In this July 2016
Issue 194
ISSUE
POINTS NORTH Atlanta
Celebrating 16 Years & Counting
8 24 28 54
8
Land of Liberty Celebrating our country’s independence this month has also flagged our gumption to get up and go. Answer the call of the open road with us as we work our way through three cosmopolitan cities in Texas, revisit the resurgence of old New Orleans, La. and discover Columbia, S.C.’s creative side.
Hitting a High Note The sounding success of singer and trumpet player Joe Gransden, Atlanta’s own go-to-guy for big band and black-tie events, resembles that of venues like Café 290 in Sandy Springs and The Velvet Note in Alpharetta, all of which have the same timeless appeal. Good enough for jazz? Better.
Imagine That Leading the way with high-tech innovations for healthcare, North Georgia has talented specialists at multiple hospitals who adopt new medical procedures, technologies and devices that significantly change patient care. Here are four futuristic advancements enabling loved ones to live longer.
Treasure Hunters Cast iron, vinyl records, vintage collectables, fixer-upper furniture – you never know what you’ll find when you take a drive along Georgia’s Antique Trail. This 7-mile stretch from Dillard to Clayton is a well-equipped locale for recreation and avid collectors alike.
DEPARTMENTS 6 58 62 66
DUE NORTH AFTERTHOUGHTS
ON THE COVER Joe Gransden with his big band at Eddie’s Attic | Photography courtesy of Alan Brooks, alanbphoto.com
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4 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
Editor’s LETTER
PointsNorth Atlanta PRESIDENT / CEO Witt Beckman PUBLISHER Carl Danbury Jr. EDITOR Heather KW Brown CREATIVE DIRECTOR Robin Harrison
A View from Afar
SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Shannah J. Smith ASSOCIATE EDITOR Colleen Ann McNally
P
PERSPECTIVE OFTEN COMES WITHOUT WARNING. Then there are moments when we are actively searching for it. That was how I came to find myself at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. My group consisted of three veteran runners and two first-timers, including myself, eager to cross the canyon from rim to rim — on foot. Starting down the 7-mile mule path before dawn, we descended steep switchbacks as the sun slowly did the opposite. Craggy crevices as far as the eye can see, each carved by wind and water into distinct shapes, confirmed how thousands of years of eroding red rocks and the constant interplay of light are often caught on camera but never fully realized except in person. As the miles accumulated and the heat intensified, we slowed our pace to rest in patches of shade, to soak in the cool stream and to reflect. The views were incredible when we stopped to admire them. And that’s just it. Venturing to extremes either intentionally, or unintentionally as Publisher Carl Danbury shares in this month’s Guy’s Time, isn’t necessary. Simply slowing down long enough to gain a different view, however, can be rewarding. Knowing this, Associate Editor Colleen Ann McNally and I decided to expand our horizons. I headed to Texas, where despite its size, a road trip from Houston to San Antonio was an easy excursion, and where Colleen kicked up some dust in Dallas. Other stops in our travel roundup include New Orleans, La. and Columbia, S.C. Further proving not all who wander are lost, we also cover the 7-mile stretch of the Georgia Antique Trail between the North Georgia cities of Dillard and Clayton. Under the similar notion that everything old is new again, our cover story this month highlights big band music. We sat down with Atlanta’s own Joe Gransden to hear how the jazz genre is not only swinging but gaining ground with newer generations. Generations, I might add, that have a greater chance of living longer due to the medical innovations found in the Northside. From fighting cancer with 3D mammography to neurosurgery without a knife, these healthcare strides provide a new outlook. Almost like being at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, where gazing up presented an appreciation of where I was, where I’d been and how far I still had to go. Perspective, indeed.
HEATHER KW BROWN, EDITOR heather@pointsnorthatlanta.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jennifer Colosimo Amber Lanier Nagle Marty Steiner EDITORIAL INTERN Lauren Vastine GRAPHIC DESIGN INTERN Cara Carew ADVERTISING 770-844-0969 sales@pointsnorthatlanta.com SENIOR MEDIA CONSULTANT Karen Poulsen ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE George Colmant CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Tiffany Willard
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Houston and San Antonio ďŹ t Town & Country better than boots on a cowboy 8 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
PHOTOS COURTESY OF
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 9
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Houston IN
Atlanta, we have Interstate 285, outside the perimeter and moonshine. In Houston, they have Interstate 610, inside The Loop and “Mooshine.” My introduction to all of these, as well as a brief lesson in the history of oil drilling, came within minutes of my arrival. Less than 24 hours later, I had wandered happily through neighborhoods both inside and outside The Loop, rattled off the city’s hip “H-Town” nickname as if it was my own and eagerly awaited dinner at the hands of the first chef to bring a James Beard Foundation Award to town in more than 20 years.
HIP HEADQUARTERS Named after Sam Houston, general of the Texas army that won independence from Mexico and president of the Republic of Texas, the city has long been touted as a hub for business, particularly when it comes to oil. Unbeknownst to many, the city has struck it rich in areas the rest of us can enjoy as well. Being a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel that sports as much class as it does personality might be hard for some, but for Hotel Derek, a Destination Hotel, uniqueness comes as easily as the black gold on which the city’s roots have long been established. Prior to meeting “Mooshine,” the painted cow in the lobby of Hotel Derek, I learned that a derrick is an iconic piece of oil drilling machinery (think plunger with a horsehead shape). Such playful cleverness became more apparent throughout the property, where Texas pride flows with a whimsical and welcoming signature style that adds to its already irresistible character. The first independent hotel in Houston when it opened in 2002 and the only one inside its famed 610 Loop still today, Hotel Derek underwent a multi-million dollar renovation not long after becoming part of the Destination Hotels collection in 2013. Since then, accolades continue to accumulate and the Texas chic hotel rarely ceases to surprise its guests. Where else can you watch a Western movie projected on the
10 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
wall by the outdoor pool or mosey downstairs in the morning for Starbucks at a café that morphs into Tap & Pour, a pop-up bar serving local Houston craft beer at night? Bold hues, musical beats and modern amenities make this Forbes Four-Star hotel a favorite for locals as well, many of which come for dinner and drinks at Revolve Kitchen and Bar. I’d extracted a girlfriend out of Austin to explore her great state and we started, appropriately enough, with a flight of craft beer. Each saddled with five small pours of local brew, we willingly steered ourselves to one refined dish after the other. Aside from serving Southern hospitality with an edge, this haven flips luxury on its übercool side with dedication to detail. It’s not often guests can choose from seven types of rooms from penthouse, terrace and junior suites to Sky Deluxe, located on the top two floors of the hotel and lofts, in addition to standard rooms.
LEFT: The hip pool area with its Western movie wall at Hotel Derek; bone-in pork chop with a pecan stuffing at Revolve Kitchen and Bar inside Hotel Derek BELOW: The always bustling dining room at Chef Chris Shepherd's Underbelly restaurant
PHOTOS ON PREVIOUS PAGES COURTESY OF SAMMY TODD DYESS PHOTOGRAPHY; VISIT HOUSTON; PRIMERO; SHANNAH J. SMITH PHOTOS ON THESE PAGES COURTESY OF HOTEL DEREK; VISIT HOUSTON
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For another sunny spot where good food and good times await, don't miss our online-exclusive feature on Bermuda at pointsnorthatlanta.com.
HOUSTON
As part of Houston's public art scene, the city has become home to some amazing murals. A favorite, according to locals, is this one.
Second to its trendy digs is Hotel Derek’s close proximity to essentially everything you’d want to see and do in Houston: entertainment venues, cultural and fine arts attractions, local landmarks and prestigious shopping.
H-TOWN HANKERINGS
Knowing the high-end shops available in this Texas town can also be found in Atlanta, I bypassed The Galleria in lieu of Kuhl-Linscomb. Arguably the best store in Houston, Kuhl-Linscomb is a shopper’s kryptonite. Children’s toys not on your list? Head to the furniture section. Need a gift for the writer in your life? How about your favorite man? Books? China? Jewelry? Kitchen and bath? Got the gist of this place yet? Oh … and you can get a drink while you’re loading your basket full of prized goods. Lest you think I jest, the first thing you see once you’ve stepped foot inside is a map — of all five buildings. You’ll leave happier after quality time in this shop. I promise. Much like Atlanta, oftentimes the best gems are found in the nooks and crannies of a city’s disparate neighborhoods, so we cruised through Houston’s immaculately manicured communities then hopped on many freeways (it is Houston, after all) and explored the downtown area as well as a number of its outlying posts. Midtown is where we found Weights and Measures Restaurant, Bake Shop and Bar. In full disclosure,
this restaurant had me at “bake shop.” Located in an industrial space, the casual neighborhood eatery is based on the name given to government-sponsored agencies that worked to ensure vendors were selling exactly what they were advertising. Locals dawdle in droves for options like the cake donuts with fried chicken and hazelnut vanilla syrup or the peanut butter, Nutella, banana, bacon brioche toast with fried eggs. Stick around long enough and you can wander to the happening Mongoose versus Cobra for craft beer and cocktails. At the heart of Houston’s culinary landscape just might be Chef Chris Shepherd of Underbelly. Found in the Montrose neighborhood, Underbelly earned its namesake from things not seen in the city and is designed by Shepherd to share the story of Houston food. Compelled by the ingredients and diversity of his city, Shepherd masterfully merges these passions on the plate. The menu changes daily based on what is freshest and in season — the lone exception being the Korean braised goat dumplings. I confess, this is not something I’d order on my own, but given the rave reviews, I couldn’t resist. As a matter of fact, it might be one of the few times a restaurant has recommended letting my server choose the menu. Tempted as I might have been, I didn’t do the same next door at The Hay Merchant, Shepherd’s other nationally recognized restaurant and craft beer bar. Surrounded on three sides by chalkboards and taps, I relied heavily on previous training to procure a few pints. The next morning, we found ourselves at Blacksmith, a coffee shop not surprisingly, owned by Shepherd. What can I say? He set the standard unusually high and had piqued our curiosity. The same could be said of the city. Seeing a mural that read, “Houston is inspired, hip, tasty, funky, savvy,” we realized it already has. PHOTO COURTESY OF VISIT HOUSTON
12 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
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San Antonio LESS
than three hours pointto-point on Interstate 10, the drive between Houston and San Antonio provides just enough time for the metropolitan vibe to fade. Emerging in its place is the vastness of Texas Hill Country — proof that referring to this state mostly by its cities, rather than its beauty, is a mistake. Second only to Houston as Texas’s most populated city, San Antonio has become the heart of the state’s wine industry, with distinct wineries scattered throughout the area’s stunning vistas and tall, rugged hills. Even still, unlike sister cities like Houston, Dallas and Austin, it hasn’t always been considered a cool sibling. Until recently.
A HAVEN IN THE HILLS While typical draws include The Alamo, the San Antonio River Walk and even Six Flags over Texas, we had come to experience another side of San Antonio. One where solitude and serenity can be found at water’s edge and where tucked into the tufts of Texas Hill Country the luxurious La Cantera Resort and Spa awaits.
Fitting seamlessly into the Destination Hotels collection, which includes an impressive list of properties each with a personality surpassed only by its sense of place, La Cantera minimizes the need to go anywhere else. Compliments of a multi-million dollar renovation, the expansive resort boasts 498 rooms, five pools and irresistible private pool cabañas. The infinity edge
PHOTOS COURTESY OF
14 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
BOTTOM LEFT: El Fortin boasts four limestone arches that serve as windows framing the amazing horizon of Texas Hill Country CENTER: La Cantera's irresistible infinity edge pool ABOVE: A sneak peek at La Cantera's highly anticipated Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness
pool overlooking the expansive view easily persuaded us to play favorites. Life with lap after lap in luxury … ahhh. Does it get any better? Golfers among us could debate between the two championship courses at La Cantera, but otherwise, the only deliberating I can imagine would be deciding among the indulgent treatments available at the brand new Loma de Vida Spa & Wellness. I say imagine because with a summer grand opening, the highly anticipated 25,000-squarefoot indoor/outdoor sanctuary wasn’t quite ready during my visit. Overlooking lush fairways and wooded bluffs, this secluded destination spa will have an emphasis on mindful living, giving guests ample opportunity to reset body, mind and soul. One particular place designed for recharging and reconnecting will be The Gathering Place, replete with a majestic fireplace, revolving art gallery and terrace with views only found
in Texas. Personally, I’d be drawn to the Sky Loft suites — think spas within the spa, each equipped with old-fashioned cowboy bathtubs. Even though each suite overlooks the first hole of the award-winning Tom Weiskopf-designed Resort Course, my inner cowgirl would manifest itself after such a true Texas experience. Even without a horse, said cowgirl would then have enough giddy-up to trot directly to one of the three private garden cabañas and the intimate Saline Grotto pool. There, I would sip an organic, coldpressed juice or fresh protein elixir from Quenche, with special spa menu items on hand, created by the resort’s chef. Alas, that peek into future pampering was a momentary mirage for me. Instead, we focused on several of the nine dining venues. At SweetFire Kitchen, we went all out with the resort’s signature buffet; between activities and shopping, we grabbed one of the specialty lattes as well as a few gifts at Henrietta’s Market; then for dinner, we enjoyed an authentic feast of Latin-inspired dishes and handcrafted cocktails at Primero Cantina. The lineup included a chef’s selection of house-made salsas, a trio of ceviche and queso fundido made with Mezcal-macerated stone fruit, pickled chipotle and hoja santa. Embracing the full definition of feast, next came Gulf fish with coconut leche de tigre, charred stone fruit, pickled fresno and cashew followed by the Cemita Burger, made with black beans, serrano ham,
PHOTOS COURTESY OF SAMMY TODD DYESS PHOTOGRAPHY; LA CANTERA
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 15
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LEFT: Hand-crafted ceviche sampler at Primero Cantina RIGHT: Inside La Cantera's SweetFire Kitchen
queso oaxaca, pickled chipotle, papalo and avocado. Just for good measure, we sauntered into Sire, the well-appointed bar tucked off the resort’s stunning lobby for an unnecessary nightcap. An oasis of its own, La Cantera is nestled into 550 acres, easily evoking the feeling of a remote escape, yet within minutes of San Antonio’s hottest stops and historical sites.
ON A MISSION With a deep love for our national parks, I see no point in being close enough to visit one without immediately taking a detour. Such was the case in San Antonio, where eventually I was able to pull myself away from La Cantera long enough to explore the local missions. Established in 1983, San Antonio Missions National Historical Park is responsible for managing four of the five historic sites. Get a lay of the land inside the Visitor’s Center before venturing to Mission San José, known as the “Queen of the Missions.” As the largest of the missions, Mission San José was almost fully restored to its original design in the 1930s by the WPA (Works Projects Administration). As my Austin counterpart explained, Spanish Colonial Missions were, unlike I’d always assumed, not churches, but communities, where church was the focus. Walking into the small quarters and reading the plaques enables visitors to get a feel for how Mission San José might have looked and operated more than 250 years ago. After filling up on history, it was time to refuel elsewhere. Though separated from the popular River Walk in the past, the Blue Star Arts Complex now
serves as a 7-mile trailhead to the Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Improvement Project. Stop by Stella Public House for farm-to-table pizza and plenty of local libations. Inside Pearl, once a 23-acre brewery complex that has been at the forefront of the city’s trendy revitalization, we poked into many of the enticing restaurants and bars until finally appeasing our appetite at The Boiler House, Texas Grill and Wine Garden. There, we nibbled on Texas whiskey bacon caramel kettle corn followed by a spread made with black truffle burratta, black garlic and heirloom tomatoes. Locally born and bred, Executive Chef Jeff White, a featured chef at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City, is on a mission to elevate his hometown culinary scene. Next door sits The Culinary Institute of America San Antonio campus. Like most siblings, San Antonio refuses to be ignored, and nipping at the well-heeled boots of its brethren has garnered attention. Spending time in two Lone Star stops, I soon forgot about big stars and oversized flags. Texas, I discovered, is home to substantial sophistication. Houston and San Antonio certainly wear it well, not to mention, it’s a Texas Two Step I can actually do. PN
FOR MORE INFORMATION destinationhotels.com underbellyhouston.com visithoustontexas.com missionsofsanantonio.org
PHOTOS COURTESY OF LA CANTERA
16 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
Touching Down
Dallas IN
A COWBOY TOWN’S SHARPER EDGE written by COLLEEN ANN MCNALLY
nature dining experience, Knife. Helmed by former (three-time) James Beard-nominated and Bravo’s “Top Chef” (two-time) contestant Chef John Tesar, my expectations were high. The term “maverick” originated in the Southwestern U.S. to describe unbranded steer. Not un-
“W
What a loaded question, I
Curio’s – A Collection by Hilton, or to borrow the
thought as I settled into the black Cadillac Escalade
hotel’s description, “a rich abundance of contrasts
through this revamped version of Texas’ cowboy
emblazoned with The Highland Dallas logo.
… Sophisticated luxury merged with a casual, live-
culture. Near many framed accolades – including
in-the-moment spirit.”
Best Steakhouse by Dallas Magazine – is a window
HAT BRINGS YOU
2014 after a luxe overhaul with a multi-million dol-
to Dallas?” the driver asked.
lar price tag. The boutique result was the debut of
ured Tesar embodies the word. After a stint at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, he has proven his chops
“Work” would be a simplified response. I sup-
like outlaw country stars I’ve long admired, the ten-
pose I could date my first pull to the Texas town
To put it in my own words, The Highland Dallas
to the $50,000 custom-designed dry aging room,
to when Dixie Chicks hit country stations decades
might make you reconsider what to expect from
filled to the brim with “Old School,” “New School,”
ago. The Lone-Star-State-born rebels' grits-meets-
a hotel chain. I delighted in the extra attention to
and “Exotic” cuts, most sourced locally from 44
glamour lyrical stories instigated my intrigue of
detail inside the guest rooms – an asymmetrical
Farms. If the latter category trips your trigger, the
what life was like north of South of The Border.
pop of cowhide on a bench, faux distressed leath-
240-day dry-aged 103 Niman Ranch Ribeye will set
Texas twang aside, more recently, I’d heard a
er headboards, custom carpets inspired by oil and
you back $160, your bill later delivered in a little en-
handful of parallels between Dallas and Atlanta
gas, a whimsical woven bull’s head hung on the
velope labeled “The Damage.”
– both sprawling cities, deeply rooted in the South
bathroom wall and roller shades that reveal black-
Yet, this is not a “Good Ole Boys” steakhouse.
but reaching stylish heights.
and-white photographs. With the shades pulled up,
The bacon tasting with five varieties, salad with pea
While I’ll never know what it feels like to win a
I could see a panoramic view of the SMU campus
shoots, pea sorbet, country ham and green goddess
Grammy, I did get the platinum rocker treatment
and Angelika Film Center and searched for the Katy
dressing, and oh my, let’s not forget burgers and av-
thanks to a two-night stay at The Highland Dallas,
Trail (think The Atlanta BeltLine).
ocado fries, left an equally lasting impression. There
Luckily, gracious General Manager David
lucky, it'll be another commonality between my
Lemmond had a hand in it all – particularly the
hometown and the one currently stealing my heart.
is talk of Knife expanding to other locales; if we’re
where heels are as welcomed as boots. Regardless of footwear, I had 48 hours to kick up some dust.
Still en route in the Cadillac, the surrounding
mini bar. Inside, bottles of John Russo Beauty nail
After hours spent in a corner banquette, I'd
Highland Park neighborhood set the scene. Some
polish, made exclusively in metallic colors for The
seen most of the dinner crowd come and go, or so
say the elegant suburb’s picture-perfect house-
Highland Dallas, are included among more antici-
I thought. Knife’s kitchen continues serving the full
lined streets are the Beverly Hills of Texas. While the
pated provisions.
menu until midnight on weekends, or offers a limit-
affluent zip code is home to Southern Methodist Uni-
The cool vibe his team has created continues at
versity, and at one point, former President George
Exhale Spa as well as downstairs at the hotel’s sig-
ed room service menu around the clock – a smart move for those guests making the most of time spent in this chic city.
W. Bush and family – his Presidential Library resides adjacent to campus – the style isn’t solely white
CRUISING IN THE CADILLAC
columns and regal facades. A bright punch of peri–
Before you call The Highland Dallas’ courtesy
I’ll bet a coveted ticket to a Dixie Chicks concert
winkle paint adorning a front door or minimalistic
car, visit pointsnorthatlanta.com/touching-
that 48 hours is too short of a stay. PN
renovated exteriors were a more accurate foreshad-
down-in-dallas for our top picks of to-dos,
owing of what I’d find inside The Highland Dallas.
including where to buy cowboy boots and try
Originally opened in the 1960s as the Hilton Inn
the city’s best dishes.
As I learned, no matter what brings you to Dallas,
FOR MORE INFORMATION thehighlanddallas.com knifedallas.com
Dallas, the redefined hotel was revealed in Aug. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE HIGHLAND DALLAS
18 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 19
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A Satiable Search of Books and Bars written by COLLEEN ANN MCNALLY
H
– O – T – E, then M – O – N – T. The first few letters of the iconic rooftop sign peaked above the skyline, growing larger as I made my way
down Royal Street. I zigzagged past street performers, tourists
and antique shop windows until I was facing the world-famous portico sheltering the doormen and glass-and-polished-brass entry.
HISTORY REPEATS
of Galatoire’s, fine-dined at Arnaud’s or heard of
Allen would have made “Midnight in Paris” – a
It’s a place that conjures up connotations of plastic
the young Faulkner, then renting the apartment
film in which a nostalgic screenwriter finds himself
beads and beignets, brass instruments and booze,
on Pirates Alley, where he penned his first novel.
mysteriously transported back to the 1920s – as
books and James Beard Foundation Awards (JBF).
Brennan’s eight dining rooms underwent a
“A Day in the French Quarter” instead. If so, it
Mere mention of “NOLA” often leads to a del-
renovation in 2014, celebrating the opulence
I paused at the threshold, imagining if Woody
would have started at Hotel Monteleone.
FIRST ROUND Anyone can enter the doors to the lobby’s marble and chandeliers to find respite, but “for the literary traveler ... that sense of relaxation comes with a special feeling of connection to Hotel Monteleone’s 125 years of literary history” – to borrow the words of Susan Larson. A former editor for The New Orleans Times-Picayune, she serves as a vice president of the 30-years-running Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival. While most know Williams’ story about a particular streetcar, less are familiar with “The Rose Tattoo”
uge of restaurant recommendations. Shortly after
of dining in a city where breakfast courses and
arriving, an Uber driver provided a printout of his
eye-opening cocktails are taken as seriously
personal picks.
as a decadent dinner. This year marks the be-
Here, not only does everyone have a story
loved institution’s 70th anniversary and Execu-
to tell, but a passion for discussing which place
tive Chef Slade Rushing is bringing back refined
serves the best oyster po’boy.
renditions of dishes from initial menus, such as
An unspoiled first-timer, I’d read and always ro-
Frog Legs Bathurst and Crabmeat Lundi Gras.
manticized about the sultry city’s Quarter. The only
By the time I was seated at Arnaud’s for dinner,
remaining intact North American French Colonial
I’d found the old New Orleans allure I was seeking.
and Spanish settlement, the streets still maintain
Yet, its French 75 Bar still resonates with the pres-
its architecture and ambiance – making it easier to
ent, garnering a 2016 James Beard nomination for
imagine a time when people first caroused at the
Outstanding Bar Program.
Carousel Bar, indulged in flaming Bananas Foster at Brennan’s, saw Williams at his window table
To find only what I was looking for would be too simple for The Big Easy.
which mentions the hotel. An appropriate host to the fest, it has accom-
Faulkner House Books, which
SPIN-OFF STYLES
modated writers from 1920s Dixie bohemians to
may have more books than square feet,
When you consider the city garnered nine JBF
their contemporary counterparts – Williams, Tru-
feels like a hidden gem tucked behind St.
award nominations this year from the country’s
man Capote, Ernest Hemingway, Eudora Welty
Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square. Its
top culinary honor – and winners of Best New
and William Faulkner have suites named for them
impact is even bigger: Faulkner Society,
Restaurant (former winner Alon Shaya’s Shaya),
– as well as been immortalized in dozens of nov-
the writer's group now based here, re-
Best Chef of the South (Justin Devillier’s La Petite
els and plays. Particularly its Carousel Bar pulls
cently won a National Endowment for the
Grocery; Rushing was also a nominee) and Life-
them in.
Arts grant to conduct a community-wide
time Achievement Award (Leah Chase of Dooky
program targeting teenagers at-risk for
Chase’s Restaurant) – industry leaders continue to
Before we get to that … New Orleans.
illiteracy. 20 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HOTEL MONTELEONE; ACE HOTEL | RUSH JAGOE; BRENNAN’S
WHEN TO GO You’ve heard about Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, but did you know New Orleans is home to more than 129 annual festivals throughout the year? Mark your calendar for some of our favorites.
TALES OF THE COCKTAIL JULY 19 – 24, 2016 talesofthecocktail.com
31st ANNUAL TENNESSEE WILLIAMS/NEW ORLEANS LITERARY FESTIVAL MARCH 22 – 26, 2017 tennesseewilliams.net/festival
recognize the city’s legacy as a cultural melting pot, err – bowl of Jambalaya. Each makes a strong case for exploring beyond The French Quarter, too. Another example: visit The Southern Food & Beverage Museum and the Museum of the American Cocktail. If the city was the place to be a writer in the 1920s, today it’s where I’d be headed if I was an aspiring chef or mixologist. In fact, many industry visionaries gather to compare notes each July for Tales of the Cocktail, the world’s premier spirits festival for what’s now, what’s next and what's back in fashion. Second to a bookstore, a bartender arguably has the most acquired stories and met plenty of characters. Prefer wine in your glass? There’s a place for you: Patrick’s Bar Vin, located within the Hotel Mazarin, part of The New Orleans Hotels Collection. The unofficial headquarters of Krewe de Cork, a lucky few can purchase personalized, clime-controlled wine lockers. Adjacent to Arnaud's, Hotel Mazarin and the handful of elite eateries sharing its block prove that Bourbon Street doesn't lead solely to neon signs. At its center is a private courtyard, perfect for unwinding, as are the elegant guest rooms. Decorated in neutral tones, it was a relaxing contrast to the kaleidoscope below the balcony window. One often needs a moment, or 20, to cool off. In The Big Easy, it’s difficult to ďŹ ght the urge to forget time altogether. There’s much to taste and
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the list continues to grow, including the Ace Hotel’s latest outpost, which opened just in time to partake in 2015's Tennessee Williams Festival. Its 1928 Art Deco building, coupled with the boutique brand – known for its writers-in-residence and an on-site music venue – is a seamless, albeit millennial, ďŹ t. Which brings us back to The Monteleone, where
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Chef de Cuisine Joseph Maynard adds a fresh spin on Creole cuisine at Criollo; meanwhile, The Carousel Bar revolves every 15 minutes. From the bar’s continuously changing vantage point, one perhaps can see that what New Orleans has to offer is an ability to make the old come
ATHENS | ALPHARETTA | BUFORD | DACULA | DULUTH | EAST COBB | FAYETTE FORSYTH COUNTY | MARIETTA | MERIDIAN MARK | STOCKBRIDGE | VILLA RICA
around again. PN
FOR MORE INFORMATION neworleansonline.com
Fracture Center Hotline: 678-686-6800 Same or Next Day Appointments Always Available
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 21
Th
m TOe F r e e d oM R OA COLUMBIA, S.C.
Not Your Grandmama’s Grits written by COLLEEN ANN MCNALLY
S
trolling down Main Street, I tried to
stories. Originally founded in 1979 by students
failed dams resulted in a nightmarish flood in
put my finger on the Southern city
at the nearby University of South Carolina then
Oct. 2015. In the wake of trauma and healing,
that Columbia, S.C. most resembles.
moved to its current location in Aug. 2012, The
the original concept evolved, challenging more
A view centered on the state Capi-
Nickelodeon is the gathering place for lovers
than 200 local and regional artists to recon-
tol hinted to a scaled-down Washington, D.C.,
of film and critical dialogue, from near and far.
sider their relationship with “Waterlines.” The
while cool breezes courtesy of nearby rivers and
The Nick’s quainter, quirkier take on a night at
result was a goosebump-raising tribute to the
cheerful potted plants and lampposts raised
the movies starts with settling into the plush red
recent disaster and a celebration of recovery.
thoughts of Savannah, Ga. and nearby Green-
seats and ordering refreshments from offerings
Combining this emotionally charged spirit
ville, respectively.
scrawled on a chalkboard. As South Carolina’s
with a grant from the Central Carolina Com-
Less familiar is the concept of handing my
only nonprofit, art house theater, The Nick also
munity Foundation made the 2016 Indie Grits
keys to the hotel’s valet and not needing them
serves as headquarters during Indie Grits. Pro-
completely free to the public. Not a festival for
again until I’m headed home days later. Rather
pelled by a far-flung vision, festival organizers
student films, nor limited to portrayals of the
than hands on the wheel, I would try to grasp as
sought to create exhibition opportunities for
designated theme — or even film for that matter
much of the city on foot, enjoying serendipitous
work often overlooked elsewhere. So in 2007,
— Indie Grits has become a staple of cultural life
stops such as a new hairdo from Glowout or a
the festival was born, charging passionately
in Columbia with live music performances, com-
handcrafted cone at Sweet Cream Co.
onto the scene with a do-it-yourself attitude.
edy, Puppet Slam, children-friendly Kindie Grits
Next to the creamery, The Nickelodeon
The proximity of the university undoubtedly
Theatre’s glowing marquee heralded my own
plays a role in the launch of local initiatives like
and a showcase for independent gaming and in-
motivation for coming to town: The Indie Grits
Indie Grits, and while its continued success has
During the 2015 weekend, I was one of
Festival. Its flourishing, and the greater creative
required grassroots support, you could also say
10,000 attendees that took in tunes from na-
community it represents, is one way Columbia
nature intervened.
tionally touring acts at the River Concert,
teractive media enthusiasts called Indie Bits.
Each year, the festival picks a theme. For
rolled with laughter at the Weekly Revue and
its 10th anniversary, the directors specifically
screened “Overalls and Aprons” – a film that
RETRO REVIVAL
wanted to honor the Broad and Saluda River’s
surveys some of our country’s greatest chefs
There’s a dedicated group of individuals working
confluence to form the Congaree River, and the
on the sustainability of farm-to-table dining
to expand the city’s art scene, and “The Nick”
way these have consequently shaped its devel-
by French-born, Charleston-transplant Thibaut
as it’s affectionately called, is one of its success
opment. That was before historic rainfall and
Fagonde.
proudly stands out from the crowd.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BOURBON | FORREST CLONTS; THE NICKELODEON; COLUMBIA, S.C. CVB
22 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
WHEN TO GO During our stay, which coincided with USC Parents’ Weekend and wedding season, The Sheraton Downtown Columbia was at 100-percent capacity. And when you consider the 2015 festival saw a 28 percent increase in attendance from the previous year, better book your hotel early.
11th ANNUAL INDIE GRITS April 20-23, 2017 indiegrits.com
SPOON AND FIST, KNIFE AND FORK Inevitably, all this talk about “grits” is going to make a girl hungry and there’s no shortage of old school, country cooking like Pawley’s Front Porch or Lizard’s Thicket to be found. However, in keeping with the weekend’s theme of exploring alternatives, we followed fellow film fans to some of the trendiest tables in town. The punchy-meets-industrial interiors at The War Mouth filled quickly; proving locals are welcoming the newer kids on the block, too. Clocking in less than four hours from Atlanta’s Northside, I discovered a previously unheard of popular menu item when I sat down for lunch at The War Mouth. Raw fries – a Columbia staple I’m told – is a slightly different take on the more expected side dish: not exactly “raw” but not fully cooked yet either. Festivalgoers at Indie Grits won’t go hungry for satisfying stories or local spots to dine. Just take a close look at the festival’s branded logo. Designer Michael Powelson drew from cultural paradoxes, colliding past and present as well as genteel society and rugged independence with the visual of a tough guy’s knuckled fist clasping an heirloom spoon and somebody’s great-great grandmama’s silver. On the Capitol’s side of Main Street, Atlantans will find more vaguely familiar, yet pleasant surprises at The Oak Table, part of Steve Palmer’s The Indigo Road Restaurant Group (Oak Steakhouse, Colletta, O-Ku) or Bourbon, a warm and rustic whiskey bar – more than 150 varieties in stock – and Cajun-Creole restaurant. Housed in the historic Brennen Building dating back to 1870, Bourbon is helmed by Chef Frank Bradley who got his start as a former line cook at Decatur’s Iberian Pig. Over a cocktail or coffee from Drip, plenty of tables inspire a setting for democratic debate, whether recapping the latest movie or political views. If you dare delve deeper into the local rumblings, go underground to “North America’s Greatest Dive Bar,” The Whig. Just steps from the senators’ offices, The Whig gained national attention as the unofficial headquarters for protestors and patrons who fought to remove the Confederate Flag from statehouse grounds last year. Columbia is a place where conversations are started, and we are listening. Indie Grits has already announced the 2017 festival theme as “Visiones” in response to the explosive growth of the Latino population in South Carolina and across the Southeastern U.S., and has received grants from the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures, the Surdna Foundation and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. It’s not Main Street, Anywhere U.S.A. This is Main Street, Columbia, S.C. – and it’s either experiencing a unique cultural moment, or we finally took a moment to notice. PN FOR MORE INFORMATION columbiacvb.com indiegrits.com
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 23
l l DA
T A TH
Z Z A J
AN
THE KEY PLAYERS MAKING BIG BANDS EVEN BIGGER written by JENNIFER COLOSIMO
24 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
L
LAST MONTH, I walked into a jazz club for the first time in my life. I’ll admit, amidst my mental preparations, I envisioned myself as a little bit of Lorraine Bracco in “Goodfellas.” I was giddy to get dressed up, had a little swagger in my step, seriously contemplated buying cigarettes for the occasion and prepared for a spirit-soaked evening of easy listening and cool ambiance. Some of that stereotype remained accurate … some of it had evolved (I didn’t get the cigarettes). But for the recipe of soul that I experienced, it became evident that however defined and however enjoyed, jazz is back, in a big way. In some cases, you might even say, in a big band way, because these days, it’s a rarity to experience grand, live music at the dinner table, especially one outside of a six-figure wedding reception. Experiences like mine – at the acclaimed Café 290 in Sandy Springs – are something from the past. Au contraire. In-the-know jazz fans can find similar nights out all over town, from lively 16-member brass, keys, vocals and more bands to open-mic jam sessions and impressive single-artist serenades. In Atlanta, as many “new” traditions edge toward nostalgic, the spirit of jazz music journeys beyond the aforementioned big day dance floor to something people today are really into again.
BIG BAND MAN You remember the swing craze. People were jumping, jiving and wailing to anything that made them feel like they were either raised on the boardwalk in Jersey or in another era. Its roots in jazz were chords
PHOTOS COURTESY ALAN BROOKS | ALANBPHOTO.COM
and melodies that people couldn’t shake, and for my generation, something our playlists were missing. In search of that spirit, I started listening to Frank Sinatra. I found an old record of my grandfather’s with Louis Armstrong hits and bebop tunes from Dizzy Gillespie. Other jazz trumpet players like Miles Davis filled my iTunes search engine and I even read up on everything about the upcoming Chet Baker biopic. Actually, when you go beyond the trendy niches of jazz, there is a lot of good stuff to discover, such as smooth jazz from Kenny G, traditional New Orleans street-beat, modern or modal jazz, the blues and more. Because of big-band-backed artists like the
classic Sinatra and pop singers of today, Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Bublé, the genre undoubtedly has a place in the mainstream, and with Atlanta’s extremely talented local scene, it’s also genuinely evergreen. “It’s jazz…” one of Atlanta’s own talents, jazz trumpet player Joe Gransden said. “I think it’s just great music. I think that anyone who hears it done right – even if that’s not their favorite thing – is going to think, ‘That’s cool.’ The big band has a lot of power, because there are sections that can stand up and blow together. That’s really my first love. It crosses that line to become more accessible for the public. It becomes contemporary, and something that can be enjoyed by old folks and young ones alike.” Gransden moved to Atlanta as a solo, freelance trumpet player after 9/11 shook the music industry in New York. His girlfriend and the steady gig waiting for him here made the decision to relocate a no-brainer. He played The Club at Chops for several years before deciding to put his own band together for a gig at then Veni Vidi Vici. “The manager there said, you need to hire a singer,” Gransden said, explaining that it was either develop an untapped talent or lose the gig. Gransden asked his father – a jazz singer and piano player – to teach him a few songs that he could sing on the fly. He debuted his new talent the next night at the restaurant and said the manager loved his new, attentive, singalong crowd. That led Gransden to yet another decision.
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 25
AND ALL THAT JAZZ
In 2007, he put together a 16-piece band with five saxophones, four trombones, four trumpets, a piano, the bass and drums, including the renowned arranger and trombone player, Wes Funderburk. This year, they will play Blue Note in New York City for the third time and locally, they’ll headline the Georgia Ensemble Theatre’s winter concert series for the fourth year in a row. Café 290 is where they perform every first and third Monday to a packed house, debuting new arrangements, playing covers that get people itching to get up from the table and reminding anyone in the room why this music is classic. Their music doesn’t stop in the clubs. To celebrate the centennial of Sinatra’s birth, the band just released “Songs of Sinatra & Friends” – a tribute of classic covers that I personally prescribe as the panacea to all things Atlanta traffic. Oh, and Gransden is still their lead singer. Gransden first chose the trumpet as a fourth grader, having no reason to pick that instrument other than the fact it was what his grandfather played. Those living room performances were enough to sway his choice, and has resulted in being named a 2016 Atlanta Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association – a nod to industry professionals doing a lot in their communities to teach the benefits of music – and nominated for GA Music Awards’ 2016 Jazz Artist of the Year. His small, original quartet still tours together and you can find him hosting Tuesday night jam sessions at Venkman’s in Atlanta or playing with Kenny Banks at Buckhead’s Ritz Carlton every Thursday.
“I really just wanted to be a hockey player,” Gransden said. “But then my band director brought in a professional musician to solo with us – his name was Alan Vizzutti, one of the top trumpet players on the planet – I mean, I didn’t know a trumpet could do that. I’ll never forget the minute when I said, ‘that’s what I’m doing for the rest of my life.’”
SMALL SPACE SERENADE While Gransden’s big band is making waves in the name of jazz, there’s also a huge following for smaller shows where individual talent really shines. Like the 45-seat Alpharetta club, The Velvet Note. Open four years this summer, it was built to invite suburb dwellers into something that would feel like their own living room – comfortable, easy and intimate – and not require the long drive into the city. It was also a place to celebrate the talent that jazz music has brought back into the Atlanta scene and make those artists more accessible to fans outside the city center. Owner and Manager Tamara Fuller said, “When you get on a stage to do a performance, when you’ve spent your life practicing, composing and touring, what you end up giving the audience is just a kiss. In a small venue, the audience is so close, they’re so engaged that it’s like the audience is kissing you back. It puts a life-changing intimacy, or a stamp, on that experience.”
JOIN US WITH JOE Gransden and his quartet for dinner, dancing and a little romancing July 30 at The Cosmopolitan Live in Marietta. $10 for the music. Find more info at facebook.com/pointsnorthatl
Joe plays a custom built Monette Prana 3 trumpet with a Monette B2S3 mouthpiece.
Fuller reiterated the impact that a smaller group of musicians can have on an audience. “In a big band, there is virtually no silence,” she said. “The music is designed to bring a rich, juicy and full musicianship to the experience. But, with a small group, you can hear the pauses, the margins and sometimes that silence is as beautiful as the music itself.” “I remember when Marcus Roberts came and performed at The Velvet Note,” Fuller said of the Grammy Award-winning piano player. “As he finished his show, he played that last note and let it just linger on. It drifted to a very subtle silence over the course of about 30 seconds. No one moved. They just listened.” Gransden called it an intellectual experience, and not something you can zone out to like some popular music. But therein lies the reason it’s back in such a big way. “We went so far as an industry into synthesized music, that people really wanted something real, something authentic – real music, played by real musicians on real instruments. Jazz was that answer,” Fuller said. Luckily some of the best “real” musicians live right here in Atlanta, some having been in films, others won Grammys or topped charts – all making Atlanta artists known around the world, therefore attracting even more talent to our little music mecca. “There’s a lot of musical diversity here, too,” Fuller said. “Jazz is that platform that combines the rhythms, beats and soul PHOTOS COURTESY ALAN BROOKS | ALANBPHOTO.COM
26 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
with melodies and harmonies to make something that transcends age brackets and connects people from across several genres.”
A BEAT THAT BLENDS Jazz connects people. It’s a tangible cultural fusion, and it fuses together our sense of humanity. You can look across the room and see someone tapping their feet to the same beat. Both Fuller and Gransden will also tell you, there is a community to thank for spreading the word. She cites Gransden for his weekly jam sessions that connect great artists in the city. He nods to Wynton Marsalis and Jazz at Lincoln Center, but since that isn’t something those of us living in North Atlanta can enjoy on the weekends (or have our kids look forward to at school), thankfully the players here are using those same ideas to make it happen. And they’re playing a lot. Gransden’s own music teacher, Dr. Gordon Vernick, directed his Rialto Youth Jazz Orchestra as the opening act the night I went to Café 290, showcasing the active evolution of passing down good music (and harboring good talent) from one generation to the next. Gransden helps foster the bug via trumpet lessons for kids in elementary school to adults in their 70s. Churchill Grounds, which will reopen in a new, larger space this year, showcases talent in line with traditional jazz. Sweet Georgia’s Juke Joint lets you pay homage to neo-soul and R&B jazz with sweltering, late-night dance parties and Cosmopolitan Live in Marietta has featured Gransden, Douglas Cameron and other big bands. The unifying factor is that these, like other venues, are packed; they’re all playing jazz and they’re helping grow the community by creating a network for artists to grow themselves. “Whether improvised jazz or big band swing from the 1940s, if it’s good, then it’s swingin’ and it makes you feel good on the inside,” Gransden said. I couldn’t agree more, so here’s to hoping more kids choose to play the trumpet for no good reason. As Bublé would say, we just haven’t met them yet. PN FOR MORE INFORMATION get.org joegransden.com thevelvetnote.com cafe290atlanta.com cosmomarietta.com
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“That’s
INCRE In the fast-changing world of high-tech med, North Georgia healthcare providers offer SOPHISTICATED MEDICAL INNOVATIONS to save and extend lives.
GAMMA KNIFE
NEUROSURGERY WITHOUT INCISIONS
Despite its name, Gamma Knife Perfexion is not actually a knife at all. It is a medical device that delivers precisely focused high-dose beams of radiation to selected areas deep within the brain, without a scalpel and without the usual risks of surgery or an incision. Moreover, this type of
written by AMBER LANIER NAGLE
W
HEN TECHNOLOGY AND HEALTHCARE COLLIDE, solutions are born; big breakthroughs in patient care and treatment are made; and state-of-the-art medical technologies that were once unthinkable emerge. Take the world of prosthetics, for example. Today’s prosthetics resemble real human limbs and are far more functional than yesteryear’s metal hooks and wooden legs. Myoelectric hands have movable fingers that grip and flex in response to electrical signals generated naturally by the patient’s own muscles. Once cumbersome and hard to manipulate, prosthetic legs are now light and agile, allowing users to return to their active lifestyles by getting around more smoothly, climbing stairs and riding bikes. Though you may not hear a lot about them, dozens of major medical discoveries and advances roll out each year — some are even classified as “game-changing.” We asked a handful of healthcare professionals to tell us about up-and-coming medical procedures, technologies and devices in use in North Georgia that are significantly changing patient care and enabling our loved ones to live longer, healthier lives. Here are four wow-worthy medical innovations. 28 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
radiosurgery is typically performed in a single outpatient treatment session and without the use of general anesthesia. Northside Hospital-Forsyth Cancer Center added a Gamma Knife Perfexion unit last November, and since then, more than 60 patients have had the procedure. “Overall, our patients have been pleased,” said Dr. Peter Possert, medical director of Northside’s Gamma Knife Program. “There are fewer side effects, one treatment and most patients go home the same day. Gamma Knife will benefit hundreds of patients requiring treatment of both benign and malignant brain lesions in the North Georgia and metro Atlanta area.” Sometimes the tumor’s location or size prohibits the use of Gamma Knife, but for others, the device has offered new hope following a cancer diagnosis. “It’s a huge advancement,” he said. “A new and improved weapon we have to fight cancer.”
PANTHERIS ALLOWING DOCTORS TO SEE AND REMOVE PLAQUE SIMULTANEOUSLY According to the American Heart Association, about 8 million people in the U.S. live with peripheral artery disease (PAD), a serious condition caused by the narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to the arms and legs, resulting in leg pain and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
DIBLE”
Gamma Knife
“In the past, we have had to rely solely on
X-rays, as well as ‘touch and feel’ to guide our
tools as we remove plaque from PAD patients,”
Pantheris Gamma Knife
The biopsy system provides true 360-degree
access to lesions using a smart-arm design.
“3D mammography paired with the Affirm 3D
Tomography
“This combination can lead to improved out-
comes for patients,” he said.
In addition, patients’ treatment times are
said Emory Healthcare Cardiologist Gregory
biopsy will help us find cancers earlier so that
reduced and shorter courses of radiation are re-
Robertson, M.D., associate professor of medicine,
we can treat them sooner rather than later, and
quired. It reduces long and short-term side effects.
Emory University School of Medicine.
that’s the key to successful treatment,” she said.
Robertson utilized the first Pantheris device in Georgia in March at Emory Johns Creek Hospital (EJCH). It uses real-time optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging on a therapeutic catheter —
“Also, it reduces call backs by 40 percent. That’s important, too.” Emory University Hospital Midtown will get the technology this summer.
“Because TomoTherapy is so effective, patients don’t have to put their lives on hold,” McLaughlin said. “Patients can go to their scheduled tee times and spend more time with loved ones.” WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta is not only one of three facilities in Georgia to offer
similar to a small camera on the tip of the device.
TOMOTHERAPY
TomoTherapy; it is also in the process of becoming
us to see from the inside of the artery during an
HIGHLY TARGETED THERAPY THAT SHORTENS
a training site.
atherectomy procedure, allowing for safer, more
CANCER TREATMENT TIME
precise removal of the plaque,” Robertson said.
The TomoTherapy platform combines the tumor-
also boasts a first-in-the-nation collaboration with
“For the first time, Avinger’s Pantheris allows
WellStar Cancer Center at Kennestone Hospital
mapping function of a CT scan with precision,
the American Cancer Society (ACS). Specially
follow-up procedures and stents. The radiation-
360-degree radiation therapy to help treat patients
trained nurse navigators staff the center and assist
free device could also help minimize radiation
with head, neck, advanced lung, prostate, pan-
patients seeking information from the abundant
exposure to clinicians and patients.
creatic, esophageal and gynecological cancers. It
in-house and online libraries. Meanwhile, kiosks
Pantheris may potentially reduce the need for
allows radiation to be delivered from every direc-
allow patients to chat live with an ACS navigator
AFFIRM 3D BIOPSY
tion — unlike traditional radiation treatment options
through an online portal — yet another example of
A TOOL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST
— and has been particularly valuable for retreating
how technology is improving patient care.
BREAST CANCER
previously irradiated areas of the body and
As of April, EJCH also added a new tool to their
treating multiple metastases simultaneously. The
breast-cancer-detection-and-treatment toolbox.
conformity and tracking capability allows doctors
Combining state-of-the-art imaging with high-
to target an intense amount of radiation exactly to
precision biopsy capability, the Affirm 3D biopsy
the tumor site, with much greater precision.
system allows medical practitioners to better target and sample breast lesions. Developed
“So a patient’s anatomy and body positioning is correct on a daily basis,” said Mark McLaughlin,
by Hologic, the new equipment uses the same
M.D., medical director of radiation oncology at
technology for visualizing breast lesions as 3D
WellStar Kennestone Hospital in Marietta. “This
digital tomosynthesis mammography, which has
customizes delivery for each patient, surrounding
been shown to diagnose more breast cancers than
the treatment target with highly precise radia-
traditional 2D mammography. “We can see more with 3D,” said Maria Piraner,
From performing neurosurgery without a scalpel to a highly targeted radiation treatment to fight certain cancers, technology has opened the doors to medical advancements never dreamed possible. To our North Georgia healthcare providers, it’s about more than trends and flashy new devices — it’s about saving lives. PN
tion and exposure from multiple angles. It also minimizes radiation exposure to healthy tissues,
M.D., director of the Center for Breast Care at
and because you’re setting the patient up using
EJCH. “The Affirm 3D Biopsy system enables us to
imaging on a daily basis, if the patient gains or los-
more accurately pinpoint tiny, curable lesions and
es treatment or if the tumor changes, adjustments
biopsy them immediately.”
can be made in the treatment plan.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION gammaknife.com avinger.com hologic.com tomotherapy.com cancer.org
PHOTO COURTESY OF EMORY JOHNS CREEK HOSPITAL; WELLSTAR KENNESTONE HOSPITAL
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 29
iii HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTER GUIDE ii S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER BRASELTON AWARD WINNING CARE CLOSER TO HOME
7KH RSHQLQJ RI 1RUWKHDVW *HRUJLD 0HGLFDO &HQWHU 1*0& Braselton on April 1, 2015, marked a historical moment for Northeast Georgia Health System as well as the state RI *HRUJLD b$V WKH QHZHVW IDFLOLW\ LQ WKH 1RUWKHDVW *HRUJLD Health System and the system’s second hospital, NGMC Braselton brought the award-winning services of the State’s No. 1 hospital to many who needed access closer to home. NGMC Braselton is dedicated to improving the health of the community in all they do. With a focus on emergency services, heart and vascular services, orthopedics, neurosciences, advanced surgery and medical services and cancer WUHDWPHQW HDFK DVSHFW RI 1*0& %UDVHOWRQ ZDV VSHFLƓFDOO\ designed with the surrounding area’s needs in mind. NGMC Braselton is equipped with 100 beds, seven operating rooms, two state-of-the-art cath labs, 26 prep and recovery URRPV RQ WKH VXUJLFDO ŴRRU Ŋ DQG WKH OLVW JRHV RQ 7KH FDPSXV ZDV HVWDEOLVKHG LQ ZLWK WKH FRPSOHtion of Medical Plaza 1, which now houses 23 practices representing 22 medical specialties, imaging facilities and lab services, as well as urgent care. Connected directly to the hospital, Medical Plaza B is home to additional physician specialties to fully coordinate care as well as hospital-based testing and services such as Cardiopulmonary Rehab and a Resource Center.
COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CARE IN BRASELTON
In November 2015, radiation therapy services began in Medical Plaza 1 on the NGMC Braselton campus, completing the continuum of cancer care close to home for area patients. In addition to radiation oncology services, FDQFHU SDWLHQWV EHQHƓW IURP DGYDQFHG LPDJLQJ WHFKQROogies, medical oncology and hematology services and robotic and minimally invasive surgery options right on the Braselton campus. Patients also have access to nationwide clinical trials and patient navigation services through Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s Cancer Services. b
BY THE NUMBERS
iii
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staff members providers visits to the Emergency Department cardiovascular tests and procedures visits to Cardiac Rehabilitation surgeries and procedures surgeries with the daVinci robotic surgical system
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iii
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July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 31
ii HO S PITAL & ME D ICA L C E NT E R GU I DE S P E C I A L
NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER BRASELTON iii
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
LABOR AND DELIVERY SERVICES COMING SEPT. 12
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CARE FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL
7KH SDWLHQW ZLQJV DW 1*0& %UDVHOWRQ ZHUH GHVLJQHG WR SURPRWH KHDOLQJ E\ SURYLGLQJ DQ DWPRVSKHUH WKDW LV EHDXWLIXO QDWXUDO TXLHW DQG UHVWIXO 7KH LQWHQWLRQDO KHDOLQJ HQYLURQPHQW LQFOXGHV WKH EHDXWLIXO +HQU\ (GZDUG %UDVHOWRQ &KDSHO DQ H[WHQVLYH RULJLQDO DUW FROOHFWLRQ RI PRUH WKDQ ZRUNV IURP PRUH WKDQ ORFDO DUWLVWV DQG ŴRRU WR FHLOLQJ ZLQGRZV DW WKH HQG RI HDFK SDWLHQW ZLQJ VR WKDW SDWLHQWV FDQ HQMR\ WKH EHDXW\ RI WKH FDPSXV ZLWKRXW OHDYLQJ WKH SDWLHQW FDUH DUHD &OLQLFDO VWXGLHV KDYH VKRZQ DFFHVV WR RXWGRRU VSDFHV RU VLJKW OLQHV WR QDWXUH PD\ LPSURYH KHDOLQJ DQG DV D UHVXOW SDWLHQW URRPV ZHUH EXLOW ZLWK WKH ODUJHVW ZLQGRZV SRVVLEOH
CARING FOR PATIENTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
6XVWDLQDELOLW\ LV D KDOOPDUN RI 1*0& %UDVHOWRQ ZLWK ŏJUHHQŐ LQLWLDWLYHV SRLVLQJ WKHP WR EH RQH RI WKH ƓUVW KRVSLWDOV LQ WKH QDWLRQ WR DFKLHYH /((' /HDGHUVKLS LQ (QHUJ\ DQG (QYLURQPHQWDO 'HVLJQ IRU +HDOWKFDUH *ROG FHUWLƓFDWLRQ 6HW RQ DFUHV UHWDLQHG ZHWODQGV DQG QDWXUDO DUHDV VXUURXQGLQJ WKH KRVSLWDO DUH SDUW RI ZKDW PDNHV LW VR VSHFLDO 9LVLWRUV DQG WKH FRPPXQLW\ FDQ HQMR\ WKH ZDONLQJ SDWKV DQG JDUGHQV 1RW MXVW D SODFH WR FRPH ZKHQ VLFN WKH LQYLWLQJ RXWGRRUV VSDFHV KRVW H[HUFLVH FODVVHV DQG SXEOLF HYHQWV WR OHDUQ DERXW VWD\LQJ KHDOWK\
NORTHEAST GEORGIA MEDICAL CENTER BRASELTON 1400 RIVER PLACE • 770-848-8000 • nghs.com/braselton
32 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
ii HO S PITAL & ME D ICA L C E N T E R GU I DE S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA “
I THINK BEING TREATED AT A CANCER CENTER AND SEEING A SPECIALIST DEDICATED TO CANCER CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE FOR PATIENTS.
“
At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) in Atlanta, their cancer experts have the experience and expertise to help patients navigate the complexities of choosing a treatment plan tailored to their needs. Their Centers for Advanced Oncology bring together multidisciplinary teams of doctors and other cancer care clinicians who IRFXV RQ D VSHFLƓF FDQFHU W\SH DQG DUH FRPPLWWHG WR GHOLYHULQJ DGYDQFHG WUHDWPHQW RSWLRQV WR SDWLHQWV ƓJKWLQJ D complex disease. Experts on what’s available now, and what’s on the horizon for each cancer type, the Centers clinicians collaborate daily, all under one roof. This close coordination KHOSV WKHLU GRFWRUV DQG FOLQLFLDQV PRUH HIƓFLHQWO\ UHDFK D diagnosis and recommend individualized treatment plans more quickly, so patients can start treatment as soon as possible. Medical, surgical and radiation oncologists dedicate WKHLU WLPH WDOHQWV DQG UHVRXUFHV WR VSHFLDOL]H LQ D VSHFLƓF cancer type, as part of an integrative team that may also
DR. ALVAREZ
include dietitians, naturopathic providers, mind-body therapists, physical therapists and spiritual support SURYLGHUV .QRZLQJ WKDW Ć“JKWLQJ FDQFHU LV RQO\ SDUW RI WKH disease, their Centers care teams may also recommend various evidence-based supportive therapies to help patients manage the side effects of cancer and its treatment. At CTCA, their mission is to bring their cancer patients state-of-the-art treatment options and whole-person care, with a sense of urgency and a comprehensive, personalized approach. “I work as part of a multidisciplinary team,â€? said Dr. Alvarez. “Surgical oncologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists discuss each patient. We outline a clear plan before our patients begin treatment. This is a very advanced group of medical professionals who dedicate the vast majority of their time to treating breast cancer. I think being treated at a cancer center, and seeing a specialist dedicated to treating breast cancer, can make a big difference for patients.â€?
CANCER TREATMENT CENTERS OF AMERICA AT SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER 600 CELEBRATE LIFE PARKWAY • 888-845-2471 • cancercenter.com/southeastern
34 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
ii HO S PITAL & ME D ICA L C E NT E R GU I DE S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
WELLSTAR HEALTH SYSTEM
Recognized nationally for its innovative care, easily accessible healthcare for patients and named to
Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list three consecutive years, WellStar Health System FRQWLQXHV WR H[SDQG DQG GHOLYHU ZRUOG FODVV KHDOWKFDUH FORVH WR KRPH $V D QRW IRU SURƓW :HOO6WDU FRQtinues to reinvest in the health of the patients it serves with new technologies and treatments.
GROWTH
TREATING THE ENTIRE FAMILY
With the addition of six new hospitals on April 1, WellStar
WellStar treats the entire family from birth to end of life
has become the largest health system in Georgia. Provid-
care. WellStar operates the only inpatient pediatric unit
ing comprehensive care across the state, WellStar consists
in Cobb County at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. In
of 11 hospitals, 2,900 physicians and advanced
practitioners on medical staff, 240 PHGLFDO RIĆ“FH ORFDtions, outpatient centers, health parks, a pediatric center,
addition, WellStar Windy Hill Hospital has a specialized pediatric orthopedic surgery program that caters to patients from birth to 21 years old.
nursing centers, hospice and homecare.
For outpatient services and afterhours care, the Well-
At the heart of this growth is patient-centered care.
Star Pediatric Center offers parents a high quality pediatric
WellStar’s vision is to deliver world-class healthcare. By
FDUH RSWLRQ FORVH WR KRPH .LGV EHQHĆ“W IURP SHGLDWULF
expanding its footprint, WellStar has been able to expand
VSHFLĆ“F ORZ GRVH LPDJLQJ DW :HOO6WDU 3HGLDWULF &HQWHU
upon its proven clinical care models and patient safety
which also has a rehabilitation area featuring aquatic
programs that have resulted in increased quality and
physical therapy. Parents appreciate the ability to take kids
improved access to healthcare.
who aren’t feeling well for after-hours care at the Pediatric Center, open evenings and weekends. Previously families
THERE WHEN YOU NEED THEM
had to travel great distances to receive this high level of
0HGLFDO HPHUJHQFLHV GRQĹ?W Ć“W ZLWKLQ DQ\RQHĹ?V VFKHGXOH
pediatric care. Now, it is being offered in a convenient
They happen at all hours and days. That’s why WellStar is
setting with minimal travel.
Trauma Centers across metro Atlanta at WellStar Atlan-
IN YOUR COMMUNITY
ta Medical Center, WellStar Kennestone Hospital and
In response to the growing need for outpatient healthcare
WellStar North Fulton Hospital, WellStar is saving lives on
services, WellStar pioneered the health park concept in
a daily basis.
Georgia to provide patients a full range of healthcare
there when you need them. With three highly rated
Every year, WellStar serves more than 600,000
services close to home. Health parks were developed
patients through its emergency departments. WellStar
as one-stop-shops for all your medical needs. Currently,
sees more emergency patients than any other health
WellStar offers health parks in Acworth and East Cobb. In
system in Georgia. As part of that, WellStar Kennestone
February, WellStar broke ground on a third health park in
operates the busiest emergency department in the state.
Vinings. WellStar Vinings Health Park is expected to open
WELLSTAR ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER 303 PARKWAY DRIVE • 404-265-4000
WELLSTAR ATLANTA MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH 1170 CLEVELAND AVENUE • 404-466-1170
WELLSTAR COBB
3950 AUSTELL ROAD SW • 470-732-4000
WELLSTAR DOUGLAS
8954 HOSPITAL DRIVE • 770-949-1500
36 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
in the fall of 2017.
WELLSTAR KENNESTONE
677 CHURCH STREET • 770-793-5000
WELLSTAR NORTH FULTON
3000 HOSPITAL BOULEVARD • 770-751-2500
WELLSTAR PAULDING
WELLSTAR SPALDING REGIONAL
601 SOUTH 8TH STREET • 770-228-2721
WELLSTAR SYLVAN GROVE
1050 MCDONOUGH ROAD • 770-775-7861
WELLSTAR WEST GEORGIA
2518 JIMMY LEE SMITH PARKWAY • 470-644-7000
1514 VERNON ROAD • 706-882-1411
wellstar.org
2540 WINDY HILL ROAD • 770-644-1000
WELLSTAR WINDY HILL
ii H O S PITAL & ME D ICA L C E N T E R GU I DE S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL As one of the most respected health care organizations in the Southeast, Northside Hospital’s decades-long commitment to balancing clinical excellence with compassionate care holds true today. Northside is experiencing tremendous growth, too. Expansion and construction projects are underway or in design phase at six of Northside’s campuses. The goal? To provide greater patient access to quality medical care. The new Northside Hospital-Cherokee is on schedule for a 2017 opening. Drivers along Interstate 575 in Canton can see the spectacular main building rising on a beautiful hilltop. This health care campus will initially include the hospital and D PHGLFDO RIĆ“ FH EXLOGLQJ D GLVWLQFWLYH ZRPHQĹ? V FHQWHU FDQFHU
in East Cobb. The 100,000-square-foot Northside East Cobb Medical Center, located at Johnson Ferry Road and Olde Towne Parkway in Marietta, is expected to open in December 2016. This medical center will feature renowned Northside physicians providing services that include imaging, primary care, urgent care and other specialties. Other major health projects are underway that will add HYHQ PRUH KHDOWK FDUH TXDOLW\ DFFHVV DQG GLYHUVLĆ“ FDWLRQ ĹŠ ORRN for Northside to grow in Woodstock, Sandy Springs and Midtown Atlanta.
center and 900 parking spaces. Northside Hospital-Forsyth has undergone nearcontinuous expansion since Northside purchased the hospital in 2002. This year, the hospital is growing by three additional Ŵ RRUV WR EHWWHU VHUYH WKH EXUJHRQLQJ 1RUWK )XOWRQ )RUV\WK region. The new construction will bring the hospital’s inpatient bed count to 247 (currently 231) and the total number of beds, including observation, to 330. Northside’s newest medical campus is being developed
BY THE NUMBERS
iii10
Northside Hospital is a leader in surgical care. Surgeons at its hospitals and surgery centers perform more minimally invasive robotic-assisted procedures than any other program in the Southeast. In fact, Northside ranks in the top 10 percent of all programs in the country. All three of Northside’s hospitals offer the latest computer-assisted robotic surgery, single-incision surgery and other minimally invasive techniques. Patients experience better outcomes, reduced recovery times and shorter hospital stays.
ii18
ii776
iii2 MILLION Northside leads the U.S. in newborn deliveries, diagnoses and treats the most cancer cases in Georgia and is among the state’s top-ranked providers of surgical services. Northside has more than 2,500 physicians and 14,000 employees who provide medical services for nearly 2 million patient visits each year.
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL – ATLANTA
1000 JOHNSON FERRY ROAD NE • 404-851-8000
In the Southeast, no other community hospital diagnoses and treats more cases of breast cancer than the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute. In 2015, grants from It’s The Journey, Susan G. Komen and Georgia CORE enabled Northside to fund screening mammograms and other breast procedures for 776 women who couldn’t afford them.
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL – CHEROKEE 201 HOSPITAL ROAD • 770-720-5100
northside.com 38 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
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Northside ranks No. 18 on the 2016 America’s Best Employers survey that polled 30,000 U.S. employees. Northside also ranked No. 1 in Georgia, ahead of 14 other Georgia-based companies, and was named the Southeast’s top health care employer.
NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL – FORSYTH
1200 NORTHSIDE FORSYTH DRIVE • 770-844-3200
ii H O SPI TAL & ME D ICA L C E NT E R GU I DE S P E C I A L
GWINNETT MEDICAL CENTER
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
Gwinnett Medical Center is a nationally recognized, not-forSURĆ“W KHDOWK FDUH QHWZRUN ZLWK KRVSLWDOV LQ /DZUHQFHYLOOH DQG 'XOXWK DQG DGGLWLRQDO IDFLOLWLHV LQ -RKQV &UHHN 6QHOOYLOOH and Hamilton Mill. In 2014, Gwinnett Medical Center was recognized E\ *HRUJLD 7UHQG DV WKH WRS ODUJH KRVSLWDO LQ WKH VWDWH 2IIHULQJ FDUGLRYDVFXODU RUWKRSHGLF FDQFHU FRQFXVVLRQ ZHLJKW PDQDJHPHQW DQG QHXURVFLHQFH VSHFLDOW\ FDUH DV ZHOO DV D IXOO FRQWLQXXP RI ZHOOQHVV VHUYLFHV *0&Ĺ?V 4,800 DVVRFLDWHV DQG DIĆ“OLDWHG SK\VLFLDQV VHUYH PRUH WKDQ 400,000 patients annually. To learn more about how GMC is transforming healthcare, follow GMC at facebook.com/gwinnettmedical, twitter.com/ gwinnettmedical or youtube.com/gwinnettmedical.
HEALTHCARE HIGHLIGHTS
iii GMC is a teaching hospital Gwinnett Medical Center - Lawrenceville
ZLWK ERWK IDPLO\ PHGLFLQH DQG LQWHUQDO PHGLFLQH UHVLGHQWV 6LQFH PDQ\ SK\VLFLDQV VWD\ LQ WKH UHJLRQ ZKHUH WKH\ WUDLQ WKLV LV RQH ZD\ *0& LV KHOSLQJ DGGUHVV WKH DUHDĹ?V SULPDU\ FDUH VKRUWDJH E\ HQFRXUDJLQJ KLJK TXDOLW\ community-based care.
addition, GMC has partnered with iii InChoiceOne
WR EULQJ XUJHQW FDUH WR WKH FRPPXQLW\ DQG UHFHQWO\ RSHQHG XUJHQW FDUH FHQWHUV LQ 6XJDU Hill and Hamilton Mill.
iii GMC’s Cancer Institute has expanded
FDQFHU FDUH ZLWK WKH &DQFHU 6XSSRUW &HQWHU D GHGLFDWHG OXQJ FDQFHU VFUHHQLQJ SURJUDP 67$5 RQFRORJ\ UHKDELOLWDWLRQ DQG FDQFHU FDUH VXSSRUW JURXSV
Sequent Health Physician iii Through Partners
D FOLQLFDOO\ LQWHJUDWHG QHWZRUN RI SK\VLFLDQV GRFWRUV DUH SURPRWLQJ EHWWHU KHDOWK WKURXJK FRPPXQLFDWLQJ ZLWK HDFK RWKHU DERXW SDWLHQWV WKH\ KDYH LQ FRPPRQ b,Q DGGLWLRQ SK\VLFLDQV LQ WKH QHWZRUN FUHDWH EHVW SUDFWLFHV VWDQGDUGV DQG KROG HDFK RWKHU DFFRXQWDEOH 7KLV EHQHĆ“WV DOO SDWLHQWV LQFOXGLQJ WKRVH ZLWK FKURQLF GLVHDVHV OLNH GLDEHWHV
Gwinnett Medical Center - Duluth
GWINNETT MEDICAL CENTER–LAWRENCEVILLE 1000 MEDICAL CENTER BOULEVARD • 678-312-1000
iii In Sports Medicine, GMC expanded
its UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK *ZLQQHWW &RXQW\ 3XEOLF 6FKRROV WR EHFRPH LWV Ć“UVW RIĆ“FLDO KHDOWK FDUH SURYLGHU ,Q DGGLWLRQ WKH &RQFXVVLRQ ,QVWLWXWH FRQWLQXHV LWV PLVVLRQ RI WUHDWLQJ FKLOGUHQ WHHQV DQG DGXOWV
GWINNETT MEDICAL CENTER–DULUTH 3620 HOWELL FERRY ROAD • 678-312-6800
gwinnettmedicalcenter.org 40 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
ii H O SPI TAL & ME D ICA L C E NT E R GU I DE S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA
From hearing screenings to helping adolescent athletes return to play after surgery, the pediatric team at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is dedicated to making the kids of Forsyth better today and healthier tomorrow. While other health care facilities might offer pediatric care, pediatrics has been the sole focus of Children’s for more than 100 years. Serving kids from all 159 counties in Georgia, many from ULJKW KHUH LQ )RUV\WK &RXQW\ &KLOGUHQĹ?V FRQWLQXHV WR Ć“QG ZD\V to deliver care in the communities where patients live. The Children’s experience extends far beyond hospital walls to treat thousands of Forsyth kids and teens each year.
BY THE NUMBERS IN 2015, THE CHILDREN’S AT FORSYTH LOCATION HAD MORE THAN:
22,000 iii 5,600 iiiii 2,500 iiiii 2,200 iii 450 iii
Visits to urgent care
Sports medicine physical therapy visits
Children’s knows that the last place you want to be with your sick child is in a waiting room, so you can now save your spot in line at the Children’s at Forsyth Urgent Care Center. Families are able to select an arrival time that’s convenient, enabling them to get in line before they leave the house.* Visit choa.org/forsyth to see a list of Children’s services in your neighborhood.
Physical therapy visits
Occupational therapy visits
Audiology visits
CHILDREN’S AT FORSYTH
*They accept walk-in patients during business hours at all of their Urgent Care Centers. Visit choa.org/urgentcare for more information.
THE COLLECTION AT FORSYTH • 410 PEACHTREE PARKWAY, SUITE 300 • 404-785-KIDS (5437) • choa.org/forsyth 42 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
ii HO S PITAL & ME D ICA L C E NT E R GU I DE S P E C I A L
CHILDREN’S ORTHOPAEDICS OF ATLANTA
Children’s Orthopaedics of Atlanta (COA) is a private medical practice of fellowship-trained surgeons, physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners DQG FHUWLƓHG DWKOHWH WUDLQHUV VSHFLDOL]LQJ in the treatment of orthopaedic conditions in infants, children, adolescents and young athletes. With a network of 28 providers and 12 convenient PHWUR $WODQWD ORFDWLRQV Ŋb&2$ LV GHGicated to providing your children the right care, at the right place, at the right time that they deserve. At COA, your family will be supported and cared for by a highly TXDOLƓHG WHDP RI SURIHVVLRQDOV IRFXVHG VSHFLƓFDOO\ RQ PDNLQJ \RXU FKLOG EHWWHU b7KH\ DUH FRPPLWWHG WR WUHDWLQJ \RXU family with integrity, support and respect while providing quality treatment and care. Their team offers vast experience and expertise. They not only treat patients but also run the spine, sports, OLPE GHƓFLHQF\ KLS SK\VLFLDQ HGXFDWLRQ and orthopedic outcomes programs at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, ranked 12th in the nation on U.S. News and World Report – the highest ranking of any hospital in the Southeast.
BY THE NUMBERS
1 ĹŠb&2$ LV WKH ODUJHVW SULYDWH SHGLDWULF
orthopaedic provider in the Southeast. 5 – Five days a week COA is available in both their Alpharetta and Forsyth locations. 33 Ŋb&2$ KDV EHHQ LQ SUDFWLFH years as an established name your family can trust. 334 – It’s the years of cumulative experience amongst the providers. They have the training to provide comprehensive orthopaedic care for your child from the most basic to the most complex of orthopaedic problems. FIND A LOCATION NEAR YOU 404-255-1933 • childrensortho.com 44 | POINTS NORTH | JULY 2016
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
EMORY JOHNS CREEK HOSPITAL
$ QRW IRU SURĆ“W LQVWLWXWLRQ (PRU\ -RKQV &UHHN +RVSLWDO (-&+ LV dedicated to providing exceptional care for patients and families in Johns Creek and surrounding communities.
Since 2007, the 110-bed acute care facility has delivered outstanding community-based health care to a fast-growing and diverse population of metropolitan Atlanta. The hospital’s commitment to patient care is demonstrated through its strong leadership. Marilyn Margolis, CEO of EJCH, started her career at Emory Healthcare as a nurse more than 30 years ago. “The skills I use as a nurse are the skills I use every day as a CEO,� Margolis said. “I’m able to understand what’s happening at the bedside and provide necessary resources and guidance to others to give patients the best care possible.� EJCH offers a wide range of services including emergency care, advanced digital imaging, women’s services with a birthing center and a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, an expanded Winship Cancer Program with an infusion center and new mammography center, adult intensive care, advanced cardiac care and vascular medicine, robotic surgery, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopaedics and a bariatric center recognized as an accredited comprehensive facility by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP).
CUTTING-EDGE CANCER CARE
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University serves over 14,000 patients a year and is Georgia’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Winship Cancer Institute has expanded services and is now offering a commu-
nity Medical Oncology and Hematology Department at EJCH. “We’ve seen miracles here, we’ve seen tragedy; and throughout all of this we’ve seen care, love and compassion,â€? Margolis said. Winship offers leading-edge cancer care in Johns Creek and eligible patients will have access to over 250 clinical trials. The 4,500-square-foot, $1 million Winship infusion center is ORFDWHG RQ WKH Ć“UVW Ĺ´RRU RI WKH 3K\VLFLDQVĹ? Plaza. A range of services is available to patients, including: outpatient infusion, chemotherapy infusions and injections, blood and blood product transfusions, intravenous medication treatments, phlebotomy, antibiotic therapy, hydration and lab draws. EJCH partners with CanCare, a QRQSURĆ“W RUJDQL]DWLRQ WKDW RIIHUV HPRtional support to cancer patients and their families and caregivers through a network of more than 750 volunteers.
In March, the hospital hosted the training of several dozen cancer survivors to become CanCare volunteers. These volunteers act as mentors to patients during their cancer treatment and work with family members to provide encouragement and hope.
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
In June, EJCH received top honors for excellence in the treatment and care of stroke and heart attack patients. The American Heart Association/American
EMORY JOHNS CREEK HOSPITAL
6325 HOSPITAL PARKWAY, JOHNS CREEK • 678-474-8200 • emoryjohnscreek.com
Stroke Association (AHA/ASA) awarded EJCH with the “Get with the Guidelines-Strokeâ€? Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award. This award is given to hospitals who have reached a goal of treating stroke patients with 85 percent or higher adherence to all “Get with the Guidelines-Strokeâ€? achievement indicators for 24-consecutive months or more. They must also have achieved 75 percent or higher compliance with Ć“YH RI HLJKW RI WKH SURJUDPĹ?V TXDOLW\ measures. AHA also recognized EJCH for providing the highest level of care to heart attack patients. The hospital received the 2016 Mission:Lifeline Receiving Center Gold Recognition Award for ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) care.
SERVICE EXPANSION
Emory Johns Creek Hospital is constantly working to improve strategies to best serve every patient. Later this year, the hospital plans to add one new pre-admission testing room, two new blood drawing stations and two new areas for registration. Soon, patients will have access to a second MRI. The machine is designed with a wide bore to create a more comfortable experience for all patients. Emergency room visits have increased by 4.3 percent in the last \HDU ,Q RUGHU WR LPSURYH SDWLHQW Ĺ´RZ the hospital plans to add an express care line clinic next year. The fast-track area will assist patients with common medical problems to be seen more HIĆ“FLHQWO\ The hospital is also expected to add a CDU (clinical decision unit) and ROCU (radiation observation care unit) in 2017. The expansion will
provide a place for patients who need to be observed at the hospital, but whose diagnoses or procedures do not UHTXLUH DGPLVVLRQ DQG WUHDWPHQW DV DQ inpatient.
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 45
ii HO S PITAL & ME D ICA L C E NT E R GU I DE S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
PEDIATRIC CENTER AT NORTHSIDE ALPHARETTA
S E C T I O N
The Pediatric Center at Northside Alpharetta is North Atlanta’s premier destination for pediatric and adolescent outpatient care. It is home to more than 42 physicians and multiple pediatric sub-specialties, including Northside Hospitals Pediatric Imaging Center. The Pediatric Center is conveniently located less than one-fourth mile east of Georgia State Route 400 on Old Milton Parkway at Northside Hospital’s Alpharetta Medical Campus.
PEDIATRIC SPECIALTIES INCLUDE: • Orthodontics • Allergy and Systematic Cell Care • Autistic Spectrum Disorders • Assessment and Therapy
• Audiology • Cardiology • Craniofacial • Surgery
• Cystic Fibrosis • Neurology • Orthopedics • Pulmonology • Sleep Medicine • Sports Medicine
• Imaging • Dentistry • Ear, Nose and Throat • General Pediatrics • Speech Therapy
PEDIATRIC CENTER AT NORTHSIDE ALPHARETTA • 3300 OLD MILTON PARKWAY
46 | POINTS NORTH | JULY 2016
Don’t Spend Another Moment Without Hearing! &XW RXW WKH PLGGOH PDQ DQG FRPH GLUHFWO\ WR WKH PDQXIDFWXUHU :H FDQ KHOS \RX ƓQG WKH EHVW KHDULQJ DLG IRU WKH EHVW SULFH
Ambit Hearing Aid Centers is a unique hearing aid experience. We are a direct manufacturer that sells direct retail. Standard in all our models is advanced patented digital technology which delivers superior clarity, even in the noisiest of environments. And because we’re a PDQXIDFWXUHU WKDW JLYHV XV WKH H[SHUWLVH WR PDNH VXUH ZH GHOLYHU D SHUIHFW SUHVFULSWLRQ ƓW $V D PDQXIDFWXUHU ZKLFK VHOOV direct , we don’t have the typical 3 and 4 time mark-up, saving customers thousands of dollars. Our modesl are so small no one would know you’re wearing them but you. Come hear what you’re missing. It will change your life.
• Direct Manufacturing Pricing • Free State-of-the-Art Testing • Full Service Centers • 100% Money Back Guarantee • Patented Digital Technology
5890 Bethelview Rd., Ste 10 Cumming • 770-205-5776 Monday-Friday 9:00am–5:00pm
1636 Oakbrook Dr., Ste 8 Gainesville • 770-534-4150 Monday–Friday 9:00am–5:00pm
ZZZ DPELW GGLUHFW FRP
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 47
S P E C I A L
A D V E R T I S I N G
S E C T I O N
BEAUTYbuzz WE LISTENED TO WHAT’S BEING
TA L K E D A B O U T IN THE NORTHSIDE’S
best med spas, plastic surgeons, salons AND patient chairs. POINTS NORTH ATLANTA’S PARTNERS IN COSMETOLOGY AND DENTISTRY SHARE
what’s new and popular WHEN IT COMES TO PROCEDURES FOR
I M P R O V I N G YO U R L O O K .
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SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
BEAUTYbuzz
spas PAMPER A Touch of Hope Day Spa is more than a spa. As a holistic wellness center offering massage therapy, they approach any session with your overall long-term health in mind. Each of the highly sought-after therapists is skillfully trained in their area of work. Each treatment is customized to a client’s needs, whether involving reflexology, skincare, sugaring, sunless tanning, intense pulse light (IPL) laser treatments, Eminence Organic Beauty products or more. In addition, A Touch of Hope is now offering eyelash extensions. The application of faux mink lashes, varying in curl and diameter, to each of your individual eyelashes, creates fullness and length. A Hollywood secret for years, this luxury beauty treatment once only available to the stars is now within your reach. Say goodbye to mascara – you’ll be ready to wake up and go while getting an immediate eye lift that lasts three to four weeks. The lashes are waterproof, non-damaging and pain-free during application. Mention Points North Atlanta to receive $25 off your first set of lashes. DAWSONVILLE 3651 Dawson Forest Road, Suite 100, 706-216-6031, dawsonmassage.com
GLOW Named “Best Medical Spa of Atlanta” for three consecutive years by JEZEBEL Magazine, AYA Medical Spa has been providing patients with a healthy skincare experience for more than 10 years. With three convenient locations, Phipps Plaza, Northside and newly opened Avalon in Alpharetta, AYA offers the latest skincare technology systems and a large variety of minimally invasive treatments for patients of all ages and skin types. What makes cosmetic injectables so popular? Many men and women are concerned about signs of aging. Botox and facial fillers, like Juvéderm Voluma, make great anti-aging treatments because they help do everything from 50 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
plump the lips and cheeks to smooth fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes, nose and mouth. Injectable treatments are FDA-approved, safe, quick, require little to no downtime and help to turn back the clock for three months up to two years – depending on which you choose! How have lasers helped change the skincare game for the better? Sciton skin resurfacing, a one of a kind ablative and nonablative dual laser system, is by far one of the most versatile and technologically-advanced resurfacing lasers today. Harnessing light energy to tighten facial skin and target blemishes on the upper layers of skin, Sciton stimulates new cell growth and eliminates wrinkles, uneven skin tone and other irregularities (like age spots, elasticity, sun damage, melisma and hyperpigmentation). NORTHSIDE 975 Johnson Ferry Road, NE Suite 120 PHIPPS PLAZA 3500 Peachtree Road, Suite H2C AVALON 2130 Avalon Boulevard 678-534-5035, ayaskincare.com
and spa services for guests in Johns Creek, Alpharetta and surrounding areas. Their team of guest service professionals look forward to serving you. Taylor Brooks provides guests with many choices when it comes to new and popular services, such as Easihair and Cinderella extensions, eyelash extensions and wonderful spa treatments like HydraFacials and microdermabrasion. Let them take you away to relaxation through beauty and style. JOHNS CREEK 11705 Jones Bridge Road, Suite B 203 770-772-0510, taylorbrooks.com
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One of Alpharetta’s top med spas, ReNu Cosmetic Clinic offers non-invasive, antiaging, skin rejuvenating treatments, permanent makeup, mink eyelash extensions, microneedling, body contouring, Botox, facial filler, Kybella (the double chin injection to remove stubborn fat) and a comprehensive skincare management program. With specializations in Microblading “3D Hairstroke” Eyebrows, scar revision, Vitiligo Repigmentation and facial injectables, ReNu can help to create a more refreshed and youthful you. Call to book your appointment today for $50 off microneedling and $75 off 3D Hairstroke Eyebrows. Ask about their Anti-Aging Boot Camp (offer valid through Aug. 31).
Dr. Marcia Byrd, medical director of Byrd Aesthetic and Anti-Aging Center and Lipedema Liposuction Center in Roswell, specializes in Water-Jet Assisted Liposuction (WAL), a lymphsparing procedure that offers the only known cure at this time for Lipedema. Dr. Byrd provides world-class surgical options and techniques, taking each patient’s personal concerns and preferences in mind. Lipedema can be one of the most frustrating conditions because it is too often misunderstood and mistaken for common obesity. Most patients do not find Dr. Byrd until they are in excruciating pain or even immobile. The disorder can be distinguished by several characteristics: it occurs almost exclusively in females; some cases have a genetic component, with approximately 60 percent of women noting another woman in the family had a similar condition; affected skin tends to bruise more easily; and it causes pain and discomfort in women of all sizes — from the seriously underweight to the morbidly obese.
ALPHARETTA 3005 Old Alabama Road, Suite 230 770-751-9881, myrenu.com
SHINE Let Taylor Brooks Salon & Spa treat you to a fresh and fabulous look – Taylor-Made for you. Since 2001, Taylor Brooks has offered full salon
Let’s See That Smile! • Serving the Dental Needs of Children Ages 1 to 21 • State-of-the Art Facility • Internet Access & WI-FI Without treatment, Lipedema will continue to progress through its four stages. Whatever stage you are, Dr. Byrd is there to help. Do not be discouraged — take action and get treatment! To understand more, call for a consultation. ROSWELL 11050 B Crabapple Road, 770-587-1711, lipedemaliposuctioncenter.com
• Teens Have Their Own Wing • School Forms • Board Certified Pediatric Dentist serving Atlanta’s Northside for 15 years.
Christy Haffner
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Pediatric Dentist
Dr. Haffner is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist specially trained to treat the dental needs of children. Dr. Haffner is also on staff at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
SLIM DOWN At The Swan Center, world-renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Joseph G. Bauer answers the most commonly asked questions about CoolScupting, with 25 years of surgical experience to his name. Dr. Christy Haffner Pediatric Dentistry
Q: Why choose to offer a non-invasive treatment like CoolSculpting in a plastic surgery practice? A: “Although we are very proud of the results achieved with surgical liposuction, we realized there was a niche to fulfill with our patients; many of them want liposuction but simply do not have the downtime. CoolSculpting is an answer to that. It’s the only FDA-approved procedure apart from liposuction proven to rid your body of unwanted fat deposits permanently. The procedure requires no recovery, no anesthesia and no needles or incisions. It is a fantastic option for those patients who do not wish to undergo surgery in the traditional sense, yet still want incredible results.”
3300 Old Milton Parkway Suite 250 Alpharetta, GA 30005
770-777-9400 www.drchristyhaffner.com
Pediatric Center | 3300 Old Milton Pkwy | Suite 250 | Alpharetta, GA, 30005
• Non-invasive, anti-aging, skin rejuvenating treatments • Permanent Makeup
Q: How long does the procedure take and how much does it cost? A: “Typical CoolSculpting procedures range from two to five hours depending on the areas of the body being treated. This is why it is so important to have your CoolSculpting treatment performed in a facility that is equipped with several devices, which can cut treatment time in half! The Swan Center also has flat screen televisions with Netflix, open Wi-Fi and catering services in all of our Cool Rooms. We make the time spent having this procedure both enjoyable and relaxing. Typical pricing within our CoolSpa can range $700 and up. We also offer additional discounts throughout the year. Only an evaluation with one of our skilled technicians can determine if you are an ideal candidate for the CoolSculpting procedure and the exact total cost. For more
• Mink Eyelash Extensions • Microneedling • Body Contouring • Botox • Facial Filler
• Kybella (the double chin injection to remove stubborn fat) • A comprehensive skincare management program • Specializations in Microblading “3D Hairstroke” Eyebrows, Scar Revision, Vitiligo Repigmentation and Facial Injectables for a more refreshed, youthful you
$50 OFF Microneedling $75 OFF 3D Hairstroke Eyebrows Ask us about our Anti Aging Boot Camp Offer valid through August 31, 2016
G I F T C E R T I F I C AT E S AVA I L A B L E 3005 Old Alabama Road, Suite 230 | ALPHARETTA
770.751.9881 | WWW.MYRENU.COM July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 51
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52 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
BEAUTYbuzz questions, schedule a consultation – it’s complimentary and takes about 30 minutes.” Q: What procedures do you offer that you are most excited about? A: “Our non-invasive vaginal rejuvenation procedure is changing the lives of many of our patients. Just like the rest of your body, your most intimate parts are affected by time, lifestyle habits and childbirth. For the first time, the Swan Center is able to offer a non-invasive, non-surgical solution — ThermiVa. Using a patented thermal energy technology, ThermiVa triggers your body’s natural production of collagen — without the need for anesthesia, needles or surgery of any kind. It’s the finishing touch to any mommy makeover procedure. To better understand your body and discuss if ThermiVa is right for you, schedule an initial consultation with The Swan Center.” ALPHARETTA 4165 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 200 770-667-0904, swancenteratlanta.com
dentistry BRIGHTEN A native of the Alpharetta area and an alumnae of Milton High School, Dr. Christy Haffner has successfully serviced the dental needs of children for 17 years. Her 2016 Patient’s Choice Award from Opencare is proof of this success. As a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist, Dr. Haffner holds a permit for Conscious Sedation, is certified in CPR and Pediatric Advance Life Support. Dr. Haffner believes that early intervention and routine care is vital to good dental health for pediatric and teen patients. Maintaining routine dental care can impact a patient’s appearance into adulthood. A teen’s appearance can be very important to his/her self-esteem. During the teen years the removal of braces after years and sometimes multiple phases can cause discoloration. Dr. Haffner can safely and effectively improve that discoloration resulting in a brighter smile.
Dental health is a priority and Dr. Haffner has created a state-of-the-art environment to treat children and teens that is both comforting and entertaining. ALPHARETTA 3300 Old Milton Parkway, Suite 250 770-777-9400, drchristyhaffner.com
SMILE At Alluring Cosmetic Dentistry, Practice Administrator Diane Mastro sees the extra time and care that Dr. David Mastro puts into his patients daily — more than most dentists do. His 2015 Patient’s Choice Award from Opencare is a testimony to it, too. What sets Alluring Cosmetic Dentistry apart? Dr. Mastro is passionate about providing quality, well-designed dentistry that will stand the test of time. Being a unique artisan in the dental field, the trademark of his dentistry is his
ability to provide aesthetically beautiful, natural-lookingsmiles. In 2014, Dr. Mastro acquired CEREC technology in order to fabricate porcelain crowns and bridges in-house to improve service to our patients. The greatest testimony is the thousands of satisfied patients he has cared for during 30 years of practice. Dr. Mastro is always looking for ways to improve the quality of patient care. For example, he recently attended an international course where he learns new implant techniques at a mission clinic in the Dominican Republic, helping patients obtain top dental care at little to no cost. ROSWELL 800 Mansell Road 770-642-9900 alluringcosmeticdentistry.com
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www.AlluringCosmeticDentistry.com Single appointment porcelain crowns and veneers available! 770-642-9900 | 800 Mansell Road | Roswell, GA
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 53
e r u s a e r !
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TRAILING ANTIQUES IN NORTH GEORGIA written by MARTY STEINER
M
MILE FOR ROLLING MILE, there may be no more diverse and dense antique area than along U.S. Route 441 between the Georgia towns of Dillard and Clayton or even beyond. No matter what your specific interest, there’s a shop for that. Some are meticulously organized, others a jumble to be explored. Antique shops come in many forms. Single shops and antique malls are the most common. Single shops, in particular, range from well-ordered displays with detailed information on the price tags to minimal information, making the search more of a treasure hunt best suited to a well-informed shopper. While most shops are general in their inventory, there are also some very focused specialty shops. Antique malls are more or less a collection of single shops with a mix of all of these styles and offerings. Many feature display cases that represent a single shop, along with booth spaces. Shoppers in this area can encounter country primitive furniture and a large selection of quality collectibles. There is an unusually rich selection of Coca-Cola collectibles as well as men’s items including hunting — and auto racing-related finds. Cast iron cookware as well as children’s books, toys and furniture are in large supply. Prices are quite realistic. Though a number of communities are named, the entire area from Clayton to Dillard, which includes most of the shops described, is only 7 miles! Travelers from the Atlanta area will be pleasantly surprised by the easy four-lane drive, far different from years ago.
DISCOVERING DILLARD In Dillard, home to one of the most concentrated clusters of antique shops I’ve seen, by the time you can put your checkbook away from one shop, you’re already in the next one. The Appalachian Trader is at the south end of this bunch and presents everything in categorized groups, clean and clearly identified with prices. Their inventory takes you back in time to the old farmstead, general store or tender memories in great grandma’s kitchen. “Guy stuff” is prominent — tools, fishing equipment, shaving gear and tobacco-related items. A side room is filled with kitchen utensils and books. Porter’s Coffee House & Collectibles’ name is somewhat misleading as almost all of its fairly large space is filled with heirlooms, not coffee drinkers. Nor is The Dillard Market the local general store. It is an antique mall with a number of case goods including primitive to formal styles. A top-dollar item was a cherry corner cabinet, along with quilts, a number of kitchen cabinets and folk art by Scott Peppers. Next up, Yesterday’s Treasures Antique Mall proudly offers true antiques with PHOTOS COURTESY OF MARTY STEINER; ADOBESTOCK.COM
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 55
ANTIQUE TRAIL
Rabun Manor
SEARCH BEYOND STATE BORDERS For more antique trail tips about Franklin, N.C., visit pointsnorthatlanta.com/ treasure-in-those-hills
Sylvan Falls Mill Bed & Breakfast
50 dealers represented. This means everything from a pressed glass dealer to Victorian quilts and folk art matchstick boxes may be found. Déjà Vu Antiques specializes in glass, china and pottery. Merchandise is clearly identified and displayed properly by maker and pattern. If you know what you are looking for, you can go right to it! They also offer tools including planes and rulers. Carol’s Back Porch Antique Mall is for people who like to search for their prizes. Straight-sided Coke bottles, Coke carriers, milk bottles, insulators and Hull and McCoy pottery are mixed with iceboxes and furniture. Pa’s Front Porch had a few unusual items, including two sets of spurs with silver inlay, a miniature violin (salesman’s sample, maybe?) and a number of children’s cap pistols. Up Yonder Mini Mall is located directly across the highway from all the other Dillard antique shops and upstairs above Lazy Bear Furniture. A sharp-eyed collector will notice a few significant items among a wide selection of material. Among these are a group of seldom-seen, scale-size spring driven cast metal Indianapolis race cars. Close by is a group of engraved newspaper illustrations from the mid-19th century. Perched right above the highway and within sight of the Dillard antique shops, the Rabun Manor is both a bed and breakfast as well as a restaurant. Built in 1846, the rooms and common areas are spacious and formal in spite of the fact that the original structure was a country residence. In addition to five guest rooms in the main house, two additional rooms are provided in nearby cabins. Breakfast is served at a fixed time; fixed price dinners on Friday and Saturday are by reservation.
RESTING IN RABUN GAP Armies may march on their stomachs but antiquers need to refuel with good food and beverage, not to
Many more antique stops and time-honored tables for dining dot the route, awaiting recreational and avid collectors alike. mention an interesting place to stay. Only in Rabun Gap, Ga., can you stay in a room at a grist mill that has been in operation for more than 175 years! The Sylvan Falls Mill Bed & Breakfast is such the place. With only four guest rooms, the B&B is quite informal and very comfy. The screened breakfast room is filled with the steady sound of the waterfall a scant few feet away. At night, this gentle roar could almost lull you to sleep. The “Blue Room” is in the mill house, right off the common area, within earshot of this sound and a few steps from the screened-in dining area. Like anyone’s family room, the common room is filled with favorite books, an album containing the mill’s history, a collection of area restaurant menus and information about a few of the local sites. Some measure of escape from the daily cares is the limited access of cell phones — although WiFi is available — and the nearby distraction of shopping, because the inn is just minutes from Dillard’s many shops. York House Inn has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating inn in the state since 1896. Initially established to house Tallulah Falls Railroad workers, it transitioned to take in travelers and boarders. The historical integrity of the structure has been maintained and it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982. Owner/Operators Stan and Christine Penton have decades of experiPHOTOS COURTESY OF MARTY STEINER; SYLVAN FALLS MILL B&B
56 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
ence in the hospitality field, which is seen particularly at the dining room table.
particularly known for their brisket, cornbread salad and black-eyed pea salad.
MOVING ON TO MOUNTAIN CITY
Many more antique stops and timehonored tables for dining dot the route, awaiting recreational and avid collectors alike. In planning a trip to the Dillard area, the website for Georgia Antique Trail offers
One of the best sources in the area is the Golden Memories Auction Co. in Mountain City. If you are fortunate enough to visit when there is an auction, or smart enough to plan it that way, be sure to stop by and view the material. A recent sale offered more than 350 listed lots. These included country primitive furniture including twig items, Southern pottery, coverlets, musical instruments, baskets, clocks and original art. An upcoming auction July 9 will offer jukeboxes, radios, phonographs, music boxes, vintage motorcycles, bicycles and Coca-Cola items.
information and maps about most of the antique shops in northeast Georgia, as well as the entire state. These can be your guide to your “Happy Hunting Grounds!” PN FOR MORE INFORMATION explorerabun.com georgiaantiquetrail.com
CALLING IT A DAY IN CLAYTON Clayton is the county seat of Rabun County and has its own group of antique venues. Collectors of antique post cards (deltiologists) will have trouble leaving Prater Collectibles. George Prater opens on Friday through Sunday, or by appointment, to customers to peruse his millions of mailings. If you need a break, or time to call your banker for a loan, wife Vicki Prater operates Weekends at Praters adjacent to the post card shop with shakes, coffee, chocolates and biscotti. Another unusual and specialized store is Jowers Antique Appliances, where vintage kitchen appliances are sold, or, if you already have one, restored. Jowers has an international clientele and long lead times for restorations. Lulu and Tully’s Consignment, a new mall-like store, has just opened in Clayton and while not totally limited to antiques, they did have many items of interest to the serious collector. If you still have room in your vehicle and money to spend after your antique shopping, you may want to stop by the Osage Farms market in Rabun Gap and buy local, farm fresh produce, jellies and jams, home baked breads from Our Daily Bread from Ellijay. Right next door to the Osage market is Tomlin’s BBQ, where you can buy their famous sauces or send a “care package” to arrive when you get home. Tomlin’s, open Friday through Sunday, is
From Italy and New York City to you in Atlanta’s Northside! • • •
Open for lunch & dinner, Mon-Sat. Dinner reservations are recommended. Closed July 3-10 for vacation.
Turnkey Catering for Graduations, Communions, Rehearsal Dinners, Sabbath Dinners and Corporate Events. Call Brie: 678.491.8768
11730 A Jones Bridge Road • Johns Creek 770-772-6456 • rosamiaitalian.com
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 57
Guy’s TIME
From the Heart written by CARL DANBURY, JR.
Y
You just never know.
It was an ordinary Monday. I had taken my bloodhound to the vet late in the afternoon, went home, grabbed a handful of pretzel nuggets and a couple bottles of water, and then headed to the tennis courts for practice. Coach Thad was there and so was practice mate Darren. I’m not sure where the other four or five guys were that night, but we began banging balls and the pace was pretty good. After about 30 minutes, I told Thad I needed a water break as I just wasn’t feeling 100 percent. I thought perhaps I should have eaten something more substantial prior to practice. But no worries, a few minutes rest and then back to the task at hand. After another seven minutes or so, I was done for the night. On the 200-yard walk home, a nagging feeling of dread crept into my mind. There was a slight burning sensation in my chest, one that I was totally unfamiliar with, despite 37 years of smoking cigarettes. My wife and 18-year-old daughter were talking at the kitchen table as I entered. I interrupted. I asked my daughter to read the expiration date on the back of a children’s aspirin bottle I had just retrieved. I took one immediately.
58 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
I tried to go to the bathroom. No avail. I burped repeatedly. “Maybe it’s indigestion or heartburn,” my wife offered. I remember feeling a bit clammy. I had an overwhelming, uneasy feeling. I just knew something was wrong. “Honey, I need to go to the hospital. I need to go now!” I said with urgency. “Maybe you just overdid it,” my wife said calmly. Nothside Hospital Forsyth is just five minutes from our house. Had it been six or seven, I likely wouldn’t be writing this. My wife pulled up to the Emergency Room entrance. I sauntered into the lobby and to the registration desk while she parked the car. Honestly, after walking into the lobby, and waiting patiently to catch the attention of the man at the desk, I remember nothing else.
“Mr. Danbury? Mr. Danbury? Can you hear me? Do you know where you are? You have had a heart attack,” a voice persisted. I looked at the clock on the wall. It read 11:45. I had walked through the front doors at about 8:45. What had happened to those three hours, I wondered? A SECOND CHANCE From the time my wife had parked the car and entered into the same doors (two minutes max) I had already collapsed. When she entered, she later explained that she saw five or six people trying to revive me. They performed CPR and then utilized a defibrillator. She thought I was gone. Her mind drifted to how I would miss the weddings of our three girls who have yet to marry. “Mr. Danbury? Mr. Danbury? Can you hear me? Do you know where you are? You have had a heart attack,” a voice persisted. I looked at the clock on the wall. It read 11:45. I had walked through the front doors at about 8:45. What had happened to those three hours, I wondered? Reviewing my medical profile that now reads like a nightmare, I wonder how I survived. Coronary Arteriosclerosis (sudden clots that form in the arteries); Myocardial Infarction (essentially “death of heart muscle” in which blood flow is critically reduced or fully blocked; Hypertensive Disorder (high blood pressure); Hyperlipidemia is a fancy
word for too many lipids – or fats – in the blood (for most, the two better-known terms are high cholesterol and high triglycerides; and Congestive Heart Failure (occurs when your heart muscle doesn’t pump blood as well as it should). Certain conditions like hardening or narrowing of the arteries, high blood pressure, gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently. Simply put, I had been a walking coronary time bomb. Thankfully, full detonation wasn’t yet in the cards! Once my heart began pumping again, Dr. Aman Kakkar, director of the new Cardiac Cath lab at Northside Forsyth and founding member of Heart and Vascular Care, Inc., and his team inserted a stent (used to open blocked arteries) during a procedure called a percutaneous coronary intervention. It is minimally invasive. During CPR and defibrillation, the emergency team trying to keep me alive cracked six of my ribs, a painful yet happy reminder of why I am still alive.
ANGELS AMONG US So, that’s the backstory for what began as an eight-day hospital odyssey at Northside Forsyth. My previous longest stay in confinement was less than 12 hours. This one, however, was one marked with uncertainty, pain, guilt and sleeplessness, yet at the same time an incredible reminder of the presence of angels who perform the relatively thankless tasks of patient (and familial) care, rehabilitation, empathy, compassion, encouragement, sensitivity and timing. Of course, many of my friends and family share those same traits, but I think we are more apt to expect it from them. Having not previously been exposed to hospital staffers for an extended period of time as a patient, the level of care I received from these strangers was exemplary, and became an extraordinarily humbling experience. Upon exiting the emergency services section, I was sent to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for a few days. Honestly,
July 2016 | PointsNorthAtlanta.com | 59
Guy’s TIME
p I don’t remember much as I was well sedated during my time there. I was hooked up to oxygen and a myriad of IV tubes including the pain medication that provided some ability to rest. Through my foggy and agitated state, I was fortunate to have met a group of nurses that encouraged me through these first few days of agony, caused more by the broken ribs and the possibility of pneumonia than anything heart related. Ana, Angela, Candace, Sandra, Petrena and Meredith set the course for helping me recover. The primary goal for both the patient and the nursing staff is to exit the ICU as quickly as possible. The longer you to stay in that unit, essentially, means the longer you will be hospitalized, or worse. While the ICU nurses at Northside Forsyth are lovely, private rooms in the Progressive Care Unit (PCU) are more appealing, and eminently more hopeful. In the PCU, as the pain medication lessened and my awareness became more acute, the incredible elements of care became more meaningful. Richard, Clayton, Heather, John, Alma, Corey, Katie May and Kelly Ann were more than nurses! Each acted as a confidant or cheerleader, and reacted to my questions and requests, and those from my family members, reasonably and tactfully. I felt as if they were going well beyond providing a standard response. And, the standard provided by the Patient Care Technicians (PCTs) in the PCU at Northside also was inspiring. The PCTs have thankless jobs, such as 60 | POINTS NORTH | July 2016
bathing you, making you comfortable, emptying receptacles, changing bedclothes and more. They typically work for an hourly wage, but their encouragement, calming influence and expressions of love or genuine concern is priceless. Danielle, Assumpta, Maria, Luke, Jonathan and Elen made me feel like Jesus himself was washing my feet during my stay. It was truly remarkable how a visit from one of them made my days brighter. Another thankless position is a respiratory therapist who administers various breathing exercises (punishment) during a hospital stay to help patients avoid pneumonia by helping to strengthen lung functions. Those joyful exercises via nebulizers and volumetric exercisers (spirometers) are a necessary evil, but I am certain I didn’t welcome those fine individuals with open arms. But John, Angeline, Sara, Janie, Sajee, Tolulope, Virlande, Iccsho, Denny and Judith were instrumental in my recovery, and my ability to exit the hospital more quickly than was first imagined. Breathing, coughing, sneezing and laughing with broken ribs are unpleasant undertakings, but this team encouraged me despite my protests. Our paths crossed again with an old friend, the mother of one of our sons’ best friends from high school, who happens to be an RN clinical supervisor at the hospital. Thanks Sharon, for checking in on us! The team of doctors from Heart and Vascular Care and Georgia Pulmonary & Critical Care Consultants, particularly Dr.
Vikram Khetpal and Dr. Sunil Vallurupalli were patient and very forthcoming with excellent information. And now, I am in the great hands of the cardiac rehabilitation team at Northside, where I get to see Teri, Michell, Danielle, Vanessa, Morgan and Rochelle Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week for an hour or more. I am happy to be in Phase III and look forward to graduation later this summer. I do appreciate your willingness to educate and oversee my progress.
FROM THE HEART Not all conditions that lead to heart failure can be reversed, but there are many subtle lifestyle changes that can improve your chances to avoid what I encountered April 18. Sometimes, it cannot be avoided at all but precaution often is the best medicine. Many of us are too stubborn, too busy, too stupid or too scared to get checked out on a regular basis. I suggest it is well worth avoiding the experience of my eight days in the hospital, and subsequent 40 days of convalescence no matter how great the care or how great the people that I met. For now, let me just finish by telling each of those individuals that have been part of my recovery: Thank you and God Bless you! I am grateful to you not only for extending my life but also for making it a better one. PN
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Taste BASED IN Asheville, N.C., Tupelo Honey Café opened its first Georgia location in the new Gateway development on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs. The café features scratch-made, reimagined Southern food and classic dishes highlighting Southern ingredients prepared in its open kitchen. A social atmosphere and communal spirit invites guests to share innovative, small plates like a tempting fried avocado topped with fresh tomato salsa, cilantro and whipped sour cream; Creole Scallop Sofrito featuring two scallops with a smoky and spicy tomato Creole sauce atop a petite kale salad; and grilled watermelon salad over spicy arugula with honey yogurt dressing, topped with country ham and candied basil. Entrée options include the signature, slow-roasted “Wampus Cat” ribs smothered in a maple pepper bourbon glaze; its “Shoo Mercy” pancake — Tupelo Honey Café’s famous sweet potato pancake — topped with whipped
peach butter, spiced pecans, buttermilk fried chicken, apple cider bacon and maple syrup; Tupelo Shrimp & Grits and the Dastardly Gentleman Ribeye. Enjoy the “mac-smack-ncheese” special on Thursdays or Tupelo Honey Café’s Fried Chicken Tower. These four pieces of amazing fried chicken, biscuits and sides are available after 4 p.m. on Sunday and Wednesday evenings, served family-style and only while supplies last. Tyler Alford, beverage di-
Try “Shoo Mercy” pancakes at Tupelo Honey Café’s new Sandy Springs outpost. Brunch service begins July 16.
rector, envisioned a value-oriented, approachable program featuring local, seasonal craft beers, a creative mixed drink menu along with four seasonal draft cocktails (including a peach sweet tea frozen daiquiri) and an inspired wine list with a balance of imported
and domestic selections that nicely complement the menu. The first Tupelo Honey Café location, founded in 2000, is located at 12 College Street in Asheville. According to Regional Operations Manager Jessica Hammond, that location is quaint, always bustling
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and somewhat different than some of the new generation locations like the one that just opened in Sandy Springs. “I was a fan of Tupelo Honey Café long before I was a part of it,” Hammond exclaimed. “There is an aura about the original location, a sense of experience. It’s not just going out to eat. We based our entire concept around the culture that was first established in downtown Asheville. While Atlanta might not be exactly like our first location, in terms of size or feel, here, we are creating trends and pushing the edge.” A large inviting outdoor patio and the gorgeous, spacious bar area invites gatherings for groups of friends or associates. Numerous opportunities for sharing drinks and menu items offer guests conviviality, and they are certain to appreciate the happy hour menu every Sunday through Thursday with reduced-price small plates, in addition to draft beer, wine and cocktail specials. Open for dinner seven days a week, with weekend brunch beginning July 16. Weekday lunches start July 18. tupelohoneycafe.com
Craft BELLY UP TO THE BAR and sip on something new. Founder Matt Shirah and co-founder
Travis Herman of Scofflaw Brewing Co. are bringing a new flavor to the South. Shirah said the birth of their signature Southern craft beer came from locking themselves in a basement with “thousands of beers, one brewhouse and a microscope” until the thinking, collaborating and arguing became Scofflaw Brewing Co. You can find them in northwest Atlanta’s Bolton neighborhood serving up tropical and hop forward IPAs, pale ales and an imperial barrel-aged stout. Keep a look out for their tasting room, opening soon! facebook.com/ scofflawbrewingco — Lauren Vastine
Bloom LILACS, hydrangeas, perennials, oh my! The new Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville, located off Cleveland Highway, boasts 5 acres of nationally recognized plant collections in an impressive multi-season garden. The new extension offers not only flora as far as the eye can follow, but a contemporary visitor’s center, 2,000seat amphitheater, a model train garden and a state-ofthe-art greenhouse. Connecting visitors to the wonders of the natural world is one of the Garden’s main
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TUPELO HONEY CAFÉ; HEIDI GELDHAUSER
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goals. Visitors also have access to the beautiful green space to enjoy outdoor concerts. Upcoming shows include Indigo Girls July 16 and Loretta Lynn with special guest Mountain Faith Aug. 13. Garden President and CEO Mary Pat Matheson called the opening of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Gainesville “a dream come true.” atlantabotanicalgarden.org — Lauren Vastine
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A LONGTIME DESTINATION for Thomas Arvid art lovers, Vinings Gallery is raising a glass to the opening of an additional location in historic Roswell. Immediately upon entering the 938 Canton Street space that formerly housed Painted Monkey, repeat visitors will recognize the trademark unique and contemporary vibe: a portfolio of emerging artists as well as an impressive collection of 3-D elements such as sculpture and fine art glass. Open daily, the Vinings Gallery on Canton will also continue the tradition of one-man shows and events. Check their schedule to plan a time to hang out and find just the right original or limited edition piece to hang in your home. viningsgallery.com
Gaze EXPERIENCE ArtAround Roswell, the city’s first outdoor sculpture tour displaying pieces of art in selected Roswell park areas. The City of Roswell has partnered with the Roswell Arts Fund to create a culturally rich experience while promoting community involvement in the city. The exhibit is open now through December and will feature a variety of sculptures from the whimsical to the educational, some available for purchase. Each month will feature planned entertainment, recreation and education opportunities for guests to enjoy. Guests are also encouraged to pose with the sculptures and share their photos on social media using the hashtag “#artaroundroswell” for a chance to win a prize in the exhibit’s monthly contests. By the end of the exhibit, one of the sculptures will be gifted to the city to keep on permanent display. Hurry to the “museum without walls” today. artaroundroswell.org — Lauren Vastine
Adventure JUNE MAY HAVE been nationally recognized as Great Outdoors Month, but don’t let PHOTO COURTESY OF VININGS GALLERY
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July’s arrival keep you indoors — especially when the Aerial Adventure Park is now open at Unicoi State Park and Lodge in Helen. Consisting of 11 ziplines and seven suspended bridges with varying heights and lengths that appeal to beginners and thrill-seekers alike, the Aerial Adventure Park will get hearts racing — all while strapped in the industry’s safest harness system. While airborne, take in panoramic views of the park’s expansive greenery, as well as surrounding lakes and mountains … maybe even spot a bald eagle or a red-tailed hawk too. At $59 per adventurer, the price includes all necessary gear, guides and a full two hours of fun on the course. Extend your stay and immerse yourself in the Georgia State Park with paddleboards, S’mores around the campfire, fly fishing classes, wilderness hikes and more. Nightly room rates at Unicoi Lodge start at $109. unicoilodge.com
Produce THE EARL SMITH STRAND Theatre on the Marietta Square is calling all students ages 14 to 18 to be part of the “P.O.V Storytelling Workshop: A Cultural Experience in Short Filmmaking.” The Strand will guide students for two weeks (July 11 to 15 and 18 to 22) through the multi-layered production system of filmmaking, incorporating different perspectives and supplying first-hand knowledge from film and writing professionals in the industry. Students will be tested creatively and given the opportunity to learn story-concept and editing skills. At the end of the program,
one short film per group will be produced and premiered by the students at a red carpet screening. Move over, Spielberg! earlsmithstrand.org — Lauren Vastine
Participate BRING ON THE BIKES, bring on the riders, bring on the fundraising. While the Georgia Chapter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society will hold its 30th annual Bike MS: Cox Atlanta Peach Ride in October, now is the time to start training and fundraising. The event, the chapter’s largest fundraiser, has a new one-day option and everyone involved is hoping for this year to be the biggest and best yet. Cumming resident, Jean Welch DeRosa is training for the ride and raising money for her son Spencer who was diagnosed with MS at the age of 38. “As a mother, I felt helpless,” said the 63-year-old DeRosa. “When our friends told us about the ride, we were all in! Bike MS is such a meaningful experience and … an opportunity to help free the world of Multiple Sclerosis.” DeRosa and her husband, both recreational bike riders on a team called Blazing Saddles, are looking forward to their third year of participating. The Bike MS: COX Atlanta Peach Ride raises more than $1 million every year and provides a premier cycling experience with time to enjoy beautiful countryside and hospitality along the way. For more information about Bike MS and the 2016 ride, contact event manager Brooks Palmerton at 678-534-3588. nationalMSsociety.org
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After THOUGHTS If nothing was holding you back, where in the U.S. would you roam? “I’ve always wanted to visit Yellowstone National Park and see all the beautiful natural wonders along with the wildlife that still exist in such an amazing place. It would be like going back in time and seeing what the West was like before civilization took over.” — Witt
“Hiking through slot canyons in Arizona and Utah, specifically Wave Canyon, where only 20 daily permits are issued through the Bureau of Land Management. The colors and sweeping rock formations look magical.” — Tiffany
“Everywhere! My husband and I would pack up our two kids, buy a Fifth Wheel [travel trailer] and a vehicle big enough to pull it and hit the road. Our dream would be to take a year ‘off ’ and visit as many national parks, historic locales and scenic wonders as possible. It would be an adventure with many ups and downs, but oh, what an adventure it would be.” — Shannah
“I would be roaming through Yellowstone first, then the Grand Tetons.” — George “I am going to search the entire South for the best porches upon which to relax or sleep. Like Charlotte, N.C.’s The Duke Mansion, which was originally built by James Buchanan Duke in 1915 as a private residence, and now incorporates shared sleeping porches for six of its 20 rooms that can be reserved on a nightly basis.” — Carl
“Let me check the Amtrak schedule and get back to you.” — Colleen
Share your answer with us on social media using #PNAfterThoughts
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