sweetest Thing,” is her fourth novel to be set against the backdrop of Atlanta and combines her affection for the city, its history and her family in a sweet, fictional story of friendship. “The Sweetest Thing” tells the story of two young girls attending Atlanta’s Washington Seminary, an allgirls private school in the 1930s. Young Perri comes from a world of wealth and privilege, parties and boys. She lives a life unaffected by the looming turmoil of the time. Into her life comes Dobbs, a zealous and frank preacher’s daughter who arrives at the school with tales of poverty, religion and revival. As the effects of the looming Great Depression finally reach the students

PHOTO COURTESY OF GINGER MURRAY PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO COURTESY OF BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS

Summer Reading

and families of Washington Seminary, the two girls form an unlikely friendship and learn to cope together through a time of change and tragedy. Musser tells the tale of friendship between two girls facing challenges of faith and the reality of a rapidly changing world. She paints a lovely Southern picture of life in Atlanta in the 1930s, offering the reader vivid mental pictures of the sights and sounds. She carries a personal tie to the story itself, as Musser’s grandmother attended Washington Seminary in the ’30s, and her journal entries serve as inspiration for the novel. Both her love for Atlanta and her own personal passion for the story are evident in the novel and make for a sweet and redemptive read.

HAVE YOU EVER DREAMED OF OWNING YOUR OWN SALON? This summer, the premier destination for accomplished salon professionals will open its doors in Alpharetta. Solera Salon & Spa stylists will have access to the business support and service they crave in a world-class luxury facility designed and built just for them.

If you are ready to take the next step in your career, and maximize your earning potential, contact Solera Salon & Spa today. Our expert support staff will show you how you can be your own boss in an environment your customers are going to love.

WWW.SOLERASALON.COM 1 6 5 5 M A N S E L L R D , A L PH A R E TTA 30009  1/3 mile West of Highway 400) TE L . 678. 585. 0700

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

rve rese suite r you day! to

R a i n Som m e rs has made quite a name for herself as a late night radio show psychologist in the sordid city of New Orleans. Having lost her mother, a famous New Orleans lounge singer, at an early age, Rain spent her life trying to rise above her own painful past and now offers the same kind of direction to her call-in clients. Her life takes a sudden, twisted turn when she begins receiving cryptic calls from a listener who has formed an obsession with her and the long-ago murder of her mother. She turns to local detective Trevor Rivette, who has been tracking a serial killer in the city and believes Rain’s obsessive caller may be the man for whom he has been searching. As the two work together to unmask the killer and keep Rain alive, a newfound bond is formed as their own secrets come to light in this suspenseful romance. Lawrenceville author Leslie Tentler’s debut suspense novel offers an exciting mystery for readers. Her choice of genre is of little surprise, as Tentler grew up loving the mysteries and suspense of Nancy Drew. Though the novel carries all the predictable elements of a roma nt ic thriller (troubled heroine, FBI hero, mysterious villain), Tentler still manages to pull together a somewhat unpredictable plot. The suspense, the setting and the stars of the novel come together to form a great summer page-turner. With Tentler’s plans to make this novel the opening of a trilogy, I’d say read it now and look forward to two more summer reads to follow. PN PHOTO COURTESY OF WALLACE REID

PHOTO COURTESY OF HARLEQUIN ENTERPRISES

“ M I D N I G HT CA LLE R ” B y Leslie Tent ler

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ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

CARDIOLOGY

CANCER

TRAUMA

STROKE

MATERNITY

PAIN REILIEF

BURN

ROBOTIC SURGERY

NEUROSCIENCES

SPORTS MEDICINE

REHABILITATION

SURGICAL WEIGHT MANAGEMENT

IMAGING

An Atlantan’s Health Guide to Area Hospitals [ W R I T T E N BY ASH L E Y B R E C H TE L ]

Atlanta is home to a variety of hospitals offering superior care and services to the communities they serve. From groundbreaking technology to creative rehabilitation programs, the hospitals in the Atlanta area are renowned for a variety of medical services. Following are just a few areas of expertise that each institution offers.

NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL With three not-for-proﬁt hospitals and 15 affiliated outpatient centers and medical office buildings throughout north metro Atlanta, Northside Hospital offers a comprehensive list of healthcare services with an emphasis on maternity services, women’s health, cancer care, surgery and radiology. Since Northside diagnoses and treats more cases of cancer than any other community hospital in Georgia, the hospital is proud to report several recent accomplishments in cancer care. Northside is the only new hospital in the southeastern United States to be chosen to join the National Cancer Institute’s Community Cancer Center’s Program (NCCCP), which offers expanded research opportunities and state-of-the-art cancer care by bringing advanced treatments to the centers in its network. According to the National Marrow Donor Program, Northside also has the best survival rates for matched unrelated PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL donors (MUD) transplants of any program in the Southeast and the second best survival rates in Main Campus the entire country. In addition, The Commission 1000 Johnson Ferry Road NE on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons Atlanta granted its Outstanding Achievement Award to 404-851-8000 Northside’s Cancer Care Program as a result of Northside Hospital – Cherokee surveys performed in 2010. 201 Hospital Road Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) is Canton now available in Cherokee County, which means 770-720-5100 that if a patient comes to any Northside Hospital Emergency Department with a heart attack, they Northside Hospital – Forsyth won’t have to be transferred to another hospi1200 Northside Forsyth Drive tal for treatment. Northside is the only hospital Cumming in both Cherokee and Forsyth counties, making 770-844-3200 it the only PCI provider available. With state-ofwww.northside.com the-art technology and an experienced staff, patients are in good hands in the event of a coronary emergency.

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

NORTH FULTON REGIONAL HOSPITAL For more than 25 years, North Fulton Hospital has been fulfilling the medical and healthcare needs of North Georgia residents. A statedesignated Level II Trauma Center and a Joint Commission Certified Primary Stroke Center, North Fulton Hospital provides a continuum of services through its centers and programs, including neurosciences, orthopedics, rehabilitation, surgical services, bariatric surgical weight loss, gastroenterology and oncology. North Fulton Regional Hospital’s Level II Adult Trauma Center is one of only three in metro Atlanta and is well staffed with boardcertified emergency medicine physicians and nurses holding a variety of emergency certifications. The 15,000-square-foot emergency area incorporates 28 patient rooms, including separate cardiac, trauma and orthopedic areas equipped with modern and sophisticated equipment to deal with situations ranging from minor emergencies to life-threatening traumas. Another specialty, The Certified Stroke Center at North Fulton Hospital provides quality, integrative care for stroke patients. Every stage of the recovery process, from recognizing and treating symptoms to completing rehabilitation, is intended to return patients to the highest level of function and quality of life.

3000 Hospital Blvd. Roswell 770-751-2500 www.nfultonhospital.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA

PIEDMONT HOSPITAL Serving the Atlanta community for more than 100 years, Piedmont Hospital has been a pioneer in patient care, combining personalized, individual care with innovative technology. Piedmont Hospital is a private, not-for-proﬁt acute-care tertiary facility offering most major medical, surgical and diagnostic services. For patients with acute congestive heart failure who can’t wait for a heart transplant, Piedmont Heart Institute operates a VAD (ventricular assist device) program including LVAD, which helps the left side of the heart pump blood out to the body. The LVAD is surgically implanted inside a person’s chest to hook the left ventricle to the aorta, the main artery supplying blood to the rest of the body. Piedmont already has a well-established program for kidney, liver and pancreas transplants. In addition, Piedmont’s cancer services has become one of the premier programs in the Southeast. The Cancer Wellness Program at Piedmont recognizes that treatment is more than just surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatments. Each person’s treatment begins with a nurse navigator, who is there to guide the patient through the entire process and serve as a liaison to a team of surgeons, oncologists and other specialists who work together to map out a unique course of treatment for each individual. 1968 Peachtree Road Atlanta 404-605-5000 www.piedmonthospital.org

CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is a leading resource for patients, families and doctors seeking expert medical information and guidance to treat illnesses and injuries of all kinds. Children’s employs nearly 150 doctors — more than any other hospital in Georgia — that are included among the nation’s best doctors as listed by Best Doctors in America. Children’s Healthcare is a national leader among childhood cancer, hemotology and blood and marrow transplant programs, and the Aﬂac Cancer Center and Children’s Neurosciences Programs are highly acclaimed. Children’s treats more than 100 pediatric brain and

spinal cord tumor patients each year, which means they take care of more neurology and neurosurgery patients than any other children’s hospital in the country. From neurosurgery to rehabilitation, the doctors, researchers and many other pediatric-trained specialists at Children’s Healthcare provide integrated, comprehensive care for children with brain tumors. The newly opened Children’s Healthcare of Forsyth offers rehabilitations services that include a rock climbing wall for kids. Staff members in rehabilitation services at Children’s work with patients with diverse conditions,

It’s about more than just “the teeth" – it’s about the experience. At Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry, creating positive experiences requires our very best efforts. Having good doctors is a start, but really it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Our remarkable staff has the education and abilities we all expect, but most importantly we possess the awareness that children are not small adults, not even close! Children need and deserve a slower, more thoughtful, more insightful approach.

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ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

from traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries to neurological diseases and other childhood impairments resulting from accidents, illnesses, injuries, congenital defects, syndromes and other conditions. The Sports Medicine Program at Children’s is one of the few programs in the country dedicated to the care of young athletes. The program staff consists of physical therapists, certiﬁed athletic trainers, strength and conditioning specialists, and pediatric-trained physicians. Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston 1405 Clifton Road NE Atlanta 404-785-6000 Children’s Healthcare at Scottish Rite 1001 Johnson Ferry Road NE Atlanta 30342 404-785-5252 Children’s Healthcare of Forsyth 410 Peachtree Pkwy. Suite 300 Cumming 30041 404-785-3100 ww.choa.org

GWINNETT MEDICAL CENTER Gwinnett Medical Center is a not-for-proﬁt healthcare network providing a wide array of services and facilities to Gwinnett County and the surrounding area. All of Gwinnett Medical Center facilities feature the cutting-edge technology, advanced treatments and some of the country’s most renowned, well-trained and well-educated physicians, specialists and employees. The Center for Surgical Weight Management at Gwinnett Medical Center–Duluth has an expert staff to offer patients the latest surgical weight loss and weight management options. Gwinnett Medical provides a comprehensive bariatric program that focuses on the patient’s needs before, during and after surgery, including informational sessions, nutritional counseling and extensive follow-up care. Gwinnett Medical Center–Duluth is also proud to offer the da Vinci Surgical System for women facing a hysterectomy or myomectomy.

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF GWINNETT MEDICAL CENTER

A Guide to Atlanta Area Hospitals

This minimally invasive robotic surgery is a new alternative to traditional open-surgery procedures and is designed to provide surgeons with enhanced capabilities, including high-definition 3D vision and a magnified view. Using da Vinci, the surgeon performs complex procedures through just a few tiny openings. Benefits include reduced scarring, reduced risk of infection and shorter hospital stays. When it comes to sports medicine, Gwinnett Medical Center is at the top of its game as the official healthcare provider for the Gwinnett Braves, Gwinnett Gladiators, Georgia Force and the Atlanta Tennis Championships. With some of the most progressive technology in the region and nationally renowned physicians, specialists and staff, Gwinnett Medical Center–Duluth has created an innovative program designed to get athletes back on the field faster.

Main Campus 1000 Medical Center Blvd. Lawrenceville 678-312-2400 Gwinnett Medical Center–Duluth 3620 Howell Ferry Road Duluth 678-312-6800

announce changes that will undoubtedly improve patient care. The new Marcus Stroke and Neuroscience Center provides the latest in technology and offers treatment expertise and specialty care. The advanced Neurocritical Care Unit stands ready to handle acute, time-dependent neurological emergencies, and expert care is provided by stroke specialists from the Emory University School of Medicine. Grady is recognized locally, nationally and internationally as one of the premier Level 1 Trauma Centers, and Grady’s team of trauma experts see nearly 3,000 major trauma cases and another 10,000 moderate trauma patients each year. One of only two Level I Trauma Centers within a 100-mile radius of Atlanta, Grady’s existing 20-year-old emergency and trauma care facility will soon be home to the new Marcus Trauma Center. A $7 million dollar renovation and expansion project will double existing trauma capacity under normal conditions and quadruple existing capacity in mass casualty situations, allowing them to treat up to 16 patients, two per trauma bay, if that need should ever arise. Grady’s Burn Center is one of the largest in the nation and one of only two in the state of Georgia. The newly renovated facility provides comprehensive medical care to burn victims of all ages. It features private rooms, 23 critical and intermediate care beds, and a dedicated rehabilitation gym where burn patients receive physical and occupational therapy.

80 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive SE Atlanta 404-616-1000 www.gradyhealthsystem.org

www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org

GRADY HOSPITAL Grady Hospital has been a ﬁxture in Atlanta since 1892 and is an internationally recognized teaching hospital that is staffed exclusively by doctors from Emory University and Morehouse schools of medicine. In fact, 25 percent of all doctors practicing medicine in Georgia received some or all of their training at Grady. After a lot of hard work, Grady is proud to

ST. JOSEPH’S HOSPITAL St. Joseph’s offers a full service line of medical specialties, a state-of-the-art facility, innovative technology and a commitment to compassion and clinical excellence. St. Joseph’s was the first hospital in the Southeast to perform open-heart surgery, the first to develop a cardiac cath lab and the first to perform balloon angioplasty. Also, St. Joseph’s Hospital was the first to open a pacemaker clinic and the first in Georgia to implant an artificial heart. With so

A Guide to Atlanta Area Hospitals many firsts, St. Joseph’s strives to continue advancing in the medical field. St. Joseph’s was the first center in Georgia to adopt robotic-assisted surgery technology, minimally invasive procedures that reduce scarring and lead to shorter recovery periods. Not only do St. Joseph’s surgeons specialize in robot-assisted surgery, but they also train other surgeons around the country and the world to use this technology. St. Joseph’s also boasts an excellent Structural Heart Program, and its Heart and Vascular Institute (HVI) is home to highly regarded physicians and healthcare providers who offer comprehensive cardiovascular services using advanced technologies. St. Joseph’s innovative approach to prevention and treatment, outstanding outcomes, and a patient-centered, compassionate care philosophy have earned them a national reputation as a center for cardiovascular excellence.

5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road Atlanta 678-843-7001 www.stjosephsatlanta.org

EMORY JOHNS CREEK Emory Johns Creek has earned top honors from the Georgia Hospital Association, being named to its Chairman’s Honor Roll for quality and patient safety and is a state-of-the-art facility that’s famous for a hotel-like setting with all private rooms, complimentary valet parking and “on call” room service. This community hospital participates in most insurance plans PHOTO COURTESY OF EMORY JOHNS CREEK

and offers emergency care, advanced cardiac care, vascular medicine and surgery, rehabilitation services and women’s services. The Birth Place at Emory Johns Creek offers families a highly personalized choice for childbirth in a boutique-like setting complete with free wireless Internet access, flat screen televisions and high-quality room service meals. It also features the area’s only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Tours of The Birth Center at Emory Johns Creek Hospital are offered every Thursday evening at 6 p.m. and every Saturday at 10 a.m. Emory Johns Creek Hospital received its designation to perform Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), formerly known as angioplasty, more than a year ago. This makes Emory Johns Creek the first hospital in the area to offer angioplasty and cardiac stents in both emergency and elective situations. During the first year of offering PCI, more than 250 procedures were performed. Emory Johns Creek Pain Center is home to a team of board-certified anesthesiologists and nurses who work with patients suffering from chronic pain to help them reach their optimum level of health and well-being. The anesthesiology department has been ranked in the Top 10 percent for Excellence in Anesthesiology Services by the PRC National Medical Staff database, demonstrating this team’s commitment to patient care and comfort during difficult procedures. The Pain Center uses interventional procedures, medications and a team approach that includes physical therapists, in-house radiologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons and orthopedic surgeons who work together to help you reach the highest level of pain relief possible.

6325 Hospital Pkwy. Johns Creek 30097 678-474-7000 www.emoryjohnscreek.com

WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM As the largest healthcare provider in Atlanta, WellStar delivers world-class healthcare through highly trained physicians, conveniently located hospitals and quality services. A notfor-proﬁt health system, WellStar reinvests its resources back into its communities with advanced technology, extensive services and

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

upgraded and new facilities to deliver quality healthcare close to home. The WellStar Cardiac Network includes WellStar Cardiovascular Medicine (CVM) and offers locations across the Atlanta area including Marietta, Woodstock and Austell. This program provides comprehensive cardiac service offerings, proven expertise in preventative care and cutting-edge treatment of acute and chronic cardiac condition. In addition, WellStar’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Services’ medically supervised programs focus on helping heart disease patients maintain a healthier heart through education and support groups. WellStar Surgery Network encompasses quality inpatient and outpatient surgical programs at all ﬁve WellStar hospitals as well as the expertise of the clinical teams. These teams are leading the way with the latest technological advances in laparoscopic, minimally invasive procedures and image-guided techniques. One of those advances is the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, which is currently available at the WellStar Kennestone location. This surgical system means smaller incisions, less bleeding and shorter recovery for the patient. WellStar has invested in the latest imaging technology, making it the largest and most comprehensive network of imaging services in metro Atlanta. This means better technology, non-invasive procedures and clearer images to detect and diagnose health concerns. PN WellStar Kennestone Hospital 677 Church St. Marietta 30060 770-793-5000 www.wellstar.org

ATL ANTA ME DICAL CE NTE R NOW A DESIGNATE D LE VE L 1 TR AUMA CE NTE R Atlanta Medical Center (AMC) has recently received recognition as a Level 1 Trauma Center, making them one of only ﬁve hospitals in Georgia’s top tier of trauma care centers. The Georgia Department of Community Health, Division of Emergency Preparedness & Response, awarded the designation after certifying that AMC met the qualifying criteria for Level 1 status. This includes appropriate staffing and equipment as well as volume of trauma patients treated annually. Treatment at a Level 1 trauma center increases injured patients’ chances of survival by an estimated 20 to 25 percent. AMC is the thirdbusiest trauma center in the state of Georgia, so they take delivering superior trauma services very seriously. www.atlantamedcenter.com

Quick Tips

Points North | july 2011 | ptsnorth.com

for freshening up your home

S PECIAL ADVERTIS IN G S ECTION

What’s old is new again. “If you have been gifted an antique from someone special, try to work it into your home design. You will never regret it!” encouraged Debbie Zimmerer, Ivy Interiors. “Vintage scales, cookbooks, transferware, tole trays [and more] hung in your kitchen or tucked to the side brings a form of whimsy that sometimes is all you may need to balance the cold granite countertop. Grandfather’s old hat and glasses or Grandmother’s old gloves placed next to some books brings in a feeling of their presence and also adds charm to the area. Just one antique piece in a room can add the ﬁnishing touch you want and need.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF DASSO FLOORING

Create a strong focus and declutter! “Do you have a pile of photos lying around? Splurge on some stylish frames and create a gallery wall of family photos or photos of places where you have traveled. It is more impactful to designate one wall or area rather than having photos strewn about,” said Allison Havill Todd, Allison Havill Todd Interiors. “When it comes to accessorizing a room, I believe in the ‘less is more’ principle. It is more visually appealing to have a few key pieces rather than a lot of ‘stuff.’ Take a fresh look at your accessories. It may be time to clean house and start anew.”

Don’t let energ y bills go through the roof. “If a homeowner could do one thing to improve the energy efficiency of their attic, they should have

Thermal Reflective Insulation installed on their rafters,” said Ted Kirk, North Georgia Replacement Windows Inc. “This type of insulation is far different from the ‘radiant’ barriers because it has a R-Factor and is much more fire retardant. Having Thermal Reflective Insulation installed in the attic stops 97 percent of radiant heat loss in your attic and reduces summer heat gain by up to 93 percent. The attic is one of the best places to insulate because this is where half of the home’s energy is lost. Furthermore, reducing the temperature in the attic, where most HVAC systems are located, makes the HVAC systems operate much more efficiently.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN HARRISON | IVY INTERIORS

Summer is here, and you might just be looking for unique ways to refresh your home. So as you are sipping that sweet tea on your porch swing, breeze through these expert tips for home improvement.

Keep the grass greener on your side of the fence. When remodeling, you may be surprised you can keep the earth healthy and create a beautiful design, too. “Because bamboo is a grass and is harvested between five to seven years, this makes it very sustainable and renewable,” said Rick Gill, Dasso Flooring. “A typical oak tree may take 50 to 75 years before it is cut down for flooring. Essentially you could have seven to 12 harvest cycles with bamboo in the same time you would from one oak tree. From that standpoint, using bamboo is an environmentally responsible choice.” Not only does bamboo help keep the earth greener, it is also ideal for high traffic areas of your home. “Bamboo [flooring] is generally harder that most hardwoods, which makes it more dent and scratch resistant,” Gill confirmed. Another environmental option for your home is

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

PHOTO COURTESY OF © AFFINITY KITCHEN + BATH / BILL ANDERSON PHOTOGRAPHY

S PECIAL ADVERTIS IN G S ECTIO N

HOME IMPROVEMENT TIPS

recycled glass countertops, according to Azita Nekooi, Luxor Tile & Stone. “More and more companies are salvaging glass fragments and mixing them with cement and epoxy to make countertops,” Nekooi said. “These durable countertops are visually stunning, come in a wide variety of colors and are made from recycled products.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

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“We live in an absolutely beautiful part of the country,” said David Touwsma from MosquitoNix. “But with mosquitos buzzing around, it is difﬁcult to enjoy our decks, patios, pools and other outdoor spaces. MosquitoNix provides viable solutions for those who enjoy the outdoors. “We offer a barrier spray that provides temporary relief from mosquitos in a speciﬁc area, and a fully automated misting system, which repels mosquitoes throughout the mosquito season,” Touwsma related.

Add va lue to you r kitchen, but spend wisely. “In this economy, nobody wants to outspend their neighborhood value potential, but they do want to be the ﬁ rst to sell when it is time to go on the market,” pointed out Elizabeth Ellsworth of Affinity Stoneworks. She suggests these items to splurge on when remodeling your kitchen, which is the most important room of the house to potential buyers. s 'ET THE LAYOUT AND DESIGN SCALE RIGHT ON the cabinets; without that, you might as well throw hard earned dollars into an abyss. Today’s kitchens should be purposefully zoned. s #ABINETRY IS IMPORTANT AND ADDITIONS TO make it look more “furniture like,” such as nice crown molding, light skirt and base moldings, can be very cost effective. s $ON T SCRIMP ON THE COUNTERTOP AS IT CAN greatly diminish the perceived quality of your entire kitchen. s !ND LASTLY GET THE COLOR AND TEXTURE mix right. This doesn’t add cost, it just requires good taste. So if you are wary about your choices, an interior designer’s input could do wonders for the overall look.

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

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HOME IMPROVEMENT TIPS

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ISTOCKPHOTO.COM

Protect your deck. Don’t let time tick too long before prot ect i ng your deck from the harsh sun and rain, advised Frank Pologruto, Decks and More. “When you get a deck built or are moving into a new home with a wood deck, go ahead and get it stained right away,” Pologruto said. “Ninety-ﬁve percent of builders do not stain or seal the deck once it is built. Therefore the homeowner does not know what to do and lets it go for a period of one to three years. Then it is too late, and the damage is done.”

Inspect your walls for f laws before you paint them. “Look ca ref ul ly down the walls and ceiling for nail pops, cuts and dents to be ﬁ lled with sheetrock mud,” said Kenneth Axt, Kenneth W. Axt Associates. “In order for the walls to look smooth, they should also lightly sand the walls and the trim to take the previous specks and nodules out of the wall and out of the trim.” ■

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t TRAVEL Berlin

Prost! Raising a Toast to Fashion, Food and Freedom [ W R I T T E N BY B R E H U M P H R I E S ]

I never considered myself a history

Venice, but rather a bit rough around the edges, still sporting scars from a war-torn past. But it’s also a city of rebirth and revitalization. It may bare signs of a long and complex history, but its culture is that of a young and dynamic city, one that has reinvented itself in the few years since its reuniﬁcation. Since much of the city has been rebuilt since the fall of the wall, particularly in East Berlin, the cost of living is signiﬁcantly lower than other metropolitan cities, attracting inhabitants from around the world and contributing to great diversity. It’s a hotspot for modern art and fashion, a melting pot of international cuisines, a symbol of newfound freedom and the perfect destination to explore with a group of girlfriends eager to uncover an intricate culture.

Brandenburg Gate Entrance

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF DREAMSTIME

buff, but that all changed when I visited Berlin. As I explored Germany’s capital city, its history hung all around me. Bullet holes from World War II are still visible on some of the buildings. Bricks still mark the path where the Berlin Wall once split the city in half. Residents still recall the celebration that took place when the Wall came down. After all, it happened a mere 22 years ago, and seeing it all ﬁrst-hand makes those years feel short, indeed. Berlin is quite different than other major European cities; it isn’t speciﬁcally chic like Paris or romantic like

Wilkommen to Berlin Famished after our ﬂight across the pond, our ﬁrst order of business was lunch at Literaturcafe, where a glass of the house specialty, a fresh and invigorating ginger lemonade, was the perfect pick-me-up to cure our jet lag. The quaint, stylish café, with its low lighting and yellow walls splattered with abstract art, exudes an intellectual air, and I could envision academic types lounging in the black booths during the café’s regular literary events or venturing into the bookstore downstairs. When the weather is nice, the café’s charming garden terrace overlooking Charlottenburg, a sophisticated section of West Berlin, is a popular spot for light bistro fare.

travel

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOTEL CONCORDE BERLIN

| BERLIN

Later that afternoon, I allowed myself a little more downtime with a Jet Lag Rejuvenation massage at Hotel Concorde Berlin, an avant-garde hotel conveniently located near the Kurfürstendamm, or Ku’damm, West Berlin’s famous boulevard lined with shops and restaurants. The only German location of the Paris-based Concorde Hotels & Resorts, the property interlaces French accents like its distinguished Le Faubourg Brasserie restaurant, French-inspired paintings and an air of savoir faire with distinctly German characteristics. Built under the direction of Berlin architect Jan Kleihues, the hotel maintains a commanding presence with a striking façade of natural stone and modern interior design elements. Contemporary works by up-and-coming German artists grace the common areas as well as all 311 guest rooms and suites, giving the hotel an abstract, edgy feel, and a

superior level of service ensures a hospitable experience. In addition to Le Faubourg, dining options include grand buffet breakfasts at St. Germain and the swanky Lutece Bar, where we gathered that ﬁrst evening to raise a toast to the adventures to come with cocktails en miniature, shot-sized sips of the bartender’s innovative libations. After cocktail hour, it was on to dinner at Cookies Cream, an exclusive restaurant hidden deep down a dark alley and behind a discreetly marked door, where diners must ring a bell to be admitted. When the door opened, I thought surely we had made a mistake — downstairs is one of Berlin’s popular night clubs, a dark, corridor-ﬁlled space that comes alive in the wee hours of the night, but up the stairs, we emerged into a well-lit spot with a fun, funky vibe. Vegetarian restaurants like this are gaining popularity in Germany, but

Hotel Concorde Berlin and the Lutece Bar

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

travel

| BERLIN

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Living History Lessons In order to experience the true essence of Berlin, we enlisted the guidance of Berlinagenten, a tour company offering custom sightseeing services. The company’s tours cover everything from art and architecture to history and homes, and we chose the Urban Insider Tour, which explores top tourist sites along with the lesser known attractions in both the East and the West. Though the tour was designed to deliver an overview of Berlin, the sites that struck me most and stayed with me long after I left were those that bore the imprints of the city’s past. We made our ﬁrst stop at the Brandenburg Gate, which once served as a thoroughfare between the East and the West before the Berlin Wall was built. Here, thousands of people gathered to celebrate the fall of the Wall in November 1989, and the spot now serves as a symbol for freedom and a uniﬁed Berlin, just as the former location of Checkpoint Charlie stands as a symbol of the separation that occurred during the Cold War. Close by Brandenburg, the Reichstag building houses the German parliament, and we learned of the concerts by performers such as Pink Floyd that took place on its lawn in the ’80s, close enough to the Wall for East Berliners to listen in.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DREAMSTIME PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT BERLIN

Top: A segment of the Berlin Wall Bottom: Potsdamer Platz

Crossing into East Berlin, we took a peek at Potsdamer Platz, once a bustling city center, which was bombed during World War II and remained a no-man’s land during the Cold War, split down the center by the Berlin Wall. Since the Wall came down, this has become a site for serious redevelopment. We also paid our respects at the Holocaust Memorial, designed by Peter Eisenman, a Jewish artist from New York, using concrete blocks of various sizes with no real entrance and no real exit to represent the physical experience of being trapped. Finally, we stopped along a segment of the Berlin Wall that still stands, admiring the grafﬁti that was once allowed on the Western side only, but now covers both sides as a sign of free expression throughout the city. We ended our day in an area known as Little Istanbul, where we enjoyed some quintessential Berlin street food, doner kebabs, which were inspired the large Turkish population here. Our guide called it “German junk food,” but compared to American junk food, this is divine, made

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High Fashion and Foodie Finds Of course, our German jaunt would not be complete without a day dedicated to shopping, so we set out for a foray into Berlin fashions. To assist guests with this particular pastime, the Hotel Concorde Berlin has devised a special shopping package packed with tips and discounts at some of the city’s top designer destinations, including the KaDeWe. Short for Kaufhaus des Westens, or “department store of the West,” KaDeWe is the largest department store in continental Europe and one of the largest in the world with more than 600,000 square feet of space across eight ﬂoors. Three ﬂoors are dedicated entirely to fashion, with a mix of international labels alongside innovated trends and classic brands, plus haute couture outlets like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci and Tiffany & Co. In addition to merchandise, the KaDeWe offers a wide range of services, including a nail spa, a beauty lounge, hairdressers, buggy rentals, a currency exchange and even a childcare center, but the highlight for me was the legendary sixth floor. The largest delicatessen in Europe, this was my personal paradise — 75,000 square feet of gourmet foods, including 1,300 types of cheeses, 3,400 wines, 600 kinds of chocolate and 150 chefs and patissiers serving made-to-order meals in 33 different bistro-style eateries. After stocking up on treats to tote back home, we paid a private visit to C’est Tout, a Berlin label by designer Katja Fuhrmann, who launched her brand in 2007 and is already garnering a good reputation in Germany and select European countries for her clean, simple designs made with high-quality fabrics.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRE HUMPHRIES

MAYER Berlin, a designer from Hamburg

We then joined GoArt! Berlin, an art consulting company offering modern and contemporary art tours throughout the city, as well as a fashion-focused tour through Mitte, an artsy, trendy neighborhood in East Berlin. In the past decade, German and international artists alike have flocked to this part of the city, and fashion in particular has really taken off in Mitte in the past five years, with many young Berlin labels increasingly gaining attention for everything from eveningwear to party fashions. A few highlights from the tour included HUT up Berlin, a designer specializing in unique felt fashions, and MAYER Berlin, a designer from Hamburg who works with recycled materials like 100-year-old linen. In the summertime, Mitte is also a hot destination for sun bathing and socializing, thanks to the beach bars like the Strandbar Mitte, a sandy spot on the banks of the Spree River. Since the weather was not in our favor on this particular day, we headed back to West Berlin for one more evening of fi ne dining at Balthazar, where Chef Holger Zurbrüggen specializes in metropolitan cuisine. As we savored our supper, we raised our glasses for one last toast to our time in Berlin. It was a trip for our own personal history books, and one we won’t soon forget. PN

F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N www.visitberlin.de/en Concorde Hotel Berlin www.berlin.concorde-hotels.com ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

months FIVEto harvest

The ďŹ rst annual Greater Atlanta

Harvest Wine Classic will be held Nov. 4 and 5. This community-supported event is focused on providing ďŹ nancial support to four Atlanta-area charitable organizations, including the Georgia Transplant Foundation (GTF), which is focused on providing both ďŹ nancial and educational assistance for those individuals undergoing or waiting for a transplant. GTF joins Presbyterian Homes of Georgia Caring Hands Fund as the ďŹ rst beneďŹ ciary designees for 2011. In this environment of continual needs, the Harvest Wine Classic will provide its support from professionally organized events and live auctions focused on travel, ďŹ ne wine and exquisite food. The Harvest Wine Classic will feature a number of great events that are sure to captivate both wine and food enthusiasts, prior to and during the penultimate weekend.

SPECIAL EVENTS This series of preliminary events provides guests a preview of the charming elegance and the distinctive marriage of exquisite food and ďŹ ne wines that will soon become a trademark of the inaugural Harvest Wine Classic. t .POUIMZ XJOF UBTUJOHT BU TOTAL WINE & MORE t &YDMVTJWF 4VOEBZ 4VQQFST BU y t TAVERNA FIORENTINA JO 7JOJOHT t MILTONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CUISINE & COCKTAILS JO $SBCBQQMF t &YDMVTJWF CBSSFM UBTUJOH BU WOLF MOUNTAIN VINEYARDS JO %BIMPOFHB 4FQU BU Q N t )BSWFTU 8JOF $MBTTJD T BENEFIT BOUCHERIE XJUI ,FWJO 0V[UT PG THE SPOTTED TROTTER 0DU BU Q N t .POUIMZ HJWFBXBZT GPS PVS TQFDJBM WINES OF THE WORLD UBTUJOH BOE SFDFQUJPO GPS SFHJTUFSFE 8FC TJUF WJTJUPST

The Harvest Wine Classic Golf Tournament kicks off the weekendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s events Nov. 4 at Capital City Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crabapple Course at 8:30 a.m. Fine cuisine and spirits will be provided to all participants. A special Wines of the World tasting and reception begins the eveningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s festivities. It will be followed by an exclusive Cult Wine Dinner featuring the ďŹ ne Burgundy wines of Domaine Jean-Luc Joillot. These events will be held at Heritage Sandy Springs and begin at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s schedule of events begins with two wine and wine-related symposiums at 10 a.m. A wine and food tasting follows at 12 p.m. and includes Harvest Wine Classicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stock Your Cellarâ&#x20AC;? opportunity, which allows guests to order their favorite vintages from the samples they enjoyed. At 2 p.m., the Live Auction Grand Event begins, which offers all guests the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bid on library wines and other rare vintages from participating vintners and collectors, along with sought-after travel opportunities. This event will be complemented by ďŹ ne wine and a luncheon. For details on all special events and a complete calendar of the ďŹ rst annual Harvest Wine Classic, please visit www.harvestwineclassic.org and register for periodic updates and ticket giveaways.

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CALENDAR

[ WR I T T E N BY KAT I E VA LE N T IN E ]

JULY

Calendar submissions should be sent to calendar@ptsnorth.com two months prior to the month in which the event will occur. Please note that dates and times might change.

B A S TI LLE DAY E X H I B IT [July 14 – 28] Paintings by French artists including Pascal Bouterin and Andree Thobaty will be on display. Opening reception with wine and snacks will take place July 14 from 6 – 8 p.m. Huff Harrington Fine Art 404-257-0511 www.huffharrington.com

CONCERTS/COMEDY A S A LUTE TO M OTOW N

[July 1 – 4] Classic Motown tunes will be performed in a show that invites guests to sing and dance along. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. The Earl Smith Strand Theatre 770-293-0080 www.earlsmithstrand.org

ATL A NTA S Y M P H O N Y O R C H E S TR A’ S S U M M E R CLASSICAL SERIES

[ T H R O U G H AU G U ST 1 6] Pin-Up Show

PERFORMING ARTS M O U NT P LE A S A NT HOMECOMING

[Through July 24] Join the unpredictable Sanders clan for some heavenly hand-clapping music and enchanting wit as they return to Mount Pleasant after the war. Theatre in the Square 770-422-8369 www.theatreinthesquare.com

TH E W I G G LE S B I G B I R TH DAY ! [July 12] Take the whole family for this fun-ﬁlled birthday bash, featuring The Wiggles along with Captain Feathersword, Dorothy the Dinosaur and more. Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre 800-745-3000 www.cobbenergycentre.com

F I D D LE R O N TH E R O O F [July 19 – 24] Theater of the Stars presents this Tony Award-winning musical, a classic tale

with a heartwarming score. The Fox Theatre 800-745-3000 www.foxtheatre.org

ART EXHIBITS

S O U N D O F F: A R T I N S P I R E D BY M U S I C [Through Aug. 16] Selected works of art will be on display at Quinlan Visual Arts Center. The exhibition features artwork of all media inspired by music and sound. Quinlan Visual Arts Center 770-536-2575 www.quinlanartscenter.org

P I N - U P S H OW [July 8 – 22] Artwork will be on display and for sale for less than $100. The opening reception will take place July 8 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. The Abernathy Arts Center 404-613-6172 www.fultonarts.org

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

[July 4 – 30] July’s performances begin with an Independence Day celebration and end with Cirque de la Symphony. Tickets are $12 – $35. Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre www.atlantasymphony.org

SUMMER LE C TU R E S E R I E S [July 6, 20] Local experts will give talks on issues pertinent to the Metro Atlanta area such as “The History of Baseball in Atlanta.” Lectures start at 7 p.m. and the suggested admission donation is $5. Barrington Hall, 770-640-3855 www.barringtonhall-roswell.com

O P E N M I C N I G HT S [July 7 – 28] Talented locals will perform on the Rooftop Terrace Bar every Thursday night this month. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. and admission is free. The Earl Smith Strand Theatre 770-293-0080 www.earlsmithstrand.org

TH E S TR A N D TH E ATR E MUSIC SERIES [July 8, 23 & 30] The Strand presents performances by Blair Crimmins & the Hookers, The Sock Hops and Burt & the Bandits.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. The Earl Smith Strand Theatre www.earlsmithstrand.org

C O N C E R T S BY TH E S P R I N G S : H AY W I R E [July 10] Haywire, an Atlanta-based country/ Southern rock band will start at 7 p.m. as a part of Heritage Sandy Springs’ outdoor summer concert series. Admission is free. Springs Society Entertainment Lawn www.heritagesandysprings.org

SYMPHONY ON TH E G R E E N [July 15] The Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra will perform on third Fridays in July and August. Admission is free and concession sales will go to beneﬁt the symphony’s trip to perform in New York City on Sept. 11. The Duluth Amphitheatre, www.gwinnettsymphony.org

CHARITY EVENTS C H I LD R E N ’ S B O UTI Q U E WA R E H O U S E S A LE

[July 23] Children’s clothing will be on sale for up to 70 percent off. Admission is $5 and a portion of the fee goes to beneﬁt Murphy-Harpst. Atlantic Station www.attheworks.net

W H ITE LI N E N A F FA I R [July 29 – 31] The weekend includes concerts, fashion shows and appearances by famous Georgians such as Congressman Hank Johnson. All proceeds go to beneﬁt the Stewart Foundation. The Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, www.hankstewart.net

SPECIAL EVENTS

R O S W E LL’ S F I R E WO R K S E X TR AVAG A N Z A [July 4] Music will begin at 6 p.m. and ﬁreworks will start at dark. Food from Miller’s Ale House and Restaurant will be on sale. Roswell High School, 770-641-3705

LEARN F O U R TH O F J U LY AT LE N OX S Q UA R E [July 4] The largest ﬁreworks display in the Southeast is back for its 52nd year. Independence Day starts off with Lenox’s carnival at 10 a.m., and ends with ﬁreworks at about 9:40 p.m. Lenox Square, 404-233-6767 www.lenoxsquare.com

I N D E P E N D E N C E DAY AT TH E S TR A N D [July 4] Watch Marietta Square’s patriotic parade in the morning and the ﬁreworks show in the evening from the Strand Theatre’s rooftop terrace. Admission for viewing is $15. The Earl Smith Strand Theatre, www.earlsmithstrand.org

A LL- A M E R I C A N B I N G O [July 9] Each free registration includes two bingo cards and one raffle ticket for adults and one bingo card for children. Event is open to all ages. Bill Johnson Community Activity Building www.roswellgov.com/calendar.aspx

time with your signiﬁcant other. The guided trip starts at 6 p.m. and runs until dusk. Reservations required. Chattahoochee Nature Center 770-992-2055 www.chattnaturecenter.org

RIEDEL WINE GLASS TA S TI N G [July 14] Guests will receive a set of four Riedel Vinum wine glasses during this comparative stem-to-stem tasting. The event will include a silent auction to beneﬁt Birdies for the Brave and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Tickets are $95. Morton’s The Steakhouse, Buckhead 404-816-6535, www.mortons.com/Buckhead

M OV I E S AT R I V E R S I D E PA R K [July 17] Bring a picnic, blanket and lawn chairs and watch “The Blind Side” at dark. Admission is free and concessions are available. Riverside Park www.roswellgov.com/calendar.aspx

C A N O E DATE N I G HT

ATL A NTA TE N N I S CHAMPIONSHIPS

[July 15] This special adults-only canoe trip is a great opportunity for some quality

[July 18 – 24] The Olympus U.S. Open kicks off in this weeklong competition. Proceeds

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[ J U LY 1 4 ] Riedel Wine Glass Tasting

ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

CALENDAR

[JU LY 15] Canoe Date Night

go to beneﬁt United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta. Racquet Club of the South 866-840-8822, www.atlantatennischampionships.com

B O O K TA LK A N D SIGNING [July 18] New York Times bestselling author Ben Mezrich will present his newest work, “Sex on the Moon: The Amazing Story Behind the Most Audacious Heist in History.” Tickets are $11 for members and $16 for non-members. The Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta 678-812-4002 www.atlantajcc.org

B R OA DWAY SUMMER CAMP [July 18 – 29] Performers ages 7 – 13 will have the opportunity to act, sing and dance in this new two-week long camp, which culminates in a ﬁnal performance on July 29. Johns Creek Arts Center 770-623-8448, www.johnscreekarts.org

Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

G E T AC TI V E ATL A NTA ! [July 18 – Sept. 8] Kaiser Permanente is offering an eight-week training program to prepare for its Corporate Run/Walk 5K. Program is included with 5K registration and features complimentary LA Fitness workouts. Atlanta www.kpcorporaterunwalk.com

B A R R I N GTO N H A LL COOKING CLASSES [July 19] Roswell’s chef John Wilson will help participants prepare a “Southwest Sizzle” meal. The menu includes broiled salmon with chile glaze and tickets are $50. Barrington Hall 770-640-3855 www.southerntrilogy.com

FATH E R - DAU G HTE R LUAU [July 23] Wear your best Hawaiian attire and enjoy music and refreshments from 7 – 9 p.m. Admission is $16 for residents and $23 for non-residents. East Roswell Recreation Center www. roswellgov.com/calendar.aspx

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ptsnorth.com | July 2011 | Points North

5 THINGS

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Revisit a Classic. Even if you’ve seen it a thousand times, you’ve never seen “Casablanca” like this. The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will perform the music of “Casablanca” July 15 at 8:30 p.m. while the ﬁlm plays on the big screens of the Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre at Encore Park in Alpharetta. Ben Mankiewicz of Turner Classic Movies will host the event and Jere Flint will conduct. For more information on this and other ASO summer concerts, visit www.atlantasymphony.org/calendar.aspx.

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Can your Cans and Go Fresh! You read about it in our April issue — now, pay a visit to Cane Creek Farm, a family-owned farm in Cumming with a Community Supported Agriculture program that gives shareholders access to six or 12 weeks of fruits and veggies. Now is the time to sign up for the fall season, during which CSA members can expect produce like eggplant, okra and peppers. Plus, it’s all Certiﬁed Naturally Grown — no artiﬁcial pesticides, fertilizers, hormones or antibiotics are used. To learn more about Cane Creek Farm, visit www.canecreekfarm.net.

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Unleash your Inner Daredevil. Move over Goliath — there’s a new ride in town. Six Flags Over Georgia has launched its 11th roller coaster, the Dare Devil Dive. The coaster lifts riders nearly 100 feet in the air, then sends them plummeting down at a 95-degree angle. Yes, that’s 95 degrees — 5 degrees more than vertical, which means you’re actually angled inward as you race headﬁrst toward the ground. Riders then silently soar through loops and over hills at 52 miles per hour. Visit www.sixﬂags.com/overgeorgia for more information.

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Points North | July 2011 | ptsnorth.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF NORTH GEORGIA CANOPY TOURS

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Ride the Waves While Staying Dry. If you’ve always wanted to know what it’s like to ride the waves, a trip to Fernbank Museum might be the next best thing. Through Aug. 11, IMAX at Fernbank presents “The Ultimate Wave Tahiti,” a ﬁlm that uses advanced ocean footage, animation and the expertise of surfer Kelly Slater to help audiences experience the power of waves. Watch as Slater and fellow surfer Raimana Van Bastolaer search for the perfect wave while explaining how waves form and the effects they have on the earth. For tickets, call 404-929-6400 or visit www.fernbankmuseum.org. Fly Through the Forest. Escape the summer heat by zipping through the shady canopy of the North Georgia forests, and do it without breaking the bank! North Georgia Canopy Tours is offering half-price kids’ Adventure Tour tickets on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays with the purchase of one adult tour ticket. The guided tours include 12 ziplines, three nature walks, two hikes across sky bridges and a chance to learn about the wildlife and history of the area. For reservations and more information, call 770-869-7272 or visit www.northgeorgiacanopytours.com.