Simply Buckhead June 2022

JUNE 2022

ISSUE 87 • FREE

Your Guide to Living Well in Atlanta

Serving Buckhead, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Upper Westside

NEW WELLNESS STUDIOS UNIQUE SUMMER EVENTS SPRUCED UP GARDENING TOOLS

Collector's Edition

INVESTMENT PIECES, COLLECTIBLES AND THE ENTHUSIASTS WHO LOVE THEM

Unstoppable starts here in Atlanta

Your unstoppable spirit keeps you focused on the future.

At First Horizon Bank, our financial guidance helps point the way forward so you’re ready to make it happen without hesitation.

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©2022 First Horizon Bank. Member FDIC.

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SIMPLY BUCK HEAD ®

JUNE 2022

Contents 18 76 30

XX

Photos: 30: Joann Vitelli, 70, 76: Sara Hanna, 88: Monica Farber

28 88

70 12 Editor's Letter

UP FRONT 14 NEWS Color Me Happy Unleash your inner artist at new paint studio in Sandy Springs

15 LOCAL SALUTE Wrongly Convicted Turning a negative into a positive

18 LIVING THE LIFE Michael Lanfreschi

26 STAYCATION To Dine For

36 BULLETIN BOARD Real Estate Readiness

Brookhaven resident kicks his longtime passion for car racing into a new gear by building his own race car

A stay at the Hyatt Centric Buckhead brings food and beverage delights

How to survive the fast-changing market

21 APPROVED Everything’s Coming Up Roses

28 STAYCATION Stately City Stay History, eclectic style and gracious hospitality at Stonehurst Place

Gardening gear at its finest

24 TRAVEL NEAR Sleeping In History A sun-soaked getaway to one ofFlorida’s historic resorts

LIVING 30 HOME High-Rise Overhaul

38 TRENDING Dark and Stormy Maximalism gets moody

40 TASTEMAKER Painterly Pursuits Artist Hayden Gregg breathes new life into furniture, walls and floors

➥

A 1980s condo is skillfully renewed

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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JUNE 2022

Contents CULTURE

42 FASHION It’s in the Bag

60 ON STAGE A Movable Feast

Two cousins bring Africa to Atlanta through handbags

Skye Estroff hits the road for tales of tasty towns

44 BEAUTY Vein, Vein, Go Away

62 PROFILE Rockin' The Room

Zap those spidery lines into non-existence

DJ Grace L’Amour sets the tone with her extensive music know-how

46 WELLNESS Well Visits

64 TASTEMAKER Picture This

New studio openings, from fitness to health care

Brookhaven photographer makes a specialty of street scenes

48 TASTEMAKER Fashion Rescue

65 EVENTS Places to go and things to do

Joanne Credi Fredo curates your second-hand style

COVER STORY

FAMILY

70 Fashion Archive Marlo Hampton’s collection enters showroom territory

54 KIDS Social Media Savvy

simplybuckhead.com

@livingwellatl

@simplybuckhead Joann Vitelli

STYLISH

72 Fast, Not Furious

72 Music Man Getting personal with autographed memorabilia

73 Affectionately Acquired Expert advice for how to start a collection and why you should

74 Lightning in a Bottle

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DELICIOUS Joann Vitelli

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Dishing on the new Buckhead location of Recess

74 Smitten by Staffordshire

A collection’s beauty could be aesthetic, financial or both

B E HIND THE COV ER

82 FOODIE JOURNAL Feel Good Food

Nikki Seaman is changing the way Atlantans snack

75 Artistic Assets

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Add a kick to your bar cart, sans alcohol

84 TASTEMAKER Innovating with Olives

56 PETS Paddling With Your Pup

Chitchat with your aging loved ones matters

80 DRINKS Spirited Sips

Wine enthusiast Brandon Lewis has “grape” expectations for his collection

Paige Minear’s passion for antique pottery

58 STRATEGIES Talk The Talk

@simplybuckhead

Simon Guobadia loves the luxury of the latest European cars

Teaching teens online responsibility

Hit the water with your dog using these guidelines

FI N D U S ON L I N E

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Icons: Freepik.com

S I M PLY B UC KHEA D ®

76 REVIEW Poetic Plates Dazzling Persian fare at Rumi’s Kitchen

86 Featured Restaurants A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead

88 Charitable A spotlight on philanthropic and social gatherings

92 Scene

Stepping into “Real Housewives of Atlanta” personality Marlo Hampton’s Sandy Springs home is like entering a fashion wonderland. Every element is collected and curated to perfection, so it was only natural that the famously styleobsessed star appear on the cover of our collection-themed issue. It was truly a team effort, with the Simply Buckhead team bringing our photographer, assistants and producer and Hampton bringing her creative minds, hair, makeup, florist and long-time stylist. She let us into her bedroom and to-die-for closet, where just about every major designer was represented, to produce the stunning photos that grace our cover and our cover story. Très chic!

SIMPLY BUCKHEAD TEAM Photographer: Sara Hanna

Dress by Valentino, necklace by Oscar de la Renta. All clothing and accessories are archived items available at Le'Archive. le-archive.com; @le__archive

Makeup: Timothy Clark

Producer: Jennifer Bradley Franklin Photography assistants: Chris Rothman, Judd Redmond Videographer: Al Hayes MARLO HAMPTON’S TEAM Creative director/stylist: Justin Perry Stylist: Paige Metcalf Shoot coordinator and management: Tye Perry Hair: Christopher Kyle Florals: Adrian Cawthon for Designer Productions

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JUNE 2022

ISSUE 87

Editor's Letter

A

Serving Buckhead, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Upper Westside

s a child, I made it my mission to collect silver

P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355

spoons to commemorate various occasions—

ballet performances, trips taken with my grandparents

simplybuckhead.com

and even a move to Georgia. I lovingly polished and

For advertising rates, call: 404.538.9895

displayed them in diminutive racks, always looking for the next one. While I haven't kept up with adding to

Joanne Hayes Publisher and Founder

my haul, it gave me a taste of what drives others.

Sonny Hayes Chief Financial Officer

In our “Collection Affection” cover story, we profile five

EDITORIAL

locals who have turned a passing fancy into a full-fledged

Karina Antenucci

mission, including our cover model, “Real Housewives of

Managing Editor

Atlanta” star Marlo Hampton who has enough luxury de-

Senior Contributing Editor

Jennifer Bradley Franklin

signer fashion items to make anyone’s head spin. If you’re

Alan Platten

an aspiring collector, we also have two service-oriented

Giannina S. Bedford

Creative Director

stories about how to get started and how to make smart

Contributing Home Editor

financial decisions when it comes to your assemblage.

Copy Editor

H.M. Cauley

We know you’ll find plenty there to inform and inspire.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

H.M. Cauley Carly Cooper Caroline Eubanks Lauren Finney Harden Hailey Hudson Mickey Goodman Angela Hansberger Michael Jacobs Denise K. James Nicole Letts Amy Meadows Hope Philbrick Claire Ruhlin Ginger Strejcek

Across the rest of our pages, there’s other news you can use. In our Kids column, Giannina S. Bedford taps experts for tips on how to help older kids and teens use social media responsibly; beverage writer Angela Hansberger shares some of the best non-alcoholic drink offerings from The Zero Proof; and Lauren Finney Harden explores how to capitalize

addition, three travel stories

Cheryl Isaacs

and a host of profiles of our

Senior Account Executive

neighbors offers interesting,

Account Executive

Sara Hanna

Michelle Johnson

important experiences.

Layal Akkad Graphic Designer

Jennifer Bradley Franklin

DIGITAL

Senior Contributing Editor

Website Development Management

BHG Digital Mike Jose Director of Audience Development

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PROUD SPONSOR OF

SALES & ADVERTISING

will inspire you to take a trip,

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

Denise K. James is an independent writer and editor based in Atlanta with clients in Birmingham, Charleston, Jacksonville and across the South. James’ contributions are featured in numerous print and digital publications. She penned Simply Buckhead’s event stories in this issue.

Additionally, she’s the editor of Birmingham Lifestyle and a contributing editor for Southern Flavor and Mount Pleasant Magazine. James enjoys exploring Atlanta, cooking and reading great literature.

Emily Followill Sara Hanna Joann Vitelli

in the Trending column. In

Happy reading, friends!

Denise K. James

PHOTOGRAPHERS

on maximalist home decor

We know you’ll enjoy it.

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

Copyright © 2022 by Simply Buckhead ®.

All rights reserved.

Printed by Walton Press, Inc. Distributed by Distributech and Distribution Services Group.

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LEGAL

Scott I. Zucker Legal Counsel

PROUD MEMBER OF

NEWS

LO CA L SA LU T E

LIVING THE LIFE

APPROVED

T R AV E L

UP FRONT

"It's pretty cool to get out on a track and know that you've built that entire machine."

Living The Life: Michael Lanfreschi Page 18 Starting with a kit and some basic knowledge, this car enthusiast built a sleek racing machine with his own two hands.

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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NEWS

BY

Ginger Strejcek

COLOR ME HAPPY

Unleash your inner artist at new paint studio in Sandy Springs

L

et loose, make a mess and create a masterpiece that would do Jackson Pollock proud at The Splatter Studio in Sandy Springs. Just opened at Parkside Shops on Roswell Road, the splashy space is wrapped in 9,000 square feet of canvased floors, walls and ceilings, and offers an action-packed painting experience for all ages and abilities.

Given free range to color outside the lines, poncho-draped partic-

ipants can fling, flick, dapple and drip to their heart’s desire, dipping into a rainbow bright palette of paint cans with brush, tool or their own two hands as they transform a 16-by-20-inch canvas or plain white T-shirt into an eye-popping work of art. The in-house creative team is ever ready with tips and tricks to bump up the fun.

“Our guests love the therapeutic nature of the experience,” says art-

ist Jenna Rees, chief brand officer of The Splatter Studio, which was founded by Binders Art Supplies and Frames owner Howard Krinsky. “There are so many amazing paintings that have come out of the studio! A lot of people who don’t consider themselves creative truly surprise themselves.”

Quadruple the size of the Virginia-Highland location, this second outpost features 20

individual paint stations spaced 4 feet apart, new menu options such as 3D add-ons and BYO surfaces, a paint bar, immersive events and themed nights.

One-hour sessions are $55 with supplies provided. Walk-in, make a reservation or book a private party; outside beverages permitted. n THE SPLATTER STUDIO • 404.487.3820 thesplatterttudio.com • @thesplatterstudio

NEWS CLIPS ON THE BOARDWALK Nature lovers can scope out Canadian geese, mallards, beavers and more on the new boardwalk being constructed at the north end of Murphey Candler Park in Brookhaven. Set to be complete by the end of summer, the 527-foot elevated wooden walkway will provide access across the wetlands at the 120-acre park. “With our park bond projects completed or in the works, it’s going to get even better with a beautiful lake house available to the

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public that will provide community space, while the new south trail and playground are already becoming resident favorites,” says District 1 Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem Linley Jones. brookhavenga.gov @brookhavengagov

GAME ON Level up for epic action at Uptown Atlanta. The Buckhead development is emerging as a key player in the esports world, as tenants Skillshot

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Media and Ghost Gaming join forces to create the largest gaming media platform in the Southeast, under the ownership of Resurgens Gaming.

Targeting Millennial and Gen-Z audiences in the $170 billion video game industry, expanded partnership offerings include a new team headquarters and esports academy to boost fandom by Ghost Gaming, and live esports events hosted by Skillshot Media as part of its B2B services. “This is exactly the kind of future-forward experience we

want to provide to the community,” says Mahesh Mani, senior VP of asset management at Rubenstein Partners, the firm leading redevelopment efforts. uptownatlanta.com • @uptownatlanta

ON A ROLL Business is booming in Dunwoody, where Carvana, the country’s fastest growing online used car dealer, is opening a customer experience center on Perimeter Center Parkway that’s expected to bring 3,500 jobs

to town over the next few years.

The newly leased 569,000-squarefoot space at Park Center 1 expands the local footprint of the Fortune 500 company that already employs more than 1,500 in metro Atlanta, its largest market. “This is a tremendous addition to the Perimeter market,” says Dunwoody Mayor Lynn Deutsch, noting that the city just became the new headquarters for international shipping company Hapag-Lloyd. carvana.com • @carvana

LOCAL SALUTE

Zeus Luby works with law enforcement to help prevent recividism.

BY

Mickey Goodman

Wrongly Convicted Turning a negative into a positive

The 2022 co-chairs of the Seeds of Change Society Luncheon Elizabeth Bresnahan and Melba Wynn Hill with BCM President and CEO Keeva Kase.

Preventing Homelessness Financial education is key In 1987, a group of Atlanta churches came together to form the Buckhead Christian Community Ministry.

Its mission is to prevent homelessness by providing emergency assistance, supportive housing and financial education for single Atlanta women who live in poverty.

To help, the organization offers Budget for Life, a 12-month program that helps build the skills they need to become financially stable.

Melba Wynn Hill was on the Missions Committee at the Church at Wieuca and assigned to BCM. After she completed her service on the board, she joined a group of women in a giving circle called the Seeds of Change Society. The first fundraiser

was a luncheon that became an annual event. Hill co-hosted this year’s 10th anniversary gathering at the Cherokee Town & Country Club in April.

“I’ve always been passionate about helping women and children avoid homelessness,” she says. “It all starts with a strong foundation, and at SOC, we give people that opportunity.”

The Seeds of Change Society has supported BCM’s mission for 10 years by raising awareness and resources for programs, says Keeva Kase, president and CEO of BCM. “They are truly doing God’s work.”

BUCKHEAD CHRISTIAN MINISTRY bcmgeorgia.org • @bcmgeorgia

When Zeus Luby was 17, he was falsely arrested under charges that resulted in two felony convictions.

It took seven years of fighting the authorities to fix a clerical error and have his record expunged.

To help other young people who have been arrested, he signed on as the director of programming at Rehabilitation Enables Dreams, a restorative justice program with headquarters in Sandy Springs. “On average, 60% of those who have been incarcerated return to prison, but recidivism among our graduates is 10%,” he says.

RED works with district attorneys in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties who identify 40 men who have been arrested for minor crimes as potential participants for each of the one-year programs. Luby conducts extensive interviews, and 25 are chosen. The program encompasses education, emotional issues, anger manage-

ment, health, entrepreneurship, voting and civil rights, and civil literacy.

Volunteer mentors also undergo an extensive vetting process before being matched with participants.

Each month, the entire group gets together for either a fun activity or to work in the community. “We want to show them how to build it up instead of tear it down,” Luby says.

Once they graduate, their cases are dismissed, and their records are expunged. They receive help with education, employment and housing. To date, approximately 100 have graduated. Funding comes primarily from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, individual donors and an annual football tournament at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

REHABILITATION ENABLES DREAMS • 404.487.9501 stoprecidivism.org • @stop_recividism

Eating Disorders on the Rise Stemming the tide Eating disorders became personal in 2016 for Sandy Springs resident Marci Soran when her then 17-yearold son, a runner, confessed he was anorexic. To delve deeper, she checked out his Facebook page and learned he was already working with EDucation and INsight on Eating Disorders (EDIN). At 23, he’s thriving as a student at the University of Cambridge.

The same post contained an ad from EDIN seeking applicants for an executive director. It was a perfect fit for Soran’s desire to work for a nonprofit, her experience as a business owner marketing for health charities and her track record of turning failing businesses around.

She landed the job in 2017.

“EDIN’s goal is to help children develop a healthy relationship with food, a challenge when social media projects millions of pictures of people with unrealistic body images,” she says. To combat the barrage, the organization provides evidence-based curriculum in person and online to help schools recognize the symptoms, certifies high school coaches through the Running on Empty program and

Marci Soran helps kids develop a healthy relationship with food.

offers Be Real/EDIN, a course for teachers who receive Continuing Education credits. It also offers resources for anyone wanting to learn more about eating disorders.

“Eating disorders skyrocketed during COVID-19,” Soran says. “In America, there are 20 million women and 10 million men with eating disorders, and someone dies every 62 minutes. Sufferers don’t get better by themselves. They need help.”

EDUCATION AND INSIGHT ON EATING DISORDERS • 404.465.3385 myedin.org • @bodypositivitywithedin

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GEIGER INSPIRED SOUTH CAROLINA PROPERTIES

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LIVING THE LIFE

MICHAEL LANFRESCHI

Brookhaven resident kicks his longtime passion for car racing into a new gear by building his own race car As told to Amy Meadows

M

y dad was big into cars, and he passed that passion on to me. When I was a teenager, I got my first car to work on, improving it and making it better. While we were a car-loving family, we were never really into car racing. That’s a passion I developed later on my own. As I started watching different types of racing on television, I got more interested and wanted to pursue it myself.

I started racing Autocross in 2010.

I began competitive racing in a Corvette. It was actually my daily driver that I used to commute from my home in Brookhaven to my finance job with the Gwinnett County government. I didn’t have a dedicated race car, but I wanted

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to get to that point. I had a lot of discussions with friends and other people in the racing community to figure out what I should get. A race car can be extremely expensive. I wanted something that would be competitive in the field but was also a good value. I found the Factory Five 818 car kit that you selfassemble using a Subaru WRX engine and chassis. Once assembled, it’s a competitive race car that weighs only 1,800 pounds. When a car is lighter, it accelerates faster, handles better and brakes faster.

When it came to building the car, I had a basic knowledge from the work I had done as a teenager.

I thought that would be enough to tackle this project, but it was more

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complicated than I expected. Sometimes the kit instructions weren’t specific, and I also had to fabricate some parts myself. For instance, when you bring a car to a racetrack, it has to have a windshield wiper.

There was no wiper in this car, so I had to design a system. I turned to my brother, Matt, who is a master technician for several car manufacturers, and he often became my go-to resource for good solutions.

I began building the car in a rented warehouse space in Tucker, and I was eventually able to move the project to my home. It took me 4.5 years to complete. Right now, the car is red because it’s 100% fiberglass, and the gel coating is red. One of the last things I plan to do is personalize the car, maybe using a vinyl wrap or paint. Much of my family is in Italy, so I want to do an Italian theme. For now, I’m working on registering the car in Georgia to make it street legal, which is a long process, but I am able to trailer the car to different locations and do performance driving experiences at places such as Road Atlanta and Atlanta Motorsports Park. That gives me a chance to learn the car and drive it at speed [0 to 60 mph in 3.8 seconds and up to 137.9 mph].

Then I’m looking to move into competitive time trials and ultimately get my racing license. I

MY FAVORITE LOCAL CAR SHOW I’ve been going to the Caffeine and Octane car show as a spectator for years.

It’s one of the biggest car shows in the United States, held the first Sunday of each month at Perimeter Mall. I am so excited to have finished a project that I will be able to bring and show to other people. Mine is a pretty rare car. In fact, there are only about 700 of them on the planet, and not all of them are completed. I’m excited to share it with other car enthusiasts at the show, which is one of my favorites to attend.

CAFFEINE AND OCTANE caffeineandoctane.com @caffeineandoctane

would love to join a professional race team one day.

It can be a bit nerve-wracking, but it’s pretty cool to get out on a track and know that you’ve built that entire machine. The adrenaline rush is excellent; there’s nothing like getting into the zone with your car. It’s a big accomplishment, and I’ve learned so much through this process. I can take all that knowledge and use it for any of my racing moving forward. I also have the confidence now to take on any type of challenge that may come my way. n MICHAEL LANFRESCHI • @factoryfiveracing

Maggie Schreck, PA-C is a highly-skilled and sought-after injector treating patients in the Buckhead location of Truffles Medispa. Maggie is an injector trainer for both Allergan (the makers of Botox Cosmetic, the Juvederm portfolio, and Kybella) and Galderma (the makers of Dysport, the Restylane portfolio, and Sculptra Aesthetic). Maggie is also one of the very few injectors who trains physicians and other practitioners throughout the State of Georgia in the use of Sculptra Aesthetic for both the face and body. With more than fourteen years of injectable experience, Maggie specializes in Non-Surgical Aesthetic Rejuvenation.

She is a true artist who loves working with patients to help them achieve their aesthetic

maggie schreck

goals. She is known for her excellent bedside manner, exceptional patient care, and innovative treatments that cannot be found at other practices. Maggie obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Fine Arts from Miami University of Ohio and her Physician Assistant degree from Yale University. In addition to her extensive experience as an injector, Maggie has worked in the field of plastic surgery since 2007 assisting in surgery, preoperative care, and postoperative care. Maggie is a native of upstate New York and lives in Atlanta with her husband and two children.

Maggie Schreck, PA-C

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Everything’s Coming Up Roses The beginning of summer signifies warmer temperatures, longer days and extra time to participate in soul-serving hobbies such as gardening. Whether you’re a novice plant parent or an experienced landscaper, having the right equipment is half the battle. Consider these beautifully designed pieces when planting your cucumbers, sunflowers and more this month.

POVL Eve Round Teak Planter ($997)

STORY:

Lauren Finney Harden

At over 2 feet in diameter, this teak and metal planter will hold all your green-thumb desires in terms of flowers, plants or herbs.

The teak keeps it weather-resistant, and it will patina to a nice finish. Grab two for a scene-stealing doorstep moment.

Alix Trough with Trellis ($1,299) Inspired by a classic design found in the New York Botanical Gardens archives, this trough with trellis is a prize place to cultivate vines and flowers in your garden. It’s made of cast aluminum and has a hand-applied zinc finish to bring a touch of refined luxury to the piece. More of a houseplant aficionado? You can also use it indoors.

Frontgate Phipps Plaza • 404.841.7170 frontgate.com • @frontgate

AuthenTEAK • 404.474.4816 authenteak.com • @authenteakoutdoorliving

Stainless Steel Watering Can ($59)

Hunter Boots Play Clog ($75)

Lola Hats Marquee Woven Visor ($220) Sun protection can be chic, as this woven raffia visor from Lola Hats proves. A leather closure levels up this gardening essential that can double as a beach accessory. The closure opens up to allow the visor to lie completely flat, so you can travel with it or store it compactly.

Try a pop of pink to match your roses with these sturdy but eye-catching clogs. Crafted in Scotland, these shoes featuring sealed rubber to make them the hardest-working pieces in your wardrobe. It doesn’t hurt that once you’re done playing in the dirt you can wear them out and about with just as much enthusiasm.

Make the chore of watering your plants a beautiful moment in your day with this modern, stainless steel watering can. The shape will make reaching hanging plants a cinch, and the narrow spout helps keep spills to a minimum. Plus, it looks good perched on a gardening bench.

Pottery Barn • 404.812.9726 potterybarn.com • @potterybarn

Anthropologie • 404. 237.4175 anthropologie.com • @anthropologie

Everything But Water • 404. 239.0612

everythingbutwater.com • @everythingbutwater

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DESIGNER FURNITURE IN MIDTOWN ATLANTA 530 14th Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30318 14thstreetmodern.com

NEW WAREHOUSE NOW OPEN Friday + Saturday ONLY

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TRAVEL NEAR

Left and above: Ponte Vedra's palm-lined property includes oceanfront rooms.

Sleeping In History A sun-soaked getaway to one of Florida’s historic resorts STORY: Caroline

A

Eubanks

fter a stressful start to the year, I found myself searching for sun and sand to restore my spirit. I wanted to go somewhere I had never been before, which is how I ended up in Ponte Vedra Beach, not far from where Ponce de Leon landed more than 300 years before.

But that isn’t the island’s only claim to history. During World War II, a German U-boat landed on Ponte Vedra Beach, and four Nazi agents planted explosives in the sand dunes. They were all later captured.

The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club opened in 1928 as a membership club, where guests across generations came for the summer. The social calendar included dances at the bandstand and tennis matches.

In 1941, the Lodge and Club opened 1.5 miles down the beach, now part of the inn’s property.

The drive from my Atlanta home is just shy of six hours, but for this quick weekend getaway, I opted for a direct flight into Jacksonville, followed by a 30-minute drive.

Ponte Vedra Beach is convenient to both Jacksonville and historic St. Augustine, making it an easy base to explore the cities.

Driving onto the palm-lined island is a fascinating look at some of the most luxurious homes in the

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Above: The smoked Old Fashioned is one of the Seaview Grille's popular cocktails.

Guests can head to the Surf Club for beach chairs and umbrellas without the hassle.

country, where athletes and CEOs spend their down time. I checked in at the AAA Five Diamond inn, which has guest rooms, shops and restaurants in the circa 1940s space.

A gallery showcases artifacts from the inn’s history, including photos and vintage room keys. Portraits of the owners hang above the grand fireplace in the lounge.

The property has 262 rooms spread across multiple buildings, and its recent and extensive renovation is evident. I stayed at the Ocean House, with large coastal-inspired suites with kitchens, soaking tubs and balconies that open onto the beach.

I wanted to stretch my legs but hadn’t brought the appropriate

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

shoes for the gym, which overlooks the ocean, and it was too chilly to swim in the pools. The tennis courts and golf courses were other options, including the first island hole in North Florida. In the end, I rented a beach cruiser from the Surf Club, which also supplies chairs and umbrellas, and pedaled for a few blissful hours along the coast.

With my workout now out of the way, I made a beeline for the award-winning spa that has 30,000 square feet of treatment rooms, a cafe, an outdoor pool and saunas.

I found a spot by the pool and bundled up in my robe, sipping on an Aperol Spritz in the sunshine.

Ponte Vedra’s restaurants are

open to both members of the club and hotel guests, so you’re never far from a good meal. For breakfast, I walked across the street to the Inn Dining Room for avocado toast to start the day.

The Seahorse Grille on the upper level of the inn has a large aquarium tank in the center of the dining room. I enjoyed squid ink pasta alla vodka tossed with fresh shrimp and views of the water. The following night, it was on to the lodge’s Seaview Grille, a circular dining room with nearly 360-degree views.

The skillet biscuit was the perfect start to the meal, followed by seared local fish with asparagus and a smoked Old Fashioned.

As the sun rose on the final morning of my stay, I made a cup of coffee and walked out onto the beach, leaving my shoes behind. The foamy sea splashed onto me, and I thought, “I could get used to this.” n THE PONTE VEDRA INN & CLUB • 904.285.1111 pontevedra.com • @pontevedrainnclub

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Contact: Richard J. Valladares in Atlanta at 678.553.2100. *Admitted in Florida, not admitted in Georgia. Photo by Woodie Williams Photography. °These numbers are subject to fluctuation.

36800

Latin America

STAYCATION

Above: The Hyatt Centric Buckhead is perfectly positioned for shopping at Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza.

Left: Nothing beats the sunset views 15 stories above the city at Spaceman.

To Dine For

I

’m a mom of two, ages 3 and 6. I work fulltime, freelance on the side and try to maintain a somewhat presentable house. “Relaxing” usually means falling asleep on the couch mid TV show. So when I was offered the opportunity to check out from my family life and into the new Hyatt Centric Buckhead Atlanta for a night, I jumped at it.

Steps from Lenox Square, the 218-room Hyatt Centric feels personalized from the moment you walk in. I was greeted by name and provided keys to my king suite.

The views from a corner room on the 12th floor were stunning. Sure, Ga. 400 runs immediately below, but just past it are tree-filled neighborhoods with the Atlanta skyline peaking up in the distance.

A handwritten note from the man-

A stay at the Hyatt Centric Buckhead brings food and beverage delights STORY: Carly Cooper

ager reminded me to check the mini fridge. It was stocked with Dasani, sparkling water and Diet Coke—my beverages of choice. For a moment, I was dumbfounded, then I remembered the questionnaire every guest is given upon booking. Sharing basic interests and preferences allows the Hyatt staff to make every guest feel at home. I know I did.

My husband and I explored the hotel, noting the plunge pool and sundeck for a future visit and ogling the Pelotons in the fitness center. We were due for drinks at Spaceman, an elegantly designed rooftop bar and lounge on the 15th floor. No matter the temperature, this is the place to catch the sunset. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide near 360-degree views, while tropical-themed tiles and textured fabrics in shades of

Mount Royal strikes a powerful first impression, balancing an imposing central bar with cozy seating.

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J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

deep green, purple and orange transport you to a faraway place.

A chill was in the air, so we opted to sip our drinks (G+J with gin, vanilla, pineapple and anise for me, and Honey Crisp with cognac, Fino sherry, pomegranate and walnut bitters for him) inside by the bar.

On our next visit, we’ll head to the AstroTurf on Spaceman’s patio for some cornhole.

Back on the ground floor, we settled into a plush banquette at Mount Royal, a steakhouse with Canadian influences. We were welcomed with warm, salted brioche rolls, perfectly balanced with maple butter.

The rest of the meal was just as luxurious: prime filet for my husband, king salmon with trout roe for me. To complement our mains, we enjoyed latkes and carrots Vichy,

Modern touches and great views give the guest rooms a leg up.

and then rich, flourless chocolate cake for dessert. After a nightcap, I was feeling as calm as ever. I bid my husband adieu—someone had to go to home to the children—and returned upstairs to the tranquility of my cozy bed.

Ten hours later, I awakened a new person. Not willing to leave my happy place just yet, I lingered for some in-room pampering. Reluctantly, I called home and arranged for a pickup. n Editor's Note: At presstime, Mount Royal was temporarily closed.

HYATT CENTRIC BUCKHEAD ATLANTA • 470.391.1234 hyattcentricbuckheadatlanta.com @hyattcentricbuckheadatl

Better Banking In Your Backyard Down around the corner on Roswell Road sits a full service financial center where our primary focus is you.

Whether your needs are commercial, small business or personal - bank where you are a priority.

Buckhead’s Community Bank 3880 Roswell Road | Atlanta, GA 30342 | (404) 231-4100

www.GeorgiaPrimaryBank.com

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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STAYCATION

Small, artful details are a hallmark of Stonehurst Place.

Stately City Stay History, eclectic style and gracious hospitality at Stonehurst Place

I

have a secret fantasy. In my dream, I have a wealthy aunt with a palatial mansion where I can escape anytime I need a break.

I have no such relatives, but I may have discovered something even better: Stonehurst Place overlooking Piedmont Avenue in Midtown.

On a recent weeknight, one of my favorite travel partners and

fellow historic home enthusiast, my mother, joined me for a quick overnight. The estate, originally known as Stonehurst, was built as a family home in 1896 on a large plot of land. When the last child of the original owners passed away in 1996, the home became a small bed and breakfast, which the thenowner painted a garish pink. Interior designer Barb Shadomy purchased it in 2007 and spent 17 months restoring it to its original glory, adding modern amenities and eclectic decor. High-speed internet, marble bathrooms and highthread-count sheets exist harmoniously alongside original inglenook carvings and Georgia granite.

Each of the eight rooms and suites, spread across the main house and the two-story carriage house, are unique.

A second-floor sitting room is stocked with current magazines and self-serve coffee.

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Innkeeper John Cardona, who came onboard in 2017 with his wife, Grace, who presides over the kitchen, welcomed us by name. After a short tour, stunning with a proliferation of flowers, multiple libraries and serious art such as pieces by Andy Warhol, Nina Mae Fowler and William Wegman, we settled into the master suite where we indulged in a pour from the gratis bottle of Chardonnay on ice and the flourless, pecan-studded “Heaven on Earth” brownies waiting under a cloche.

Celebrated chef Craig Richards' Lyla Lila was just a 15-minute stroll, making it an obvious choice. We tucked into the cozy bar and ordered up a storm. Bright pink tuna crudo packed a flavor punch with aji amarillo and pickled strawberries.

We opted for shared appetizer portions of crispy duck lasagna layered with cocoa bechamel and carrot-coriander puree, cacio e pepe agnolotti ravioli, and wagyu beef and black truffle ravioli. We wrapped up with a light-as-a-feather lemon cheesecake with gingersnap crust, blueberries and basil that tasted like spring on a plate.

Instead of opening my laptop when we returned to Stonehurst, my mom and I took turns luxuriating in the freestanding, deep soaking tub, scented with the inn’s calming bath

Stonehurst Place sits on the largest residential lot in Midtown and is surrounded by lush gardens.

STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin

Lyla Lila's Chef Craig Richards is known for flawless handmade pasta.

salts custom made for them by the San Francisco Bath Salt Company.

Afterwards, we watched a lighthearted movie, pressed the button to close the blackout shades and drifted off in the impossibly plush king-size bed.

The next morning, the alluring aromas of bacon and fresh-brewed coffee were enough to rouse us. My how-the-other-half-lives fantasy came true thanks to the decadent made-to-order breakfast of eggs Florentine, crisp bacon and herbed fruit salad. It was just the pick-meup I needed to tackle the rest of a busy week. n STONEHURST PLACE • 404.881.0722 stonehurstplace.com • @stonehurstplace LYLA LILA • 404.963.2637 lylalilaatl.com • @lylalilaatl

HOME

BULLETIN BOARD

TRENDING

TA S T E M A K E R

LIVING

High-Rise

Overhaul A 1980s CONDO IS SKILLFULLY RENEWED

K

STORY: Giannina

PHOTOS: Emily

Followill

evin Todd enjoyed

“I wanted to do a renovation. This

a compartmentalized floor plan

downtown urban

turned out to be a great fit for

and outdated galley kitchen.

living while work-

the amount of space I got and the

Originally built as a two-bedroom,

ing at CNN Center,

ability to reconfigure it to what

the previous owner converted it

but after retiring from his career

I wanted,” Todd says. “There are

to a one-bedroom with a large

as a finance executive, it was time

beautiful views of the downtown

dressing space off the master.

for a change. In July 2018, he pur-

skyline looking south and the cano-

Todd wanted to bring back the

chased a unit in Park Place, trad-

py of trees over the neighborhoods

second bedroom and update the

ing The Residences at W Atlanta

looking southwest.”

living space with an open floor

Downtown for an address in one of

30

S. Bedford

The 2,400-square-foot condo,

plan. For the massive undertaking,

Buckhead’s tallest buildings. The

clad in leopard print wallpaper,

Todd enlisted Mark Williams

24th-floor unit had a stunning view,

blush walls, tiled countertops

and Niki Papadopoulos of Mark

but the interior needed attention.

and bi-fold accordion doors, had

Williams Design Associates.

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

➥

Kevin Todd's Buckhead residence offers ample outdoor space from which to enjoy the views.

“ There are beautiful views of the downtown skyline looking south and the canopy of trees over the neighborhoods looking southwest.”

— Kevin Todd

HOME

Joann Vitelli

The colorful masterpiece by America Martin depicts three men playing music. It was one of three paintings done by the artist for Todd to choose from.

Kevin Todd (above) is an avid reader. Shelves to display his many books were a must-have in his newly renovated condo.

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The sleek kitchen features a walk-in pantry that was once the condo's original entry corridor.

“The space has a very relaxed, cohesive feel due to the colors, materials and fabrics used.” ­— Kevin Todd

“This building opened in the 1980s, so it was designed in the late ’70s.

The way people lived back then was very compartmentalized, and there was a room for each individual function,” Williams says. “While this looks like a modern condo building from the outside, the original plans were based on that lifestyle.”

During approximately 18 months, the design team worked with Russell Carnes of Earth Sky Builders to recreate the interior. The entry corridor and kitchen were relocated, creating a sight line from the front door to a window-framing view of the downtown skyline.

The new circular foyer, anchored by a custom Hellman-Chang table, makes a distant memory of the

former trapezoid–shaped entry that once featured multiple doors leading to closets and sectioned-off rooms. The new, relaxed elegance is accentuated with colorful art works by Atlanta artist Sheyda Mehrara and built-in shelves that display a smattering of white accessories (Todd’s idea inspired by a magazine photo).

The home’s main corridor showcases black-and-white landscape photographs by British photographer Michael Kenna from Jackson Fine Art. Todd, an avid traveler, handpicked the images that capture locales from Japan to Italy. Across from the gallery wall, white oak panels open to hidden storage rooms, including a laundry space

➥

Gold accents, inside of the Helmut Chang table legs and on the Myoh art easels, adorn the circular foyer.

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33

HOME

Todd went on a special shopping trip to New York to select the light fixtures by Apparatus Studio.

and Todd’s “shed” for tools and other garage-worthy items. The corridor is punctuated by the dining space where an oval cutout in the ceiling mirrors the shape of the table below it. From the ceiling hangs a light fixture of mouth-blown frosted glass spheres by Apparatus Studio that Todd handpicked from the brand’s New York location. During his shopping trip, he was also drawn to two alabaster and brass light fixtures that illuminate the main living space, including a conversation area furnished in a cocktail table and desk from Hellman-Chang and

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chairs from A. Rudin.

“Lighting open floor plans can be difficult. We wanted to avoid looking like a lighting showroom,” says Papadopoulos. “Apparatus’ Meridian series allowed us to do that in the main living space by utilizing different sizes and versions of the fixture.”

Lining the nearby wall is a waisthigh built-in filled with books, a smaller version of the floor-toceiling unit on the opposite side of the living room. Book storage was one of Todd’s must-haves.

“In his previous home, Kevin had done a lot of built-ins for books,”

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Williams says. “That was a front-end core requirement that we accommodate the books. And [we had to figure out] how do we do that beautifully and make it feel natural for the space.”

The collection of books is noticeable, but the most striking element of the room is the oversized painting by America Martin, commissioned through TEW Galleries, that pops with color against the neutral backdrop.

“When I introduced America’s work to Kevin, I was a bit unsure, but he really gravitated to her work

more than I anticipated,” Papadopoulos says. “It was really a wonderful experience to work with her on this special commission.”

The open kitchen, equipped with Miele and Sub-Zero appliances, maintains the condo’s earthy hues with white oak cabinetry and quartz countertops. It features a four-seat island that’s the perfect vantage point from which to take in the skyline view through sliding glass doors that run the length of the living space.

“The space has a very relaxed, cohesive feel due to the colors, materials and fabrics used,” Todd says.

For some added texture, the design team installed a grasscloth wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries that extends throughout the main living space into the bedroom corridor. In the master suite, city views from a second balcony and two paintings from Anne Irwin Fine Art offer additional visual interest. An oversized glass door also provides an unexpected peek into the sleek master bathroom, done in quartz countertops and porcelain tile.

“When the door of the bedroom is closed, this entire suite belongs to Kevin, so it doesn’t matter [that the wall is glass], but it lets all the light through and makes the space feel larger,” Williams says.

Taking this condo from the 1980s into the design ideals of today was no easy feat, and Todd wanted to make sure the finished product was modern and upscale but still casual and inviting. Williams and Papadopoulos put their design acumen to work to make sure it was just that, creating an unfussy, yet sophisticated backdrop to which the homeowner could add his hand-selected touches.

“An important thing for Kevin was that it felt relaxed. We love that the current definition of luxury is about being calm and not that fake fancy from the late ’90s and [early] 2000s.

Kevin’s vision was definitely not that,” Williams says. “Opening the front door and feeling that exhale of the comfort and ease of a space were important to him.” n

Enclosed by glass, the master bathroom shines well beyond its walls.

Mark Williams’ Top Tips For Design That Is Upscale And Relaxed 1. Keep your base palette of architectural materials simple and calm. Once you add “the stuff of your life” in front of the base architecture, you don’t want visual clutter.

2. Defining spaces with ceiling details or dramatic changes of color instead of building walls can help open plan spaces feel more organized and deliberate.

3. Texture on the walls, whether it’s a plaster finish or a natural fiber wall covering, is a fantastic way to “relax” a space. It’s amazing how the softness of a simple texture can create visual peacefulness.

4. Know where your focal points are and let them shine. As the story of a space unfolds, it should have a few starring players, and the rest should be supporting cast. If everything in the room tries to be the star of the show, the important focal points tend to disappear.

Todd brought his bedroom furniture with him from his previous condo, including the bed that is dressed in Gramercy linens.

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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BULLETIN BOARD

BY

DESIGN NEWS

Giannina S. Bedford

Real estate professional Travis Reed recently started his own firm.

Real Estate Readiness How to survive the fast-changing market

R

esidential real estate in Atlanta is booming, creating an environment of low inventory and high demand. For those looking to buy or sell a home right now, it’s vital to have realistic expectations and expertise behind you. Travis Reed, a 25-year Atlanta real estate vet and founder of Buckhead’s HOME Luxury Real Estate, offers some top tips for surviving this historic market.

FOR BUYERS n Don’t give up. “There

is a very high incidence of buyer fatigue and disappointment,” which can lead buyers to drop out of the market, Reed says. “When demand is high and supply is low, prices are only going to [continue] to go up.” n Get a good agent. In this environment, most homes will receive multiple offers, so you need an agent who can write contracts that help buyers succeed. “It’s important to understand the actual value of the property, not

necessarily the listing prices. Once you and your agent understand that, it’s much easier to write the correct offer that will get the property.” n Research mortgage products. If rising interest rates have knocked buyers out of a certain price point, a different mortgage may still allow individuals to buy the house they want. “That comes down to the agent understanding the mortgage market,” Reed says. “If your agent isn’t giving you good information, go directly to the mortgage broker and talk [about your options].”

FOR SELLERS n Comprehend potential property

value. Homes are often going for

more than asking price, so “comps” aren’t currently supporting what the buyer is willing to pay. Sellers should be wary of institutional buyers who profit on underpaying sellers. “You must fully understand the potential value of your house, not what an

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Show your love of the South and add vintage flair to your walls with a framed print from Match South. The Atlanta-based company specializes in photographing and framing prints of vintage matchbooks from Southern restaurants, universities, businesses and more. Pick one print or compile a gallery wall of several frames, offered in white, black or burl. Framed prints are available for $125 to $225, and standalones can be purchased for $30 at matchsouth.com.

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J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

algorithm tells you,” Reed says. Know how many buyers are in the given market and what the most recent home in the area sold for over asking price. Then you can have an accurate expectation of what will happen with your property. n Unload difficult-to-sell homes. If a house has had trouble selling in the past or has an inherent flaw, now is a good time to put it on the market, Reed says. “If you have a house that needs work and you haven’t wanted to fix it, now is the time to sell it.” n Negotiate your needs. Especially in multiple-offer situations, buyers are willing to be flexible with sellers and yield to their requests in order to make their offers more attractive.

“During negotiations, sellers can ask for more time after the closing, and buyers are open to doing what sellers want.” n

s Merge Home is the newest design

destination on Westside. The full-service showroom and interior design firm is the vision of entrepreneur Marty Mason, the man behind high-end consignment brand Savvy Snoot and Marty Mason Collected Home stores.

Located in a custom-built, three-story building, Merge Home offers its clients high-end furnishings, in-store interior design services, a private label Marty Mason Collected furniture collection and more. mergehome.com n Lifestyle and decorating experts Kimberly Whitman and Shelley Johnstone Paschke have released a new book focused on seasonal entertaining. A Loving Table: Creating Memorable Gatherings also features Buckhead’s Emily Hertz and Clary Bosbyshell Welsh who share tablescapes from their own family festivities.

The book is available for $49.50 at amazon.com.

HOME LUXURY REAL ESTATE • 404.383.4663 homegeorgia.com • @homerealestate.ga

s Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams recently partnered with New Yorkbased textile design studio Eskayel to launch its first line of wallpaper. The six patterns are inspired by classic motifs from the South and the West, 1970s American modernism and other traditional ideals of Americana, honoring the U.S.-based manufacturing heritage of both companies. mgbwhome.com

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

37

TRENDING

Ginori 1735 Charger Plate in Arcadia Rosa ($220)

Hammerton Blossom Double Wall Sconce (from $1,450) Inject personality into your space with a conversationstarting sconce. Made from blown glass, this one from Hammerton can be hung vertically or horizontally to your room’s specifications. It comes in eight finishes such as gilded brass, burnished bronze and matte black, making it an easy lighting sculpture to incorporate into any design.

The Lighting Loft • 404.254.3286 lightingloft.com • @lightingloft

The Drawing Room ATL thedrawingroomatl.com @thedrawingroomatl

Robert Long Flora Design • 404.365.0500 robertlongfloradesign.com • @robertlongdesign

Dark and Stormy If you’re ready for a room refresh, start thinking boldly because maximalism is here to stay. Take it to the next level with moody colors and textures inspired by modernday maximalist muses such as Diana Vreeland and Iris Apfel. Remember, the first rule of maximalism is more is more, so have fun.

Abacus Short Accent Table in Venetian Red ($3,080) Described by The Drawing Room founders Seth Van den Bergh and Daniel Zimmerman as a “vertical timeline,” this side table is very much representative of the brand’s modern ethos and the firm’s dedication to the intentional and esoteric. Made to order and hand-blown in the Murano tradition, it’s as much a showpiece as it is a side table.

When set on a dining table, these 13-inch chargers from storied Italian heritage brand Ginori 1735 make a statement. Fanciful creatures such as butterflies and dragonflies dot the plate, adding whimsy. Available in three additional colors, they’re a simple way to add interest alongside practicality.

You can also hang a few plates on a wall for a visual statement that will keep your eyes hungry.

STORY:

Lauren Finney Harden

Skylar Sectional (from $2,595) Set the tone with a sectional from newly opened Interior Define at Buckhead Village District.

You can choose the size, length, depth, legs and cushions to fit your exact specifications with help from knowledgeable in-store staff. Velvet not your thing? With more than 100 fabrics to choose from, including many performance fabrics, there’s no wrong answer.

Interior Define • 872. 802.4119 • interiordefine.com • @interiordefine

Catherine Martin by Mokum for James Dunlop Textiles Majorelle Wallpaper (price upon request) Ground your room with something painterly in the form of this tile-inspired wallpaper from Catherine Martin by Mokum.

A faux-linen embossing treatment makes it irregular enough to resemble actual tile, and a digital print keeps it modern.

If emerald isn’t your color, the wallpaper comes in four additional jewel tones to satisfy any scheme. Bonus: it’s printed on vinyl for maximum durability.

Paul+ • 404.261.1820 • paulplusatlanta.com • @paulplusatlanta

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CASUAL & DAY WEAR COCKTAIL BALL GOWNS MOTHER OF THE BRIDE SIZES 2 T0 24

Over 150 Designers FEATURING EVENINGWEAR DESIGNER

FRASCARA

404.365.0693 1248A West Paces Ferry Rd Atlanta, GA 30327 susanleeatlanta.com Mon.-Sat. 10am-6pm

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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TASTEMAKER

Y

ou might call Hayden Gregg an optimizer. After all, he takes existing things and makes them better. But to distill what he does into something so technical is to miss the truth: He’s an artist. In the three years since the Buckhead resident launched his business, he’s become a top resource for interior designers and designsavvy homeowners around the Southeast, painting floors, furniture and walls and transforming them into works of art, either in his clients’ homes or from his new Upper Westside studio. Here, we learn how he got his start and what inspires him.

Are you from Atlanta?

I am. I grew up in Lawrenceville.

I went to Georgia Tech for my undergrad degree in history, and I have a master's in museum studies from the University of Washington [Seattle] where I focused on American decorative arts. I moved back to Atlanta in 2018.

What was the catalyst for your starting to refinish and paint furniture?

I took a lot of art classes growing up and had always been interested in it.

Then I started [updating furniture] through some designers I knew here in Atlanta. Not a lot of people do this kind of work. I started parttime, but there was so much work that it’s now my full-time business.

Did this path take you by surprise?

Yes. I spent time trying to get a fulltime job at a museum but gave up on that. I had taken some architectural drafting and watercolor rendering classes. In Seattle, I did some work for a furniture restorer, and I learned a lot about decorative arts from working at a museum there.

Has demand increased due to supply chain issues for new pieces?

Work has definitely picked up during the pandemic. It's so hard to get new furniture, and having things made is expensive because raw materials are so expensive. I [paint and refinish] a lot of pieces people already have. Sometimes they have a vision for doing it in an interesting way, and sometimes it's as simple as painting it a different color. People are looking around their homes, wanting something more fun. I’ve

40

Painterly Pursuits Artist Hayden Gregg breathes new life into furniture, walls and floors STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin PHOTO: Joann Vitelli been doing more mural projects and floor painting. People are ready for more excitement in their houses.

middle of the room, and so we did white floors with inset octagons with green and blue. It was a great alternative to a rug.

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Where do you find inspiration?

What is exciting about this work?

I go to a lot of museums, art museums in particular. I collect coffee table books and have a lot by mural artist Rex Whistler who was active between World Wars I and II in England. I flip through those often. I am a member of the Decorative Arts Trust. n

Every day I'm working on different things. I like that variety. The designers have such interesting ideas,

HAYDEN PAINTS haydenpaints.com • @haydenpaints

Tell us about your floor painting.

I usually paint hardwood floors. I’ve done checkerboards and octagon and square patterns. [Famed interior designer] Bunny Williams uses those a lot and is well known for them. I did a fun one at a house in Sandy Springs where they had an open bar walk-through that couldn’t have furniture in the

which keeps it fun.

Do you have a signature style?

I do a lot of faux tortoise finishes on all different types of furniture, and I lacquer a lot of things.

FA S H I O N

BEAUTY

WELLNESS

TA S T E M A K E R

STYLISH It’s in the Bag Page 42 AdaChic's fashionable founders Meredith Lilly and Nichole Thompson bring African-made bags to the U.S.

“…By carrying our bags, it's a part of us and a part of the diaspora.”

— Meredith Lilly

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

41

FASHION

Above: Adeday Fanny Pack in Bone ($165).

Below: Ethiopian Leather Backpack in Earth Brown ($315).

IT’S IN THE BAG Two cousins bring Africa to Atlanta through handbags STORY: Lauren Finney Harden

A

fter a trip to Nigeria and Ethiopia in 2016, serial entrepreneur Nichole Thompson felt a strong pull to find a way to bring some African influence to America. A former high-end boutique owner, she wanted to highlight the resources and talent she saw, despite not being interested in another job in fashion at the time.

It just so happened that her cousin, Meredith Lilly, was starting a shoe brand sourced in Ghana around the same time to help get shoes to kids in need in Africa. Lilly, who is based in Buckhead, is a lawyer by trade.

She’s worked for government agencies and politicians, and on former President Barack Obama’s Obama For America re-election campaign.

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The fashion industry has always heavily skewed towards European brands, but the cousins thought it was time Africa got the recognition it deserves. “African culture, music and fashion hold a significant place within the industry but are often not recognized for their inspiration,” Lilly says.

The two teamed up to debut a handbag line in 2017 made up exclusively of clutches that they design themselves. The brand name AdaChic comes from the Nigerian word “Ada,” which means “first girl.”

Thompson is of Nigerian descent, and both women are the first-born girls in their families. Their goal is to both honor socially conscious fashion and their African heritage.

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

AdaChic founders Meredith Lilly, holding the Leather Zip Clutch with Fringe Piping ($215), and Nichole Thompson, with the Mila Leather Clutch with Metallic Tassle ($175).

The bags are functional and fashionable, and they support artisans the two have personally met who work in vulnerable communities.

While the company got its start in Nigeria because the two had onthe-ground support there, it shifted efforts to Ethiopia, which is known for its leather. A single country of origin was an important part of the business’ mission-driven, socially conscious ethos. The leather bag line also helps reduce waste, as it upcycles leather remnants.

Since its debut, AdaChic has expanded to include other bag shapes such as totes, pouches and wallets ($19-$385). Of the four collections created annually, each ties back to the brand’s tagline of “feminine,

bold and free.” This month, they’re releasing their Summer Girl collection with the theme of enjoying life and being back outside without boundaries. Think canary yellow, sky blue, caramel and hot orange colors in a variety of shapes.

While production might have slowed during the pandemic for some brands, it didn’t for AdaChic.

The cousins, who both have fulltime, non-fashion corporate jobs, were able to stay nimble, and the brand has been producing steadily since its launch. Lilly chalks the demand up to women who now want to buy mission-focused brands.

“The pandemic gave us time to think about what matters,” she says.

Getting the word out via social media has allowed for expansion.

“People had more time to learn about what we’ve been doing, and they wanted to be a part of it by buying a handbag. You might never go to Africa or even have a desire to go, but by carrying our bags, it’s a part of us and a part of the diaspora,” Lilly says.

While the bags are mostly sold via the website for now, they have had a lot of success with pop-up shops and trunk shows. “We’ve tested our products, and we’re ready to scale [to retail] now,” says Thompson, who is based in Montgomery, Alabama.

They’ll be partnering with retailers who believe in mission-driven or socially conscious products. n ADACHIC DESIGNS adachicdesigns.com • @adachicdesigns

Photography by: Sarah Newman

(470) 819-4841 @5churchatlanta 5churchbuckhead.com

5 hurch uckhead 3379 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta, GA 30326

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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BEAUTY

Vein, Vein, Go Away D

on’t let some unsightly spider veins prevent you from baring your gams this season. You’ve got options to get rid of them and sport that short sundress like you did in your 20s.

Yes, spider veins can be, alas, a sign of aging. These small, painless blood vessels that are visible through the skin are also commonly caused by genetics, rosacea, sun exposure, varicose veins and pregnancy. I have four of those things working against me and recently noticed the small, pesky webs creeping up on my legs. The damaged or burst blood vessels can appear anywhere on the body but are often found on legs or the face if you’re rosacea-prone.

Thankfully, veins aren’t usually cause for medical concern, just the aesthetic.

But some underlying health conditions can bring them out, including fatty liver disease and cardiovascular disease.

I headed to Blue Divine Aesthetics in Buckhead to see what the buzz was about the NeoSkin by Aerolase laser.

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STORY:

Unlike other lasers used for veins, this rejuvenation treatment using a 1064nm wavelength YAG laser is said to be much less painful and safe for all skin types.

The other common treatment for spiders, sclerotherapy, involves injections of a salt solution that, though effective, sounded more invasive to me for my first foray into vein removal.

“The NeoSkin works best on veins that are visible and easily noticed. The more red or blue the vein, the better the laser can pick up on it. It can take up to three sessions to remove, depending on vascularity,” says Kalen Wheeler, licensed aesthetician, certified laser specialist and owner of Blue Divine Aesthetics.

To treat my legs, Wheeler circled the targeted veins with a white pencil, had me put on goggles to protect my eyes and then went to work. Each pulse of light felt like a quick, hot pinprick. I wouldn’t call it pleasant, but it was definitely manageable. Since I didn’t have a lot of veins to address, the whole thing was over in about 10 minutes. After

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Karina Antenucci each section was complete, a cooling ice pack was applied to soothe the area.

I felt no discomfort post-treatment.

The spider veins that disappeared won't return. However, the body forms new blood vessels, so new veins are likely to show up in the future.

Another cool thing about the NeoSkin is that it can treat more than 30 different kinds of skin imperfections, including pigmented spots, redness, fine lines, scars and even ingrown hairs. While I was in the hot seat, Wheeler turned the laser to my face for about 20 minutes and addressed some of my sunspots and then did an overall collagen-stimulating round to help minimize fine lines and improve overall tone and texture. About a week later, the sunspots that initially got darker appeared slightly lighter than before, and my skin looked particularly glowy.

Bring on the summer fun! n BLUE DIVINE AESTHETICS • 404.528.1882 bluedivine.com • @bluedivineatl

Sara Hanna

Zap those spidery lines into non-existence

Kalen Wheeler, licensed aesthetician, certified laser specialist and owner of Blue Divine Aesthetics

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WELLNESS

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tlanta, and Buckhead in particular, seems to be coming into its own in the area of wellness. Newhealthforward businesses are popping up as the demand for healthier lifestyles increases. Here are four of the latest openings to keep you fit, healthy and fresh.

The NOW Massage Buckhead GO HERE FOR: an affordable massage

Located in Tuxedo Festival Shopping Center, this new massage studio, part of an LA-based spa chain, keeps its menu simple and its price tags affordable. Choose from three massage options: signature Swedish-inspired, sports and energy-balancing massages for 25 ($50), 50 ($95) or 80 ($125) minutes. For $10-$15 more, your therapist will add on an enhancement of your choice, such as a muscle-soothing balm or antioxidant eye mask. Each curtained therapy space features a sound machine to block out any noise from your neighbor, and the vibe is very desert chic with cacti, sheepskin and crystal decor.

Relax at the luxe new day spa in town, Woodhouse Spa Buckhead.

WELL VISITS

New studio openings, from fitness to health care

STORY: Karina Antenucci

District GO HERE FOR: strength, endurance and functional interval training classes

This sleekly designed, dimly lit fitness studio on Roswell Road in Buckhead offers one 90-minute and six 60-minute interval-training cardio and strength workouts for all fitness levels. Its high-tech equipment offerings include an exclusive special edition Technogym Skillrun 5000 treadmill designed for performance running with a wide belt and the FitBench Studio, a compact bench with everything from dumbbells to a foam roller inside. Since eating well is a key component of a healthy lifestyle, guidance is available by certified nutritionists, and The Bar is stocked with nutritious grab-andgo options for post-exercise. Drop in for $30 per class or packages are available on a sliding scale.

One of The NOW Massage Buckhead's curtained treatment rooms.

where you can sip a mimosa or flip through a magazine in between treatments. The third Atlanta-area location for the luxe chain brings its complete menu of facials, massages, body treatments, nail services and other therapeutic rituals to

GO HERE FOR: subscription-based healthcare

GO HERE FOR: a luxurious day spa

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Buckhead Village. Unique offerings include the 80-minute Four-Handed Massage (that’s right—two therapists!) for $400 and the Meditative Mood Soak ($200) that pairs dry brushing with a sea mineral bath and aromatherapy massage.

Forward Health

Woodhouse Spa Buckhead Take time for self-care at this new Woodhouse Spa, which invites you to chillax even beyond your services. Enjoy amenities such as hot tea upon arrival and a plush lounge

Get fit with District's cardio and strength-training interval workouts.

A virtual doctor meeting awaits at Forward Health.

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For a flat fee of $149 per month and no insurance copays, Forward Health’s doctors and nurses provide unlimited in-person and virtual healthcare visits and 24/7 remote care from their Buckhead Village office. Visits always begin by measuring members’ health biometrics using body scanners and end by all data being stored in the Forward app, where you can view

health plans and more. In addition to primary care and an annual physical (with real-time blood results), doctor-led programs include cancer prevention, weight management, stress and anxiety reduction, heart health and COVID-19 care. As part of the focus on preventative medicine, you may receive mental health check-ins, a personalized nutrition plan or clinical genetic testing. n

DISTRICT • 770.258.6522 district-fit.com • @district.atl

FORWARD HEALTH • 404.998.8755 goforward.com • @forward

THE NOW MASSAGE BUCKHEAD 470.645.9107 • thenowmassage.com @thenowmassage

WOODHOUSE SPA BUCKHEAD 678.391.4333 • buckhead.woodhousespas.com @woodhousebuckhead

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S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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TASTEMAKER

What made you change your mind about going into the fashion industry?

When I was looking for a job as a designer, I began to learn about the fashion crisis and how the clothing and textile industry is one of the largest environmental polluters in the world.

It’s all intertwined with the climate crisis—the amount of dyes and water used, plastics in the water, tons of fast fashion clothing ending up in landfills. I also learned how poorly garment workers are treated. I didn’t want to produce new garments, creating a demand for something new that damages the climate and exploits the most vulnerable people in the world.

How do you find the items for your shops?

When I go to donation centers and vintage clothing stores, I pull out all sorts of great stuff. With my background in design, I know what’s good quality by looking at the finishing details and fabric. That’s how we source inventory and find the good brands that are built to last.

Melle Houston

How does the membership work?

Fashion Rescue Joanne Credi Fredo curates your second-hand style STORY: Karina Antenucci

J

oanne Credi Fredo worked in the investment banking industry for 10 years before deciding she was done with it in 2008. Always a creative at heart, the Upstate New York native had taken a page out of her Egyptian designer grandmother’s playbook and dabbled in fashion and accessories projects throughout her time in college and in the workforce.

Two years after quitting banking, Fredo decided to pursue her

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creative outlet fulltime and attended SCAD Atlanta to take courses in fashion design. But her path changed again almost immediately after completing them.

Instead of working as a designer for a fashion brand as she had planned, she launched The Conscious Outfit in 2018 with business partner Casey Kelly, whom she met the year before at a monthly supper club. With Kelly’s complementary background in retail management, the women composed

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a plan to bring stylish vintage and upcycled clothing and accessories to more women and men around Atlanta, while educating about the disposable fashion crisis. What started as pop-up shopping and styling events has turned into two fixed locations within their homes in Buckhead and Grant Park, where they style clients, rent and sell clothing, and assemble subscription boxes. They also organize client closets on demand.

Fredo, who opened the Buckhead “shop” in 2019, chats about her big pivot, how the styling works and how to donate your clothes more “consciously.”

The starting membership is $40 per month, which gets you six items to rent and a personal styling session, and it goes up from there. If you like something, you can buy it. We recommend letting us organize your closet first, then we’ll see what you need. If a client is coming in for an appointment, we’ll source from both locations and pull things based on what they want.

Where do you recommend donating clothing?

Any local shelter. We have a local resource list on our website.

Lost-n-Found Youth is one good organization that helps [homeless LGBTQ+ children].

What are you excited about?

We just started working with TV shows and look forward to doing more TV and film work. There’s a shift in that industry to be more sustainable rather than going out and buying all new stuff. n THE CONSCIOUS OUTFIT • 404.388.0839 theconsciousoutfit.com • @theconsciousoutfit

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KIDS

PETS

S T R AT E G I E S

Courtesy of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life

FAMILY

Social Media Savvy Page 54 Parents need to take an active role in keeping kids safe online.

“There are such great parts about social media and, at the same time, it can also be really detrimental.”

— Michelle Manne

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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Courtesy of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life

KIDS

SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY Teaching teens online responsibility

S

chool is out for the summer: Cue lazy mornings, sunny days at the pool and, unfortunately, more screen time. Teenagers, especially, may be racking up those minutes (or hours) on social media. According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of 13- to 17-year-olds, 45% are online almost constantly, and 97% use a social media platform such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. While social media has its positives—socializing, self-expression, entertainment— experts agree it’s vital for parents to monitor and prepare kids for the negative aspects associated with its use.

“There are such great parts about social media, and, at the same time, it can also be really detrimental,” says Michelle Manne, a licensed clinical social worker who runs a private practice, MRM Counseling, in Sandy Springs. “While social media can be educational, it can also be too focused on comparisons to others and not staying present in real life.”

According to Mayo Clinic experts, social media has also been linked to sleep disruption, bullying, rumor spreading and even a heightened risk for mental health problems. Stephanie

54

STORY:

Giannina S. Bedford

Walsh, medical director for child advocacy and a pediatrician at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Strong4Life clinic, says kids need to have strong coping mechanisms in place before they are exposed to or begin using social media.

“I personally don’t think kids need social media until they are able to handle things that happen on it. To me, that is late middle school or high school,” Walsh says. “You need to have a conversation with your kids and say, ‘These are some of the experiences that are going to happen and how are we going to handle it.’ You need a plan in place.”

Manne and Walsh agree that parents should set limits around the amount of time or times of day kids are allowed to use social media. Walsh suggests no devices at family meal-times and using charging stations that are outside the bedroom every night. It’s also important for parents to model limited use of screen time for themselves.

“Ironically, this is the one topic that parents don’t want to work on either.

While we are worried about it, we don’t work on it for ourselves so that makes it hard for our children to,” Walsh says.

“Cell phone usage and screen time are

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

really good ways for parents to start role modeling.”

Having access to your child’s device and doing regular check-ins of their profiles are also necessary to make sure there aren’t any risky behaviors taking place. If there are conduct concerns, step up the oversight with a content monitoring app.

“It’s about having an open relationship with your kid where you can say, ‘Let me see your phone’ or you can sit down together and look at the phone and see what they’ve been up to. Do a check-in every week or two together,” Manne says.

According to a recent Pew Research study, more than 60% of parents monitor what websites their children are visiting and what they’re doing on social media. Another 35% of parents have the passwords to their kids’ social media accounts.

“You should always be able to get on your kids’ phones and have their passwords and feel that it’s OK [to use them],” Walsh says. “Kids’ brains and their ability to make long-term decisions, their ability to understand risk, none of that is developed until their 20s, so what you are doing is keeping them safe.” n

MICHELLE MANNE 404.919.2575 mrm-counseling.com

STEPHANIE WALSH 404.785.5437 choa.org • @childrensatl

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S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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PETS

Paddling With Your Pup Hit the water with your dog using these guidelines

P

lanning to get your kayak into the water this summer?

Your dog might want to join the fun. With a little training, your pet can hop on board and enjoy the summer breeze right alongside you. Here are the training and safety tips you need to know.

PRE-PREP Not every dog will be a good fit for kayaking. According to Alex Sessa, owner and head trainer at Peach on a Leash Dog Training & Behavior Services, who works with pets across Buckhead, Brookhaven, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Chamblee and more, your dog needs to be comfortable around water and should not have a timid personality. “Although kayaking can be an incredibly peaceful and low-stress activity for many dogs, for others that are highly sensitive, it can be overwhelming,” she says.

Before diving into an activity like kayaking, it’s important to have a strong bond with your dog. He or she

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should be able to follow basic commands such as “sit,” “down,” “leave it,” “stay” and “come.” You want to ensure your animal will listen and stay on the kayak instead of chasing distractions. Your buddy should also be willing to wear a life jacket. And it’s helpful if he or she can swim.

“Most importantly,” Sessa says, “you should always check with your veterinarian to ensure that your dog is medically cleared for kayaking.”

KAYAK TRAINING “Your first step should be getting your dog fully comfortable in the kayak on land before adding the motion and unpredictability of the water,” Sessa says.

To get a pet used to the idea, get the kayak out and let Fido sniff around at his own pace. Leaving treats inside can help.

“Once you do begin to incorporate the water, make sure you start in a safe, shallow quiet area,” Sessa says.

“Ideally, go in from the land and not a dock.” You may want to teach spe-

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STORY: Hailey Hudson

cific commands to get in and out of the kayak. If wobbling is a struggle, try building up your pet’s confidence on land using a stability disc.

It might take some time for your animal to feel comfortable. Don’t force it.

SAFETY FIRST “Your dog must always wear a life jacket when out on the water, regardless of their size, strength or swimming ability,” Sessa says. Even strong swimmers can get tired or fall into the water when they aren’t prepared. She recommends purchasing a reflective dog life jacket that has a handle on top for safety, allowing you to grab a hold if needed.

If your dog does fall out, don’t panic! “Any sort of yelling or panicked behavior from you might frighten your dog and cause them to swim away,” Sessa says. Using a soothing tone of voice, get him as close to the side of the kayak as possible. Then use the strap on the life jacket to get him back on board.

PACKING LIST In addition to a life jacket, Sessa recommends packing “extra food, water and treats in a water-tight container, and a leash, but don’t ever have your dog on leash in the kayak.” This could trap your dog underneath the kayak if it capsizes.

It’s also helpful to have something comfortable for your dog to sit on, such as a towel or cushion, as well as dog sunscreen or a hat to protect from sunburn. While dogs with thin and/or light-colored fur are more at risk for sunburn, all dogs need to wear sunscreen while on the water.

Look for an extra-wide kayak to make it more dog-friendly. A kayak with tandem seating or a large cockpit will also work. Some people customize their kayaks and add “puppy platforms” or sunshades to make the experience safer and more comfortable. n PEACH ON A LEASH DOG TRAINING & BEHAVIOR SERVICES • 404.913.3234 peachonaleash.com • @peachonaleash

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STRATEGIES

TALK THE TALK Chitchat with your aging loved ones matters

F

rom evolving living options to major medical arrangements, there are a lot of important conversations to be had with aging loved ones. Those discussions are crucial so everyone is on the same page and feels comfortable and protected. However, talking to the seniors in your life should not be exclusive to the big decisions that must be made on their behalf.

In fact, spending time enjoying ordinary chats with them is just as important as engaging in those vital heart-to-heart exchanges.

Christian Ross, founder and Chief Happiness Officer of Happy Talks, recognized the need for this regular interaction but understood how people’s busy lives can hinder that frequent communication. Launched in early 2021, the company is based out of Atlanta Tech Village and offers relationship support for senior adults through regular phone check-ins by friendly, trained individuals. Here, Ross shares her insights about maintaining routine contact with your aging family

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and friends to ensure their overall health and well-being.

Why should we consider regular conversations with aging loved ones?

There is a level of loneliness we’ve all heard about, particularly since COVID began. Even aging parents who seem vibrant and busy can still be lonely when they don’t speak to their children often. Studies have shown that loneliness has the same impact on your overall health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. And this is not just a problem in the United States. It’s a challenge that is seen across the world.

STORY: Amy Meadows

vidual phones, and it was amazing.

So for that generation, the phone has a different meaning [as the main form of communication] than it probably has for our generation.

How often is ideal to chat with your aging loved ones?

It’s good to have a set schedule each week or each month, and I suggest setting a particular time to talk.

I think it helps with memory and gives people something to look forward to. Our generation lives by our calendars, and it helps us as well to set aside dedicated time to listen and be engaged.

Why is a phone call important?

Seniors often enjoy telling stories

I feel like being connected has a different meaning in 2022. When we say we’re connected, we’re talking about social media. I was speaking to a colleague the other day who explained, as a baby boomer, how important the phone had been at every point in her life. Many years ago, there was a phone line for the entire street. Then people had indi-

about the past. Why is it important

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

to listen?

It’s important for people to share the stories of their lives because those are their experiences. And those experiences bring them joy and make them happy. When they’re able to relive those moments, there’s a sense of pride.

It keeps people’s spirits up.

Christian Ross of Happy Talks knows that a simple conversation can brighten a senior's day exponentially.

What questions are good to ask when having a conversation with a senior in your life?

I think you should always ask “How are you doing?” and “How can I help you today?” Those are open-ended questions that allow them to think and to talk. They may remember to ask you for help with setting up a doctor appointment, or you can help them figure something out that requires a quick Google search for you but could be labor intensive for them. Or they may say that your calling is just the help they need. n HAPPY TALKS • 888.575.3082 happytalks.co • @ourhappytalks

O N S TA G E

PROFILE

TA S T E M A K E R

EVENTS

CULTURE Rockin’ the Room Page 62

Nessa Apostle with Aries Media

Local DJ Grace L'Amour stands out as one of the few women who energizes events around town with her musical know-how.

“ I had less of a big break and more of a slow burn.”

— Grace L'Amour

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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ON STAGE

Above: When Estroff first filmed in Vidalia, Willie Giles was just her director of photography. Now he’s her partner and coexecutive producer.

Left: Estroff and Erica Key sample the fruits of their “Rest Stop Recipe” labor, blueberry cobbler with cardamom whipped cream.

A MOVABLE FEAST

Skye Estroff hits the road for tales of tasty towns

S

kye Estroff’s streaming show “Foodie Road Trip” emerged like many tasty dishes from Southern kitchens: no recipe and no measurements, just fresh, local ingredients seasoned with experience, submitted to experimentation and simmered for a long time under the watchful eye of a matriarch or two.

The show mixes restaurants, recipes and travelogues. Her coexecutive producer, Willie Giles, works behind the camera.

“It’s not just about the food being incredible but the experience of the restaurant, the service, the organization and the chefs having their personality in it,” Estroff says.

The Buckhead-area resident starts with restaurant profiles similar to those on “Atlanta Eats,” where she worked after earning a degree in dietetics from the University of Georgia and before handling marketing for Taste of Atlanta.

Each half-hour episode focuses on restaurants in one city. Estroff talks

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to customers, chefs, staff and owners. She helps prepare a signature dish. And she eats.

Her journey to “Foodie Road Trip” began in childhood. She remembers writing a fourth-grade play in which she locks up Emeril Lagasse and takes over his TV show, though she says her classmates, lacking her adventurous palate, didn’t care for the French apple tart she made.

“Foodie Road Trip” mixes in Estroff’s family history with Season 1’s three cities: Vidalia, where her grandmother lives; Alpharetta, where she grew up; and Tybee Island, where her parents live.

Estroff brings insights to each episode. In an interview, she notes how places such as Truck & Tap and South Main Kitchen have altered Alpharetta from a city that once celebrated the arrival of Outback Steakhouse. She reflects on how the husband-and-wife owners of Tybee Island’s Salt Island Fish & Beer transformed the former

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STORY: Michael Jacobs

MacElwee’s. She recognizes the pound cake at Vidalia’s Downtown Bistro as the one her grandmother has passed off as her own.

“If we’re going to talk about cornbread, we’re going to the place that calls it ‘conebread,’ and we’re going to eat a lot of it,” Estroff says.

“But we’re also going to celebrate people that are taking over a space in downtown Vidalia that are black business owners trying to share their heritage.”

She also can offer Atlanta radio personality Mara Davis an on-air tutorial on pronouncing Georgia’s sweet onion center: Vie-DAY-a.

Davis is among the familiar faces who join Estroff for a cooking segment featuring simple but fun recipes such as lemonade sangria and baked turnip fries.

“Rest Stop Recipes” wasn’t part of the plan when Estroff first hit Vidalia in fall 2018 to shoot scenes or when the show was ready to air in April 2020. But when COVID

Estroff’s mom helped her make connections with Tybee Island restaurateurs, including North Beach Grill’s George Spriggs.

pushed the show to an Atlanta TV station’s back burner, “Foodie Road Trip” kept cooking.

The result is a more balanced show menu and a more assured Estroff, who remains a social media marketer and regular guest on “Good Day Atlanta.” The six-episode first season is streaming on Redbox, Crackle, Plex, Hungry and others.

Estroff and Giles make money based on views and ad revenue.

Estroff is confident this season is just the appetizer, and she’s refining the recipe for Season 2. She’s looking outside Georgia, considering a different state each season and fewer restaurants per town.

“I’m trying to shed light on people that are doing pretty cool things that haven’t really seen the limelight yet, or just could use a little something fun and extra to make them feel great about all the hard work,” she says. n foodieroadtrip.com • @foodieroadtriptv

PROFILE

Nessa Apostle with Aries Media

’ n i k c Ro the I

Room

t took two heart surgeries to get Grace L’Amour in front of the turntables. The soughtafter local DJ turned her life around in 2008, leaving modeling and visual merchandising to pursue a dream she’d had since childhood. For the last 10 years, she’s been spinning songs at local corporate events, boutiques, art galleries and gala openings—a career she’s dreamt of since she was a kid.

Growing up in Woodstock, L’Amour recalls hunkering under the blankets with a flashlight and a cassette/radio player to listen to DJs at work. “When I realized

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DJ Grace L’Amour sets the tone with her extensive music know-how STORY: H.M. Cauley people could do it for a living, I was amazed,” she says.

But before she broke into the music world, L’Amour detoured into modeling in New York, teaching yoga and dabbling in fashion. But between 2007 and 2008, she underwent two heart surgeries that “really shook me up. I felt I was led to do more with my life, and my soul wanted to be creative in a musical way.”

As a woman breaking into a male-dominated field, L’Amour

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knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

She started part-time, picking up gigs at whatever club would hire her.

In 2008, she committed to doing it fulltime and moved to Charlotte, where she worked for a year before coming back to Atlanta.

“I was still trying to break into the scene here, and it took a lot of grit,” she says. “I’d wake up at 6, teach yoga and then be out until 2 a.m. scouting different clubs and promoters. I had less of a big break

and more of a slow burn. I’d be at an art gallery one night then rock a stadium for a pro league the next.

I finally got to the point that people found me through word of mouth as the momentum grew.”

L’Amour credits her hard-won success to three things: consistency, preparation and opportunity.

“That’s my formula,” she says.

She was also ready with plenty of musical inspiration. Growing up, she was surrounded by a range of styles, from the Doobie Brothers and Chaka Khan to jazz and hip-hop. “I took that foundation and developed a diverse and extensive knowledge of music through the years, and that shows up in my sets,” she says.

“I read the room and plan based on what the feel is. And I also know if I’m not moving behind the decks, the crowd’s not moving, either.”

When it comes to getting people on their feet, L’Amour says she can rock a room as well as any man. “I think we need more female presences in all industries, but especially music and DJing. But I don’t look at other DJs as competition. We are all given gifts in our lives, and the sooner you tap into them and let them blossom, well, the sky’s the limit.”

L'Amour also takes on an oldschool approach when it comes to the big question: Digital or vinyl?

“I learned on vinyl, and it’s my favorite,” she says. “But when I have four gigs in one day, it’s really hard to pack all those albums. Now I have virtual crates; I can connect to a controller with my laptop. But I still like to bring a turntable sometimes because it feels most like home to me. And one of my favorite things is still to browse record stores. Fantasyland Records in Buckhead has a couple rooms of vinyl that I love.”

In between energizing corporate get-togethers, society galas and art gallery openings, L’Amour spends Saturday afternoons at Le Bilboquet in the Buckhead Village, spinning tunes to go with the champagne lunch service. Just what kind of music pairs with bubbly? “It could be Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder or the Temptations—whatever makes it a fun environment.” n GRACE L’AMOUR 310.428.4382 • @djgracelamour

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TASTEMAKER

Above, right: Downtown Atlanta's skyscrapers, including the red-hued Georgia Pacific building (right), are favorite subjects of artist Branden May. Left: Photographer Branden May makes a specialty of street scenes.

Picture This

B

randen May got his first camera when he was 12.

Though it was a hand-medown from his dad, it sparked his imagination and established a lifelong relationship with photography.

Today, the Brookhaven resident and self-taught photographer spends his spare time capturing scenes of Atlanta’s architecture as he prepares a book of photos for publication later this summer.

How did your photography career develop?

I eventually got a new camera after the one my dad gave me, and I figured it out on my own. After I graduated from Woodward in 2007, I went to Morehouse and studied English. I didn’t have time to take a lot of pictures back then—something I regret. But after I graduated and my first child was born in 2015, I bought a new camera and started taking a lot of pictures, especially

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Brookhaven photographer makes a specialty of street scenes STORY: H.M. Cauley

portraits of the baby, my wife, her family and my family. It soon became a second career.

scheduled, I’m out most days doing street photography.

buildings to shoot?

near the central [Atlanta-Fulton] library. If I start there around 11 a.m., I can watch the sun go from left to right and change the whole scene. Peachtree Center complex is another favorite; it’s so futuristic and has all those bridges. It has a lot going on! AmericasMart nearby is another one of my favorites. And I like the old-school feel of shooting them in black and white. It’s pretty forgiving if you miss your exposure or shutter speed. I’ve also been shooting mostly digital, but I’m getting back into film. Digital is so instant: You can see immediately what you shot, and you can shoot as much as you want. Seeing the image right after you shoot is a good thing, but with film, there’s also a nice feeling of not knowing what you’re going to get until you develop it. It’s kind of scary and cool at the same time. n

I love the area across from the Georgia Pacific building downtown,

BRANDEN MAY • bamtog.com • @bamtog

What draws you to What was your first career?

shoot street scenes?

I was working in the University of Michigan’s library system for about 10 years and then a small tech company when COVID hit. The company closed its office, and my wife has a flexible job in finance, so we came back here to be closer to family and friends. When the company wasn’t too understanding about my not wanting to move back, I decided to leave last August and become a full-time photographer.

Atlanta’s architecture is my favorite, and the buildings stand out to me more than anything. I think it’s because I grew up around Atlanta seeing these buildings, the people and the culture. I’ve seen them in different types of weather, lighting and times of day, and that really draws me in. It’s something I’ve come to understand, and how it comes together in my photos is beautiful.

Also, shooting on the street is so unpredictable. Everything changes right in front of you. I could go to the same spot every day and have entirely different pictures and scenes.

What’s a typical day like?

I don’t have a studio, so if people email or call me to set up a portrait, we go out to use the natural light.

I like using Piedmont Park as a backdrop. Then I spend time editing at home or at a coffee shop.

If I don’t have a portrait session

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Do you have favorite

EVENTS

BY

Denise K. James

BLOOMING WHERE PLANTED A TOUR BY GARDENERS, FOR GARDENERS

F

or 27 years, the American Hydrangea Society, based in Buckhead, has hosted its annual garden tour, showcasing gardens of private homes around Atlanta. This year’s tour from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 11 features five gorgeous gardens of all styles and sizes. Founded in 1994, the AHS is the first hydrangea society in the country, and anthophiles from 17 states are expected to attend the event for the region’s botanical bounty, according to AHS President Eva Kinney.

“The gardens are all very different,” Tour Chair Dorte Wohmann-Schmieta says. “One is near the Chattahoochee on a country estate consisting of several acres. They even have a chicken coop and use the manure in the garden. Another is set on a hillside, and there’s a greenhouse and a stone wall.”

Kinney adds, “Almost all of the gardens are done by the owners themselves. They all feature hydrangeas since our whole purpose is to teach more people about hydrangeas, but there are many other plants as well.”

AHS’s three annual meetings in February, April and October at the Atlanta History Center are free and open to the public, but the garden tour is for members only. But not to worry: You can become a member through the website and even on the day of the tour. The first garden’s address is published online two days before the event. When you buy on the website or pick up your tickets at garden

No. 1, you’ll receive a list of addresses.

“From the first to the fifth garden, it is 28 miles and takes about 45 to 50 minutes to drive,” says Wohmann-Schmieta. “Visitors can view the gardens in any order convenient to them.”

Membership, which includes tour admission, is $35 per person for one ticket or $50 per household for two tickets. Submit your own garden or a friend’s to be considered for future tours. n americanhydrangeasociety.org • @americanhydrangeasociety

The American Hydrangea Society's annual garden tour showcases five private gardens with colorful hydrangeas, other plants and various landscaping features.

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EVENTS

BY

Denise K. James

How Sweet It Is

A tea party with a twist

BUZZ

The words “tea party” might conjure up the idea of stuffy women’s-only gatherings and tiny cucumber sandwiches. That won’t be the case at the first Sweets and Tea Party Festival June 11 at 3 p.m. Co-founded by Jeff Tago of the Tago Event Center on the westside, the co-ed, tea-tastic event at a private lakefront residence in Buckhead will feature a variety of teas and other beverages, indulgent desserts, live entertainment, luxury giveaways and on-site pampering opportunities such as manicures, makeovers and massages.

Tago says he wanted to create a new event focusing on creative foods and drinks. “Most tea parties offer mainly tea and sandwiches, but we are going all out with the sweets— desserts, pastries, anything that is a sugar aficionado’s best friend.”

Tickets start at $150 per person.

VIP tickets start at $300 and offer perks such as limo rides, private tents and unlimited food and cocktails.

Once you buy a ticket, you’ll receive a packet with the address of the event and the party details. n

DUNWOODY RESTAURANT WEEK June 11-18 discoverdunwoody.com

Indulge in great food and support local businesses at the same time during Dunwoody’s annual Restaurant Week. Visit the event website and search for a culinary craving to make planning dinners easy.

MAGGIE ROSE CONCERT AT CITY GREEN June 24 citysprings.com

Enjoy the foot-tapping tunes of Maggie Rose, a Nashville rock-country artist coming to the City Green in Sandy Springs. With songs such as "I Ain't Your Mama" and "Preacher's Daughter," her music is perfect for a Southern summer evening. Leah Belle Faser opens at 6 p.m.

RED WHITE AND BREWS BAR BASH July 2 atlantabartours.com

Get a head start on Independence Day celebrations with this bar crawl. Check in any time between 6 and 11 p.m., and enjoy specials on food, drinks and shots, live music and more at a number of Buckhead establishments including Red Door Tavern, Irby’s Tavern and 5 Paces Inn. Don’t forget to dress in red, white and blue.

sweetsandteaparty.com @sweetsandteaparty

Flights of Fancy Nature exhibit honors humans and herons

Photos: K. Tauches

Don’t miss the chance to see work by 10 artists at the Blue Heron Nature Preserve’s “Art of Nature 2022: Light as a Feather” outdoor exhibit, featur-

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ing Atlanta-based sculptor Dorothy O’Connor, installation designer Gavin Bernard, printmaker Chloe Alexander and more. Curated by this year’s Artist-in-Residence K. Tauches, the seven-week installation ending June 12 showcases various artforms honoring the landscape, spiritual presence and heritage of the Creek and Cherokee Indians who lived here 200 years ago.

“There are feelings in certain places each individual taps into when they walk through the Preserve, which is a sanctuary in the city,” Tauches says.

“There are invisible histories and untold stories—cycles of appearances and disappearances of people, animals and plants. I encouraged artists to participate who are sensitive and attentive to the consciousness of the forest, wildlife and creek still remaining in this otherwise developed area.”

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AJC PEACHTREE ROAD RACE July 4 ajc.com/peachtree

The world’s largest 10K race returns on the Fourth. Come cheer on 60,000 runners and bask in one of Atlanta’s best and longest-standing athletic events. While registration for the race is closed, volunteer opportunities are still available.

CHAMBLEE SUMMER CONCERT SERIES July 4 chambleerocks.net

Plan your visit around the exhibit’s live performance schedule, including Claire Paul (left) on reed flute and poetry/ spoken word by Yusef Sullivan. n 404.946.6394 • bhnp.org • @bhnpatlanta

Chamblee’s first summer concert kicks off at Keswick Park. Don’t miss this fun, family-friendly musical event with plenty of food, activities and a fireworks show.

Past acts have included Sister Hazel, Gin Blossoms, The Rembrandts and other favorites.

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COVER STORY

Collection

Affection INVESTMENT PIECES, COLLECTIBLES AND THE ENTHUSIASTS WHO LOVE THEM PHOTOS: Sara

Hanna

Assembling your favorite things can be a hobby, an investment strategy or an obsession.

For those considering embarking on a collecting journey, we’ve got expert tips for getting started, and for others already well on their way to curating a bunch of special pieces, there are insights from industry insiders about how to make such a grouping work for your overall financial strategy. Finally, we profile five local collectors who have amassed extensive groups of items from designer fashion and luxury cars to wine and rock memorabilia.

They share how they got started, why their passion has grown over the years and cool facts about why it continues to thrill them. You might just collect a few ideas on these pages!

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COVER STORY

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Dress by Valentino, necklace by Oscar de la Renta, available at Le'Archive.

“ I want people to enjoy the pieces; I want them to appreciate them.”

— Marlo Hampton

FASHION ARCHIVE

Marlo Hampton’s collection enters showroom territory

STORY: Karina Antenucci PHOTOS: Sara

Hanna

C

ollecting clothing and accessories might not be considered special until you chance upon Marlo Hampton’s collection. “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” star’s more than 5,000 luxurious pieces go beyond a typical or even atypical abundant closet, so much so that in 2020, Hampton turned her extensive fashion archive into a “library” and fashion rental business, Le'Archive Showroom, in Buckhead Village.

“I want people to enjoy the pieces; I want them to appreciate them,” says Hampton, a Sandy Springs resident whose compilation features a mixture of luxury goods that were either purchased new or bought from consignment stores.

But before you get excited about snatching a Chanel PVC clear bag or a vintage Valentino gown for your next event, know that this isn’t a Rent the Runway-style situation.

Hampton is highly selective about who gets to wear her clothes and only lends them to those in the entertainment industry, including top fashion stylists, film and TV wardrobe consultants, magazine editors and celebrities for red carpet events, photo shoots and filming.

Hampton says her clientele includes three-time Emmy Award-winning stylist DiAndre Tristan, who styles Mariah Carey and Robin Roberts; rapper Doja Cat’s stylist, Brett Alan Nelson, who rented a difficult-tolocate vintage Christian Dior belt; and actress Tami Roman who had Viacom hire Hampton to style the entire season of her television project “Unfaithful” with Le'Archive pieces. Showroom rentals are by appointment only, and a rental fee is charged before items are released.

What if someone loves an outfit and wants to buy it? Too bad.

They are not for sale. “My pieces are too hard to come by to sell them,” she says.

Hampton has always loved the hunt for quality clothing. She reminisces about her early years as a collector around 16 years ago, before she could afford the retail price tags of her favorite luxury

Dress by Roberto Cavalli, bracelet by MCL, available at Le'Archive.

brands. “I got turned on to consignment shops and Goodwill, and would get up and go on a Saturday morning to find pieces that no one else would have,” Hampton says.

Her very first diamond-in-therough was a hand-beaded jacket.

This love of dressing well came from her mother, whom she says had a knack for finding the “prettiest ruffle dresses” no matter if they came from a neighbor’s garage sale, Kmart or Goodwill. “My sisters and I were the best dressed girls in the neighborhood,” she says.

After graduating from the University of Southern Florida in Tampa in 2003 with degrees in social work and interdisciplinary science, the Florida native decided to move to Atlanta and open a store. It was through her Perimeter

Mall women’s wear shop, The Red Carpet Boutique—a fitting name considering the future ahead—that she got her big break on “RHOA” as a guest star. “I remember that like yesterday,” she says of the show’s recruiter coming in to scout her for Season 4 of the show, which aired in 2011. “My life has changed ever since.” This year, she was promoted to a full-time cast member for Season 14.

Though she didn’t pursue social work as a profession “because I realized I needed to make more money,” Hampton retained the give-back bug. In 2011, she launched Glam It Up! with the mission to encourage young girls in the foster care system to achieve success. Growing up in foster care herself, it was important to Hampton to give these kids fun

opportunities, such as prom dress shopping and attending WNBA games, as well as life skills such as dining etiquette lessons that she never got.

In addition to growing her nonprofit and Le'Archive Showroom, Hampton is also enjoying a new chapter in her personal life. Trading socialite for caregiver, for the last three years she has been raising two of her nephews, now teenagers, as their legal guardian. In her downtime, she prefers being at home rather than going out. “I like to sit in the house with the TV off, with a nice glass of wine, reading my Bible and enjoying my peace and quiet,” she says. n LE'ARCHIVE SHOWROOM le-archive.com • @le_archive

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COVER STORY

C O L L E C TO R S

FAST, NOT FURIOUS Simon Guobadia loves the luxury of the latest European cars Michael Jacobs PHOTO: Sara Hanna

STORY:

P

erhaps it’s no surprise that a man engaged to a Porsha likes cars. Still, SIMCOL Petroleum founder Simon Guobadia, the fiancé of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” alumna Porsha Williams, takes auto enthusiasm to an extreme.

His current collection is worth upward of $2 million: three RollsRoyces, a Phantom, a Cullinan and a Dawn; a Ferrari 812 GTS; a Coachmen Mauck2 custom van;

a Mercedes-AMG S63; and a Cadillac Escalade.

“I just love them,” Guobadia says.

“I love the history around certain vehicles, whether they’re Italian or British or German.”

He doesn’t love them forever.

His oldest is a 2018 because he always finds a more appealing vehicle coming down the production line. If it’s the peak of European style, power and luxury and

is among no more than 3,000 worldwide, it revs Guobadia’s motor. His Buckhead house has limited car space, so anything new usually drives something old out as a trade-in.

Guobadia doesn’t race cars, but he sprints to the front to place pre-production orders and enjoys the 800 horsepower propelling his S63, his everyday car, from zero to 60 in under 3 seconds.

F

MUSIC MAN Getting personal with autographed memorabilia STORY:

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Mickey Goodman

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PHOTO: Sara

Hanna

or Sandy Springs resident Dave Cohen, each of the 250 pieces in his rock music collection is personal, and every commemorative record, guitar, poster or picture is autographed.

A lifelong rock music lover, he built his collection around his favorite rock stars. Some pieces came from artists he met during his six-year tenure with 99X (formerly WNNX), an alternative rock station that staged hundreds of concerts and featured on-air guest artists. Others came from the stars he met during the six years he created, produced, sold ads and managed Unplugged in the Park at Piedmont Park. Others were purchased at the hundreds of concerts he has attended.

His all-time favorite is Dave Matthews, and to date, Cohen has seen 90 of his concerts. “I even managed to get photos with him

No one else in the family drives his cars—not his five children and not Williams, for whom he bought her own Rolls-Royce Ghost.

Because he owns a limited number of cars and doesn’t buy them as an investment, Guobadia considers himself an enthusiast rather than a collector. “I’ve just been privileged to own them.” n simonguobadia.com • @iamsimonguobadia

that included my son’s mother when she was pregnant,” he says.

“Dave also dedicated a separate photo to my unborn son, Carson, who is now 11 and has favorites of his own.”

The collection is displayed floor-to-ceiling in rooms he specifically designed, an arrangement he cloned from the Hard Rock Cafe. One entire wall is devoted to hard-to-find awards from the Recording Industry Association of America. Each has a hologram proving its authenticity. He also created niches to display rare guitars autographed

by Radiohead and Pearl Jam. Cohen’s memorabilia was featured on AXS TV’s “Rock My Collection,” a program similar to “Antiques Roadshow,” and in April, he was inducted into the 2020 Hall of Fame at SUNY Brockport’s radio station, WBSU, where he learned his craft. n

AFFECTIONATELY ACQUIRED Expert advice for how to start a collection and why you should STORY: Nicole Letts PHOTOS: Joann Vitelli

T

he theme song from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, “Part of Your World,” might be a collector’s power anthem. As Ariel belts in her cave of wonders, “I've got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty. I've got whozits and whatzits galore. You want thingamabobs? I've got 20! But who cares? No big deal. I want more!” As Ariel so adequately describes, a collector’s hoard is never complete. That ability to add to it over time is what makes a collection as sentimental as it is valuable; starting one is only the beginning.

Angi Evert is one of the faces behind fête, a one-stop bridal registry and gift store in Buckhead. When starting a collection, Evert says to consider your current home as well as your future one. “You know how you’re told you dress for the job you want? Well, you appoint your home for the life you want.” According to Evert, a sterling silver or bone china collection is never out of place, no matter how extravagant it may seem.

Brookhaven resident Joan Corcoran can attest to the joys of owning. “I love my silver collection.

It started as a gift from my mother when I had a milestone birthday and has evolved into me having a touch of elegance in my everyday life.”

Corcoran’s collection includes place settings, various serving pieces and home decor items.

As Corcoran mentions, a collection is even more special when started by someone else. Collections for others can range from original art to hard-to-find coins. Evert says, “No matter what you decide to collect for your loved one, the important thing to remember is to buy quality. Quality is timeless.” She recommends items such as pewter mint julep cups, add-a-pearl necklaces, china and silver patterns and porcelain figurines. “Probably our most popular collection that folks start for grandchildren, godchildren, nieces and nephews is Herend fig-

At fête, a collection is never truly complete. There are always new pieces of porcelain and flatware to add.

urines. Not only are they gorgeous, but their value has outperformed most savings accounts,” she says.

Evert encourages buying from reputable dealers to get the best value.

Pieces may appreciate, and they will also be easier to replace should something break over the years. When in doubt, select quality over quantity.

While it’s nice to have a collection, the real joy comes from using it. “One of our customers has a big Herend figurine acorn collection that she keeps on a coffee table inside a big Herend leaf,” says Evert.

“My cousin has a Baccarat butterfly collection that they keep on their mantle.” Proudly displaying a collection brings joy to the collector and the visitor, and a bonus, it makes for polite and intriguing conversation.

Angi Evert is one of the women behind fête, a gift and collectables store in Buckhead.

As for her own collection, Evert says she has many, including about 250 sterling Christmas ornaments.

Started by her paternal grandmother, it is the one that captures her heart. “Memaw was a character.

She did splits and high kicks up

until she was 80. She said the most wonderful things. When she’d first catch sight of me, she’d say things like, ‘What’s the tale, Nightingale?’ or ‘What’s the story, morning glory?’ She had some of her best lines engraved on a few of the ornaments. I’ve said those same things to my children and grandchildren every day of their lives, so this is a collection that all of them will look forward to inheriting.” Here’s to creating a collection that makes someone want to be a part of your world. n FÊTE • 404.254.0144 tresbellefete.com • @tresbellefete

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LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE Wine enthusiast Brandon Lewis has “grape” expectations for his collection STORY: Amy Meadows PHOTO: Sara

F

or Brandon Lewis, the art of being a wine connoisseur is not necessarily the ability to purchase the most expensive or fashionable bottle of vino. Instead, it’s the prowess to recognize an exceptional bottle of wine that sells for less than $50.

“There are hundreds of amazing wines out there that are not very expensive,” says the Chamblee resident, who has spent the last several years curating an extensive collection of nearly 400 bottles that hail from Northern California, Spain, France and Italy, among other locales. “The ultimate satisfaction is learning how to find what tastes like a $1,000 bottle of wine for $30.

Hanna

It’s out there. You just have to figure out how to get it.” At times, Lewis turns to his fellow wine enthusiasts or wine clubs for information and recommendations that fit his tastes.

Lewis, who has a background in the restaurant and nightclub industries, never intended to become a prolific wine collector. He developed a palate for great wine after spending time in Italy as a young adult, as well as during his visits to Napa years later. He began purchasing bottles during his travels, but when he was gifted two exclusive, valuable bottles of Screaming Eagle wine by the proprietor of Antoine’s Restaurant in New Orleans as thanks

for helping prepare an insurance claim after the restaurant’s wine collection was damaged during a hurricane, his penchant for wine collecting skyrocketed. Today, his home features a custom-built wine cellar that holds Lewis’s fully cataloged and growing collection, valued at around $150,000 and includes prized private selections from such renowned California wineries as the

S

SMITTEN BY STAFFORDSHIRE Paige Minear’s passion for antique pottery STORY:

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Nicole Letts

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PHOTO: Sara

Hanna

taffordshire pottery, ranging from figures to animals, has been a hallmark of traditional decor since it was first introduced in the 18th century. Thanks to the millennial affinity for classic decor, the delicate porcelain pieces are on the rise again, and one Sandy Springs resident is ahead of the popularity curve.

Paige Minear, a lifestyle blogger and online vintage reseller, has been collecting Staffordshire pottery for nearly two decades.

“My first Staffordshire piece, a lamb, was inherited from my in-laws. They gave it to me around Easter, and I loved how special it was,” she says.

Since then, Minear has grown her collection to more than 50 pieces, ranging from lamps to pairs of pups that she displays throughout her home. “They are truly everywhere; I love to add

Kenzo Estate and the O’Brien Estate.

“When you find that unique bottle of wine, it’s like an artist finding a piece of art they’ve been searching for for years. And when you know you have one of maybe 1,500 bottles of wine in the world, it’s amazing,” Lewis says. “You don’t have to go to school or have a ton of money to have fun with this hobby. You just have to start with one bottle of wine.” n

them to our mantle, bookcases, chests, in front of books, side tables and even in the kitchen and powder room. No surface is safe,” she jokes.

Minear says she adds a few pieces to her collection every year and turns to Staffordshire for commemorating a milestone or occasion. When making a purchase, she says she looks for pieces that are unique and antique but mostly seeks pottery to which she is attracted. “I keep collecting them for their colors and exquisite details. I love that they are antiques, have so much history, were made in molds and then attached. Everything about them makes them special to me.” Follow Minear’s blog, The Pink Clutch, and Instagram for all things Staffordshire and beyond. n thepinkclutchblog.com • @paigeminear

Don’t Drop the Ball on Insurance If you couldn’t wait to spend $25,000 on the limited-edition fan version of the Braves’ 2021 World Series ring, don’t forget insurance. n You’ll need a rider on your homeowner’s policy, or, as with art or any valuable collectible, you could turn to a company specializing in insuring special items. n Understanding value is crucial, Hindman’s Alyssa Quinlan says. Replacement value, which is what insurance should cover, is what you would spend to buy another one.

ARTISTIC ASSETS

A collection’s beauty could be aesthetic, financial or both STORY:

Michael Jacobs

n Keep appraisals current to avoid being underinsured. Quinlan says the rule in the art world was to update appraisals every five to 10 years, but in the current hot market she says two years is typical.

T

he collecting line between fun and profit is hard to draw. Either way, storage that’s more protective than a shoebox in a poorly ventilated attic makes sense, as do insurance and plans for disposition after you die.

The IRS taxes profits from collectibles—from art and antiques to wines and historical documents— at the same rate for investors and hobbyists, which is higher than for other capital gains.

“I often find that people who are really collectors have done it since a young age,” says Alyssa Quinlan, chief business development officer for national auction house Hindman, a brand that has one of its 13 offices in Buckhead. “They might’ve had a collection of baseball cards when they were kids or a collection of snow globes. It might’ve grown and changed as they had more resources.”

Art and other collectibles can be more important in financial plans after surging in value the past couple of years, Quinlan says.

Some relative bargains remain.

Sally Klarr, Hindman’s senior specialist for jewelry and watches, says examples for jewelry collectors include high-quality cultured pearls and unsigned vintage pieces.

Quinlan says the emotional value usually tops the financial worth for

n That’s different from the fair-market value, which is what you could sell the item for at an auction or other secondary market. Fair market value depends on comparable sales, so it’s tough to set a price for a new artist or a World Series ring no one has sold.

Prices at auctions for art and other collectibles keep rising, Alyssa Quinlan says. “There is just more demand, and there is less supply.”

“If this is a passion of theirs," Deborah Larrison says of collectors, "we try to allow that through the wealth planning.”

her art clients. “They’re not looking at it as an investment.”

At least one company, Masterworks, treats paintings like stocks.

The company buys artwork, sells shares, runs a market for those shares, tracks the value of artists and distributes proceeds from the art’s sale.

Typically, “people are very passionate about their art collections.

They want to buy things that bring them pleasure,” says Deborah Larrison, Bank of America’s national art credit executive, who works with clients of Bank of America Private Bank in Buckhead. “We try to allow that through wealth planning. We

don’t tell them how much art they should have.”

No rule determines how much to spend on a collection, just as nothing defines when a hobby morphs into an investment or when the use of collectibles as a financial hedge yields to pure aesthetic joy.

The business/pleasure line becomes blurrier for Larrison’s clients, who can borrow up to 50% of a collection’s value, as long as it’s worth at least $10 million. With a loan due within five years or a line of credit, the collector frees up cash while keeping art on the wall.

“Sometimes they will borrow to buy more art, but for the most

part, collectors will borrow because smart people continue to do smart things, and they’ll make these investments that grow,” Larrison says.

So are you a hobbyist or an investor? If you prefer the experience of a gallery to the energy of an auction, you might be a hobbyist. If you never see what an agent buys for you before it goes into storage, you might be an investor. If you would otherwise spend the money devoted to a collection on travel or entertainment rather than stocks and bonds, you might be a hobbyist.

If you’re more excited to see a painting’s soaring value than its place on your wall, you might be an investor.

If you arrange for your estate to donate a collection to keep it intact, not to reduce taxes, you might be a hobbyist. Or you might just be an investor with good taste. n

BANK OF AMERICA PRIVATE BANK 800.682.8293 • locations.privatebank. bankofamerica.com/ga/atlanta @bankofamerica HINDMAN • 404.800.0192 hindmanauctions.com/locations/atlanta @hindmanauctions

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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REVIEW

DRINKS

FOODIE JOURNAL

TA S T E M A K E R

R E S TA U R A N T S

DELICIOUS

Poetic

Plates DAZZLING PERSIAN FARE AT RUMI’S KITCHEN

O

STORY:

PHOTOS:

Sara Hanna

rder extra when vis-

in microwaveable containers,

on my first visit, I settled

iting Rumi’s Kitchen

reheat beautifully and stand

on chicken barg. It arrives on

Sandy Springs; trust

ready to satisfy those inevita-

an oval platter looking like

me. It’s not essential:

ble cravings for a revisit—even

a piece of fish. That’s because

if such pangs strike at 3 a.m.

“the chef pounds it with the

The portions are generous.

Still, go ahead and get a medley

What to order? It seems

backside of a knife,” the server

of appetizers and extra entrees.

impossible to go wrong with

says. A flat wedge with a skew-

You owe it to yourself to sample

any pick, but if overwhelmed

er scar running through it,

as many dishes as possible.

by the mouthwatering oppor-

the juicy meat is laced with

tunities, ask your server for

exotic flavors thanks to a

suggestions. That is how,

saffron marinade. Divine.

You’ll never regret leftovers.

They’re packaged thoughtfully

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Hope S. Philbrick

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

➥

Choose among seven different versions of rice to pair with your entree. Baghali polo is ideal with lamb shank.

Dishes at Rumi's Kitchen are culinary rhythms and rhymes.

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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REVIEW

Chicken barg and shirin polo are a perfect match that delights all the senses.

Falafel makes a stunning plate with tart pickles, tangy tabouli and savory tahini sauce.

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Hugging that chicken on one side is what must be the world’s fluffiest rice. When the server asked which of the seven versions of rice I wanted, I stuck with the default saffron basmati. Yet my platter arrived with shirin polo, a happy accident.

Before I even noticed the swap, the server rushed out with a side

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

plate. “That’s the wedding rice; here’s the saffron basmati,” he says.

“Traditionally you’d cut up this grilled tomato and mix it in.” A tasty tip! Jazz things up even more with a sprinkle of citrusy sumac powder and torn herbs from the sabzi plate delivered with pita bread almost as soon as you sit down. Yum. What-

ever you stir in, however, it's less provocative than its ethereal sibling.

Shirin polo isn’t dubbed “wedding rice” on the menu, but it’s a fitting nickname since the orange zest, red barberry, pistachio, almond and rosewater additions are a joyful combination worth celebrating.

Sweet yet savory, packed with interesting textures and almost too good-looking to believe, it’s simply great. I, for one, am ready to declare it the best rice ever.

Reluctantly, I offered a few bites to my husband in exchange for a taste of lamb shank with baghali polo (fava bean and dill basmati).

Falling-off-the-bone tender and swimming in broth with vegetal notes, the meat and its ideal savory partner rice with tangy earthy notes were worth the trade.

We’d first noshed on falafel, a stunning plate of crisp-tender chickpea balls, pickled veggies, tangy tabouli and savory tahini sauce. Equally impressive was the mirza ghasemi (smoked eggplant with tomato and garlic) slathered on warm pita that managed to present strong smoky notes without hiding the harmonious plant flavors.

Service begins upon approach as valets stand ready to park your car.

The spacious dining room feels like

a patio with its high ceilings, large plants, rustic accents and bubbling water feature. Servers rush around in all directions, clearly busy yet always ready to help one another and any guest in need. Diners continually stroll in, filling tables almost as soon as they’re wiped clean. The vibe is lively, enthusiastic, fun. Prefer takeout? It’s a breeze!

Online ordering pairs photos with descriptions, a mix of information and temptation. Pick-up is as simple as rolling down your car window.

The food holds its quality even if transported across the city. Attentive service conveys even through the brown paper sack as dishes are thoughtfully packed, well labeled and accompanied by extras such as sumac powder, gratis sabzi plates (feta cheese, olives, herbs and walnuts) and pita bread to help your off-site dining mimic the restaurant experience.

Study the menu to find bargains.

Some platters feature two different types of kabob for a slightly higher price than those with single kabobs, and you can add a single beef koobideh kabob for a small fee, substitute rice versions for a minimal upcharge and even add sides such as sliced cucumber for free.

An appetizer twofer, lamb hummusiya rests lamb sausage atop hummus for a pleasing contrast of spicy heat and cool umami. Contrasting flavors is a pleasant menu theme. Dukkah roasted carrots play nutty-spicy notes against earthysweet carrots and tangy-sweet yogurt cheese. Soltani kabob presents a dense beef koobideh kabob— skewered minced meat mixed with spices including sumac and turmeric—alongside marinated, soft beef barg for a study in nuanced textural and spice differences. Good luck choosing a favorite.

Flexibility reigns. For example, chicken soltani by default features a beef koobideh kabob, chicken barg kabob and saffron basmati rice.

But you can swap the basmati rice for zereshk polo (dried barberry basmati) or another rice option.

You can also trade the beef for lamb koobideh and its slightly sweeter umami. Require gluten-free options? Simply alert your server or check the box when ordering online.

It seems impossible to go wrong with any menu pick. Sample as much as possible for a genuine treat of fresh layers of flavor and sophisiticated yet approachable taste combinations.

Finish with the chocolate hazelnut torte. Sweet but not sugary, rich yet airy, it’s large enough to share yet small enough that a reasonable argument can be made to keep one all to yourself.

Rumi’s Kitchen is named for Jalaluddin Rumi, a 13th century Persian poet. Fitting, since its dishes present powerful culinary rhythms and rhymes. n

Treat yourself to the chocolate hazelnut torte to finish the meal with a sweet, rich flourish.

Rumi’s Kitchen Sandy Springs 404.477.2100 • rumiskitchen.com • @rumiskitchenofficial Prices: starters: $8-15; salads, $8-12; entrees: $18-45; sides: $4-10; desserts: $10.

Recommended: Dukkah roasted carrots, mirza ghasemi, lamb hummusiya, chicken barg, soltani kabob, shirin polo, chocolate hazelnut tart.

Bottom line: This Persian restaurant delivers rave-worthy dishes and drinks with friendly service at competitive prices in a lively environment.

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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DRINKS

The Zero Proof brought Swedish non-alcoholic spirit Gnista to the United States and is now the country's largest importer of alcohol-free spirits.

Spritz ISH tastes as good as the alcoholic version after which it was crafted.

SPIRITED SIPS Add a kick to your bar cart, sans alcohol

S

ometimes an adult beverage sounds good but without the booze. Fortunately, zero-proof options have come a long way from the sweet Shirley Temples or watered-down nonalcoholic beers of years past. Now you can mix up a drink at home that is composed and balanced, without getting tipsy.

As a bonus, the bottles are as pretty and interesting as the hard stuff.

The Zero Proof, based in Atlanta is the largest importer of alcohol-free spirits and wine in the U.S. It began in December 2018 when co-founder Sean Goldsmith had a booze-filled long weekend in Miami.

He returned exhausted and decided to be more mindful and take a break from alcohol. Wining and dining came along with his career in finance as well as his family’s restaurant business. He soon realized he was going to need more interesting options than club soda, so he started researching.

After starting a blog with boozefree city guides, interviews with brand owners and bottle reviews, he and business partner Trevor Wolfe saw an importing opportunity. “The movement is much further along

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STORY: Angela

in the U.K. and Nordic countries,” Goldsmith says. “Nonalcoholic brands were on everyone’s radar, but the entire category is pretty entrepreneurial. The bigger companies weren’t going to do the work to start bringing them over in small quantities and building a brand.” To fill the void in the market (and in their personal glasses), they began importing brands such as Gnista, ISH and Wilfred’s.

Goldsmith isn’t trying to discourage people from drinking. In fact, he says the biggest consumers of their products are drinkers. A NielsenIQ Homescan survey found that 78% of nonalcoholic drink buyers in the U.S. are also purchasing alcoholic beer, wine and spirits, an indication that people aren’t completely cutting out alcohol but are paying closer attention to drinking in moderation.

In the first six months of opening their Westside warehouse, The Zero Proof partners outgrew the space. Now they ship out directto-consumer and wholesale orders in a vastly increased area.

For those just starting their lessboozy mixology sessions, Goldsmith

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Hansberger

is quick with recommendations of some standout spirits he ships and supplies to local restaurants and retailers.

“For a gin and tonic, GinISH is the best gin alternative out there,” he said. Simply mix it with some Fever Tree Tonic and perhaps a wedge of lime. The store also carries Monday Zero Alcohol Gin, which is much like a classic London Dry juniper-forward gin with a long finish and a gorgeous Art Deco bottle.

Optimist Botanicals come in three expressions meant to embody the varying flavors and aromas of Los Angeles. “Bright,” inspired by Venice Beach, is exactly that: citrusy, floral, herby and vibrant. “Fresh” is clean, evergreen and interesting. If you’ve ever hiked in Topanga Canyon, it conjures the aromas in a sip.

“Smokey” has hints of smoke, mint and a little heat from clove. All three make a lovely cocktail by simply adding club soda or tonic.

For a Margarita-style drink, use Gnista Floral Wormwood. The super-complex spirit from Sweden swirls with herbs, roots, spice and citrus. “It’s not a tequila alternative,

Best friends and founders of The Zero Proof: Trevor Wolfe and Sean Goldsmith.

but it makes a fun Margarita,” says Goldsmith. “And it’s salty!” One of the best nonalcoholic tequilas is Ritual, but he says a lot more are coming soon. ISH just bottled a new Mexican agave spirit, and Goldsmith says it is “going to be amazing.”

As we are firmly in spritz season, Goldsmith says Wilfred’s Bittersweet Aperitif is a no brainer. Mix the blend of bitter orange, rhubarb, clove and rosemary with club soda or tonic, and garnish with an orange for a delightful nonalcoholic version of an Aperol spritz. Even easier, pop open a ready-to-drink Spritz ISH with all the complexity and none of the booze. n THE ZERO PROOF thezeroproof.com • @thezeroproof

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FOODIE JOURNAL

Culinary News & Notes

BY

Claire Ruhlin

From left: The Dirtier Bird sandwich from Recess. Culinary Director Whitney Wood.

Feel Good Food DISHING ON THE NEW BUCKHEAD LOCATION OF RECESS

A

tlanta’s fast-casual, healthforward restaurant concept Recess is opening a new location this summer in Buckhead Village’s Hanover Building. Like the original Krog Street Market concept, this space will prioritize feel-good food, with a takeout and tech-focused model. We spoke with Culinary Director Whitney Wood about the new outpost.

Tell us about the new Recess Buckhead.

Recess will keep serving the hits that customers love while Whitney develops new and seasonal menu items.

That means you'll still be able to enjoy our Superbowl, Harvest Moon and My Farro Lady wherever you go.

However, we'll incorporate seasonal ingredients such as Georgia peaches in featured spots on our menu.

How do you build a menu of "food that makes you feel good"?

Designing "food that makes you feel good" starts with the reality that everyone’s dietary needs and preferences are unique. We aim to serve an inclusive, flexible and satisfying menu of chef-driven items that can be easily customized. Most of our bowls and salads are vegan-friendly, but we encourage guests to add toppings like braised chicken, carnitas or avocado, depending on how they feel. We define ourselves as a brand dedicated to preparing whole proteins, a colorful collection of seasonal vegetables and nutritious grains thoughtfully crafted to provide balanced and delicious options to all guests.

What makes this location's menu or dining experience unique?

Buckhead will be our first location that allows guests to build their own bowl with our team members. With

Hello, Grilling Season our new floor plan, guests won't need to order at a counter and wait.

Instead, they'll be able to come inside and see all of our ingredients up close. We want guests to build with us. If you aren’t in the mood for the avocado on the Tom Cruz bowl one day, you might choose to swap it out for our roasted broccoli.

Or you might decide to skip what's on our menu board and build your paleo-friendly option from the ground up.

This location is designed for streamlined convenience. What does that mean?

We believe in extending hospitality beyond the four walls of our restaurant. This entails offering seamless ordering technology, enabling faster delivery via streamlined menu prep and caring about the small details like dedicated parking spaces for pick-up orders. And, if someone doesn't have time, they can order ahead and pick up at our new takeout window. n RECESS • 404.596.8396 eatrecess.com • @recess_atl

INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons cornstarch 4 tablespoons water 1.5 cup rice wine vinegar 1 cup water 8 ounces. sugar 10 cloves garlic 2 tablespoons soy 2 tablespoons fish sauce 1 teaspoon Korean chili powder 12 sweet peppers (small) 6 ounces hot sauce (choose one with a thick consistency) INSTRUCTIONS Make a slurry with cornstarch and water. Combine all the other ingredients and bring to a boil. Add the slurry, stir to combine and return the mixture to a boil. Blend in a blender and cool.

n Painted Hospitality, the team behind

n Humble Pie, the latest concept

chain sweetgreen is now open in West

The Painted Pin and The Painted

from the team behind Lazy Betty

Midtown at 1050 Howell Mill Road.

Duck, will open a new pickleball

and Juniper Cafe, is now open for

Expect sweetgreen classics such as

entertainment concept, Painted Pickle,

lunch and dinner at the Interlock

the Kale Caesar and Guacamole Greens

at Armor Yards on Ottley Drive later

on Howell Mill. You’ll find the team

salads, as well as all-new menu items

this year. Expect eight indoor pickleball

turning out a vegetable-forward

such as the Catfish Remoulade, a

courts, along with additional games

menu of wood-fired pizzas,

creamy salad that takes inspiration from

and a full-service kitchen and bar.

pot pies and dessert pies.

a seafood po-boy. sweetgreen.com

paintedhospitality.com

humblepieatl.com

Fast-casual salad and grain bowl

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Grilling season has officially arrived.

To celebrate, we asked Chef Nick Leahy, head chef of The Usual, which opened in Brookwood Hills in February, to share the recipe for a grilling staple: his signature sweet chili sauce, the perfect topping for grilled steak, chicken or salmon.

THE USUAL • 404.343.1541 theusualatl.com • @theusualatl

FOOD NEWS

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The Usual’s Sweet Chili Sauce, created by Chef Nick Leahy, is best served atop grilled meats.

Now Re-Open at Phipps Plaza!

Join us for Lunch, Sunday Brunch & Dinner!

For reservations call 404.844.4810 or visit www.davios.com/atl 3500 PEACHTREE ROAD NE, ATLANTA, GA 30326

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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TASTEMAKER

FUN FACT As a child, Seaman ate chocolate chip cookies in her sleep, while sleep walking

Here, Seaman shares a few of her snacking secrets and plans for Freestyle’s future.

Why do you choose focus on olives?

I’m a new olive lover. I came to them in the last five years. I was on a date with my now-husband, and I was a super picky eater. He would always push me to try new things.

He made me try an olive, starting with green. Then I moved on to speckled, then purple kalamatas.

It’s an acquired taste, similar to coffee, wine or oysters. By the time you’re on your fifth olive, you’re loving it and starting to crave it. I also think people’s palates evolve as they age. You have to start with a high-quality olive. Now I have them as a snack before dinner or when I’m running out of the house.

Plus, olives are really good for you. They are low-calorie, plantbased, sugar-free and high in antioxidants and heart-healthy fats, Vitamin E, calcium and iron.

How did you go about

Innovating with Olives

Nikki Seaman is changing the way Atlantans snack STORY: Carly Cooper PHOTO: Joann Vitelli

A

graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and a former Bain & Company management consultant, Nikki Seaman left a Whisps cheese crisps externship after 10 months to focus on olives. Yes, olives.

She was trying to solve a problem she felt deeply about. Prior to the pandemic, Seaman frequented her local grocery store’s olive bar. Once COVID hit, the olive bars shut down.

“For the first time, I found myself

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in the olive aisle. It was like eyeballs staring back at me from this murky water—some sort of weird science project,” says the Buckhead resident. “It’s a completely different feeling than in a restaurant or olive bar. They were bland and watery.

The jars and cans were messy; you’d lose a few olives down the drain while trying to get rid of the brine.”

Familiar with consumer-packaged goods from her work at Whisps, Seaman decided to tackle

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

developing the brand?

the olive issue head-on.

“I wanted to bring together high-quality restaurant olives and convenient, liquid-free packaging to make it easy to snack on olives anytime, anywhere,” she says. “I left [Whisps] in March 2021. I figured this is the time in life to take risks and explore your passions.”

Her gamble paid off in the form of Freestyle Snacks, her one-woman company selling marinated olives in resealable, stand-up pouches that preserve the flavor and texture for up to nine months. Currently, three flavors are available: Kalamata Olives Extra Virgin Olive Oil (the original), Green Olives Lemon Garlic (made with fresh-squeezed lemon juice) and Green Olives Hot & Spicy (with Calabrian chile flakes). They’re sold locally at Lucy’s Market and the Candler Park Market, as well as on Amazon and at freestylesnacking.com.

I cold called and emailed 200 copackers, found two who were interested and ended up working with one. I reached out to olive suppliers in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Morocco and Spain for samples. I read negative reviews on other olive brands to see what people want. I did a blind taste test in Piedmont Park and settled on Greek Halkidiki olives. They are larger than Spanish olives, more oval, very firm, juicy and green.

Are there other snacks in the works? What’s next?

I’m looking at other sizes for office snacks or airlines, so we’re focused on single-serve packages for the next six months. In the next 12 to 18 months, we’ll be looking at pickled vegetables such as artichokes, green beans and cauliflower. My vision is to revolutionize snacking for delicious whole foods. n FREESTYLE SNACKING freestylesnacking.com • @freestylesnacking

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

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

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FEATURED RESTAURANTS

A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead

Ecco's interpretation of classic scampi includes perfectly al dente bucatini, Georgia shrimp and Sapelo Island clams.

The 6-ounce filet with carrots, pistachio and orange from KR Steakbar is delicious and beautiful.

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J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

A petite white chocolate Key lime tart is a sweet send-off at Little Alley.

BY: Wendell

Brock, Rebecca Cha, Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Angela Hansberger, Hope S. Philbrick

PHOTOS:

Sara Hanna

THE ALDEN

JALISCO

NEWK’S EATERY

Sotohiro Kosugi, owner of Buckhead’s

Chamblee’s popularity as a residential

After nearly three decades, Jalisco remains a

This Mississippi-based chain has popped up

legendary (but now shuttered) Soto Japanese

and dining destination seems to be on

giddy, guilty pleasure trip through a tunnel of

in the Atlanta market, and though it looks like

Restaurant. Today, Moriuchi holds court at his

the rise, and Chef Jared Hucks is here to

cheese. This Tex-Mex institution at Peachtree

a fast-food joint, it tastes like homemade.

own sushi bar, where his impeccably fresh

make sure diners eat like royalty. Winning

Battle is better than an El Paso taco kit, but

Salads—from shrimp remoulade salad to a

fish and hot and cold appetizers compare

starters include a homemade bread plate

not exactly a showcase of the sophisticated

delicious steak-and-blue-cheese version to

to the best Japanese food in town. The only

with prosciutto butter and cheddar pimento

techniques and ingredients of the Mexican

old-fashioned chicken salad—are a standout.

difference: His prices won’t shipwreck your

cheese, silky sweet potato bisque and

larder. Without apology, Jalisco is what it is,

At this casual, family-friendly, crowd-pleasing

budget. Among our faves, the UPS roll is a

sashimi quality seared scallops. For mains,

a place with consistently good, standard-

spot you can also get sandwiches, pizzas and

delicious nod to the Atlanta-based Big Brown

go with the cold smoked salmon, Moroccan-

issue burritos, enchiladas, fajitas and even

mac and cheese but, refreshingly, no burgers.

fleet, and the black cod and okra tempura

spiced shrimp and grits or the hickory

a Hamburguesa Mexicana. (It’s topped with

We are pretty crazy about the sausage-and-

are packages you’ll be happy to see arrive at

smoked Brasstown coulotte steak. Desserts

nacho cheese.) This is not a place where the

pepperoni pie, with its thin crust and warm

your table.

are deliciously unique. If you’ve got belly room

kitchen thrives on change and creativity. For

and gooey toppings. And who can resist a

Appetizers: $6-$20 • Nigiri: $2.50-$11

to spare, be sure to witness the chef’s gastro-

the most part, the menu is the same as it has

crispy rice treat with chocolate and peanut

Sushi rolls: $4.50-$19.50

theatrics with the banana bread pudding

been since Jalisco opened in 1978.

butter? Not us.

takasushiatlanta.com

service. Our favorite was the lunar chocolate,

Lunch specials: $5-$9 • Entrees: $9-$13

Salads, sandwiches and pizzas: $7-$11

which the chef calls his “dessert moonscape.”

404.233.9244

newks.com

$45 • Desserts: $9-$15 • Chef’s tasting menu:

KR STEAKBAR

PIG-N-CHIK

been lavished upon Varasano’s for its

seven courses/$95 • thealdenrestaurant.com

Atlanta chef Kevin Rathbun’s only Buckhead

Co-owner Jim Graddy tells us he learned the

Neapolitan-style pizzas, and with good reason.

restaurant feels custom-tailored for the

art of the pit on his granddaddy’s pig farm

Owner Jeff Varasano has made it his life’s

BUTTERMILK KITCHEN

community. A contemporary nocturnal

in Manchester, Georgia. Graddy remembers

work to bring Atlantans pies on par with (or

Chef Suzanne Vizethann offers thoughtfully

cubbyhole where small plates rule, wine

cooking whole hogs all night long over hot

even better than) pizza in Italy. Classics such

handcrafted food in a room as pure and

flows and the air bristles with excitement, the

coals, and when we tear into his pulled-pork

as margherita di bufala and Nana’s showcase

simple as its namesake drink. Southern

fashionable “steakbar” concept finds Rathbun

sandwich—a delicious pile of pink, smoke-

his mastery of the basics—slow-cooked San

classics are the foundation of this Roswell

and chef de cuisine Jessica Gamble fusing

tinged meat between two thick slabs of white

Marzano tomato sauce, imported cheeses,

Road breakfast-and-lunch spot, and you

two venerable concepts: meat and Italian.

bread—we believe him. Graddy has proudly

herbs and his incomparable crust. Varasano’s

can’t go wrong with the Brunswick stew,

Here, nearly everything speaks with a perky

transported his family’s traditions to his

also features a selection of antipasti (divine

chicken salad, pimento cheese or the fried

Mediterranean lilt: amari-kissed cocktails,

casual Southern ’cue counter. Man, is the food

meatballs), simple salads and solid pastas of

chicken biscuit with pepper jelly and pickles.

steak doused with espresso sauce, heavenly

good. The fresh-tasting coleslaw (with just a

farfalle with shrimp in lemon cream sauce and

Vizethann’s love of sweet confections really

olive-oil cake with almond brittle and citrus

little mayo) and excellent new potato salad

penne alla vodka with chicken.

shines at weekend brunch, when folks line

cream. Hidden touches, like the speakeasy-

are just the things to cut the richness of the

Antipasti: $5.95 - $14.95

up in front of the inviting bright-blue cottage

style bar behind the kitchen and a patio that

succulent pork. Some other tasty go-withs

Pastas: $16.95 - $18.95 • Pizza: $15.95 -

for the likes of toasted blueberry coffee

feels like a sunken garden, make us want to

are fried okra, long-cooked collards, mac and

$20.95 ($1.50 - $5.00 for additional toppings)

cake and poppy-seed pancakes with

continue to explore this romantic spot.

cheese and Brunswick stew. We’re sated.

Desserts: $3.95 - $8.95 • varasanos.com

strawberries and lemon curd.

Antipasti: $6-$19 • Pasta: $12-$16

We’re sauce-splashed. We need a moist

Breakfast dishes: $8-$13 • Salads

Entrees: $18-$68 • krsteakbar.com

towelette and a nap.

ZAFRON

Entrees: $8-$24 • pignchik.net

If you’re like us, the minute you

VARASANO’S PIZZERIA

Smaller dishes: $11-$21 • Larger dishes: $23-

For over a decade, highest accolades have

and sandwiches: $8.25-$11.50 buttermilkkitchen.com

LITTLE ALLEY

hear Persian foodie buzzwords such as mirza

A meal at Little Alley is an escape, an

R. THOMAS DELUXE GRILL

ghasemi, hummus and kabob, your mouth

ECCO BUCKHEAD

immersive experience no matter where

Open 24/7 and bedecked with ’70s-style

starts watering, and you’ve got one foot out

Meals at Ecco in Buckhead have the

you find yourself seated. Settle in and

disco lighting, beaded curtains and groovy

the door. If you’re smart, you’ll head directly

elegance and spontaneity of a spin around

indulge in the daily rotating selection of

plastic walls, this Buckhead favorite feels

to Zafron in Sandy Springs. Once seated, a

the dance floor, thanks to the hyper-seasonal

ultra-fresh raw oysters served with

like a throwback to the days when the health

beaming server will bring a complimentary

approach to the menu. The kitchen shines in

a trio of house-made sauces and an

food craze was in its genesis. Whether you

sabzi plate and pita from the wood-burning

creative interpretations of European cuisine

appetizer of brûléed bone marrow that’s

go for the sizzling bone-in hot wings or Dr.

oven. That extra-mile hospitality spills over

with dishes such as Spanish octopus with

so rich it could double as butter for

Joe’s Mango Salad with a side of raw cashew

into all areas, especially the food: world-class

Castelvetrano olives, grilled pork tenderloin

grilled bread. The main event is an array

“cheese,” R. Thomas lives up to its promise to

lamb kabob, fire-roasted salmon and the

with beet top risotto, and tortellini stuffed

of prime Angus cuts, both wet- and

“treat carnivores and vegetarians with equal

“Zafron special” made with chile, mango and

with butternut squash and mascarpone.

dry-aged from 28 to 60 days, so guests

respect.” More menu favorites include the

eggplant. Plenty of classic small plates and

Perennial favorites such as fried goat cheese

can choose their steak’s flavor intensity,

quinoa-rich Thai Express bowl, the classic

rice dishes are joined with a few East-meets-

with honey and cracked black pepper and

cut and tenderness. If you’re really going

Thomas Burger with sprouts and guacamole,

West treats such as spicy Zafron chicken

the Allora flatbread (with its San Marzano

for broke, make it a surf-and-turf with

the curry coconut seafood linguine,

wings and tiramisu.

tomato sauce, still bubbling mozzarella,

the addition of a flash-fried Maine lobster

Southwestern-style R.’s Quesadilla and an

Starters and salads: $5- $9 • Wraps

hot sopressata and pepperoni) don’t fail to

tail with drawn butter. Whether you’re out

unforgettable peanut butter chocolate pie.

(lunch only): $12 • Entrees: $12-$32

impress. Paired with expert service, a nicely

for a special occasion, a business meeting

Breakfast: $9.75-$14.75 • Appetizers: $4.50-

Sides and rice: $3-$7 • Desserts: $5-$7

curated wine list and an atmosphere that’s

to close a big deal or a “just because” meal,

$17.50 • Sandwiches, salads and veggie

persianrestaurantsandysprings.com

at once sleek and cozy, this Phipps Plaza-

this is a carnivore’s paradise, with aged

mains: $5.99-$17.50 • Entrees: $13.25-$20.75

adjacent eatery warrants a visit. Bottom line:

prime beef, ultra-fresh seafood and hearty

Desserts: $6.50-$8.75 • rthomasdeluxegrill.net

If you find something you crave, visit soon

sides served with gracious, professional

to get it before it’s gone.

service in a luxe atmosphere.

TAKA SUSHI AND PASSION

Small plates: $9-$18 • Flatbreads: $15-$21

Starters: $16.95-$27.95 • Steaks: $51.95-

Chef Taka Moriuchi learned from perhaps

Pasta and mains: $19-$36 • Sides: $7-$12

$139.95 • Sides: $11-12 • Desserts: $12-14

the most famously finicky and cult-inspiring

Desserts: $6-$9 • ecco-atlanta.com

littlealleysteak.com

Japanese chef Atlanta has ever known:

Note: Prices and menu items may have changed since original publication.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Visit simplybuckhead.com to read all of our restaurant reviews!

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

87

CHARITABLE

Models showcased Joshua Kane's Dandy Rebels collection.

Thom McCorkle, Julie Smith

ATLANTA FASHION GIVES STORY: H.M. Cauley PHOTOS: Monica

Farber, Hello Fancy Media

S

Joanne Hayes welcomes guests while WSB's Karyn Greer looks on.

Kate Chestnutt, Donovan Johnson

88

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

imply Buckhead hosted its inaugural Atlanta Fashion Gives event in April at Flourish by Legendary Events. The gala evening, emceed by Atlanta’s WSB-TV news anchor Karyn Greer, featured the U.S. debut of British bespoke designer Joshua Kane’s The Dandy Rebels collection. Forty-five models showcased Kane’s unique take on suits, waistcoats, jackets, ties, dress shirts, dinner jackets and tailcoats. The independent fashion house is noted for its quality and detail from fabric and linings to buttons and trims.

“Unlike a traditional fashion show, this was a couture level event,” says Simply Buckhead Publisher, CEO and Founder Joanne Hayes.

“The outfits were so intricate that they could only put on one outfit per model.”

The immersive runway show, set against the high-tech visuals of a video game, was produced by Fathom7 Digital Studios; 26TH Letter Productions, noted for the “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition”; and

Joe Morelli, Greg Mauk, Cromwell Baun, Brady Henderson

Catwalk Productions, led by Randi Layne. Guests included Josh Murray of “The Bachelor,” and actors Rob Riley and Eliza Bennett of CW’s “Dynasty.”

Actors Griffin Matthews of “The Flight Attendant,” Harrison Osterfield of “The Irregulars” and Alex Vlahos of “Outlander” made runway appearances.

Along with the exquisite display of clothes, guests at sponsor tables dined on short ribs and citrus sea bass, and bid on a silent auction that included a Jimi Hendrix painting by artist Raymond Pickens, a basketball autographed by the Hawks’ Trae Young and a trip to the King and Prince Resort on St. Simons Island. Auction proceeds, ticket sales and sponsorships raised almost $100,000 for CURE Childhood Cancer.

“Nobody’s ever put on a couture fashion show in Atlanta with a European designer that was literally set inside a video game,” says Hayes. “It was groundbreaking for us and the start of something really special.”

Anderson Smith, Jenna Jeffries, Dan Phipps, Sonny Hayes

Josh Murray, Lauren Murray, Jeff Michaud

Richie Arpino, Jenni Lubo, Blaiss Nowak, Lex Lauletta

Eric Wilson, Mali Wilson

Brenda Wood, Joseph Frasier

Sonny Hayes, Joanne Hayes

Molly Heisman, Michael Kanyon

Joshua Kane, Lottie Archer

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

89

CHARITABLE

Neal Maziar, Saba Long, Keith Pepper, Tuere Butler, Craig Bass, Meredith Bass, Hilary Nelson, Stuart Nelson, Laura Simmons, Ben Unger

Janine Morris-Meggett, Tamara Hamm, Tanya Sam, Trenika FieldsSmith, Uyo Okebie-Eichelberger, Jennifer Hrabowski

MOURNING GLORY GALA STORY: H.M. Cauley

T

Onyeka Okongwu, Lisa Aman, Kate Atwood

he Mourning Glory Gala, an annual fundraiser for Kate’s Club, drew more than 300 corporate, professional and community leaders to the Loews Atlanta Hotel in May in support of the nonprofit’s mission to empower children dealing with the death of a parent, sibling or caregiver.

Guests enjoyed a cocktail reception, dinner, live entertainment by Atlanta Beat Band and dancing. Bids on live and silent auction items of lunch with Braves legend John Smoltz and trips to Tuscany and Antigua contributed to the event raising more than $300,000.

This year’s event honored Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu, who lost his older brother in a skateboarding accident, so his partnership with Kate’s Club is close to his heart. Okongwu has also worked to build a legacy to his sibling and has focused his energies off the court to serving young people and honoring nurses.

Craig Clark (second from right) with his wife, Kathy, and friends.

Ashlie Evans, Jamie Duncan, Debra Brook, Courtney Parsons, Victoria Ravenell, Taurean Simmons, Liz Carson, Courtney Coleman, Lane Pease Hendricks, Lisa Aman

Jordan Campbell

Erik Vincent, Danny Vincent, Amanda Kay Seals, Zac Toy

Kate's Club member family April and Jaiden Caldwell (third and fourth from left) with family and friends at the event.

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • J U N E 2 0 2 2

91

SCENE

Shirt, jumpsuit and jewelry, Versace; shoes, Giuseppe Zanotti. Available at Le'Archive.

STYLE MAVEN "The Real Housewives of Atlanta" cast member Marlo Hampton is surrounded by her expansive collection of luxury goods in her over-the-top closet. PHOTO: Sara Hanna

92

J U N E 2 0 2 2 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

TERRY FURUTA DESIGNS

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WEBB BRANCH ROAD, HIGHLANDS | MLS# 98908 | $1,695,000 HIGHLANDS, NC — Own your own piece of Highlands history with this fully renovated 1937 Joe Webb cabin, which is just a 5-minute drive from downtown. The main house offers three beds and three bathrooms, including a private master suite in a setting that will make you feel like you’re floating amongst the trees. The main floor comes with a guest bedroom and full bath, spacious living areas with fireplaces, including the original log cabin structure, and an entertainment-focused kitchen complete with high-end appliances including double ovens and dishwashers. A large, screened-in porch off the kitchen is perfect for taking in an early morning coffee or sunset, offering privacy and seclusion that is hard to match this close to town. Finally, a downstairs bedroom and bathroom complete the main structure with a stone foundation that dates back to 1890. In addition to the main house, a guest house bungalow sits on the 2.17 acre property with its own newly renovated kitchen and full bath, making it a wonderful getaway for guests. The entire property has been on the rental market and has generated attractive income since last fall — an added bonus for those looking to help offset expenses when away from the property. Offered furnished.

SHERMAN M. POPE

(828) 342-4277 | sherman@bhhsmmr.com MeadowsMountainRealty.com 488 Main St, Highlands, NC | 2334 Cashiers Rd, Highlands, NC 196 Burns St, Cashiers, NC © 2022 BHHS Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHHS Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. ® Equal Housing Opportunity.

MLS# 98918 | THE WOODCREST | $4,995,000 HIGHLANDS, NC — This is the first home in a new community to be built on the corner of 1st and Oak streets by Futral Construction and Sanctuary Developers. JIM WEINBERG, Creative Director for Sanctuary Developers as well as founder and principal of JIM WEINBERG LIFESTYLES, has put his award-winning touch on these homes; they will exude the best of mountain modern design, embrace the mountain lifestyle, and the desire for upscale living. The homes being planned for Sanctuary on First epitomize the developers’ goal of making sure that the homeowner feels cocooned, protected, and pampered in their own home. This four bedroom, four bath home will be built in the popular transitional farmhouse style — traditional while offering a sleek, updated feel. The layout includes a main floor master bedroom, four fireplaces, and a sun porch accessible from the great room. A downstairs family room/media room adds extra living space. This stunning home is only one minute from Main Street in Highlands.

THE MICHAUD/RAUERS GROUP JUDY MICHAUD: (828) 371-0730 | MITZI RAUERS: (404) 218-9123 TOM GOLDACKER: (828) 200-9045 | JOHN MUIR: (404) 245-7027

MeadowsMountainRealty.com 488 Main St, Highlands, NC | 2334 Cashiers Rd, Highlands, NC 196 Burns St, Cashiers, NC © 2022 BHHS Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHHS Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. ® Equal Housing Opportunity.

“”

A HOME IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ASSETS THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL EVER BUY. HOMES ARE ALSO WHERE MEMORIES ARE MADE AND YOU WANT TO WORK WITH SOMEONE YOU CAN

TRUST. WARREN BUFFETT

CHAIRMAN AND CEO, BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY, INC.

HIGHLANDS, CASHIERS, AND LAKE TOXAWAY, NORTH CAROLINA 828.526.1717 | MeadowsMountainRealty.com © 2022 BHHS Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned and operated franchisee of BHHS Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc. ® Equal Housing Opportunity.