Simply Buckhead October 2022

Know-how that says no challenge is too big. commercial bankers are game changers with credit facilities know-how an d loca l decisioning So, your proj ect g ets a hometown – and home team – advantage. to meet top-tier capital needs. But, we also bring market-specific

Dr. Debra Gray King is one of the most influential leaders in cosmetic dentistry and has spent the last three decades creating beautiful smiles. As president of the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, she leads a team that is notably the best in their fields and has the distinction of being the only practice in the world with three dentists accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Reserve your Custom Smile Design Experience today and experience the unapologetic luxury that is the Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry.

The perfect balance of comfort and performance. Introducing the new Bentayga Extended Wheelbase. Find your extraordinary at BentleyAtlanta.com.

The name ‘Bentley’ the ‘B’ in wings device are registered trademarks. 2022 Bentley Motors shown: Bentayga Wheelbase

STYLISH

44 FASHION

Luxury Redux

How one founder changed luxury resale forever

46 BEAUTY

Just Brows-ing

These trends will keep your eyebrows perfectly shaped

48 WELLNESS

Gua Sha, What?

Exploring a trending technique

50 TASTEMAKER

Hair Raising

Celebrity hairstylist Michael Kanyon launches a beauty brand

FAMILY

56 KIDS

Photo Flurry

What on Earth to do with all your pics

58 PETS

Volunteer Movement

What to consider when working with animal rescues

60 STRATEGIES

Money Matters

Tips for managing your end-of-year finances

CULTURE

66 ON STAGE

Hunters, Gatherers and Broadcasters

Kevin Gillespie combines his passions in “Sabertooth”

68 PROFILE

Get Creative!

Tap your inner Picasso, van Gogh or Rodin with an art class

70 TASTEMAKER

Big News

Anchor Karyn Greer’s next chapter

71 EVENTS

Places to go and things to do

COVER STORY

75 Business Builders

Success stories, career advice and financial tips from top entrepreneurs and experts

Sara Hanna

DELICIOUS

82 REVIEW

Vacation Vibes

A meal at Canoe feels like a luxe getaway

86 DRINKS

Extra Buzz

The espresso martini is back

88 FOODIE JOURNAL

Fresh Perspective

Original ChopShop brings good-foryou food to Buckhead this month

90 TASTEMAKER

The Heiress

Sachi Nakato Takahara celebrates 50 years of Nakato Japanese Restaurant

92 Featured Restaurants

A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead

Icons: Freepik.com

FIND

95 Charitable

A spotlight on philanthropic and social gatherings

96 Scene

BEHIND THE COVER

When the cover theme is as broad and bold as “Business Builders,” the Simply Buckhead creative team had to go for something out-of-the-box. We tapped local artist Dana Dalton to create a one-of-a-kind dress made of color prints of past magazine covers, Buckhead landmarks and key community personalities. We set up shop in a multimedia studio where the letters BUILD created a fun backdrop for our model to pose.

Just as local entrepreneurs build something from nothing, photographer Sara Hanna brought a fun, new idea to life for our October cover and the pages of this month’s feature.

Photographer: Sara Hanna

Producer: Jennifer Bradley Franklin

Photography assistants: Connery Ademokun, Judd Redmond

Model: Rebecca Ray, courtesy

Click Models of Atlanta

Makeup: Nyssa Green

Hair: Vincent Bell

Dress: Dana Dalton

Nails: Sugarcoat

Artist Dana Dalton poses with model Rebecca Ray after a successful shoot.

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Wealth management refers to products and services available through the operating subsidiaries of The Charles Schwab Corporation, of which there are important differences, including but not limited to, the type of advice and assistance provided, fees charged, and the rights and obligations of the parties. It is important to understand the differences when determining which products and/or services to select.

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Let’s start planning for a brighter financial future.

Modern wealth management starts with a trusted relationship.

Editor's Letter

Stepping away from a secure, full-time job to go out on your own is not for the faint of heart. It takes a lot of courage and discipline to make it as an entrepreneur. I know this firsthand because I did it a decade ago to become a full-time freelance writer, and it has been quite the journey ever since. There are greener grasses on both sides of being employed and being self-employed, but the “business builders” in this issue might agree that there’s nothing quite like steering your own ship.

Whether you just like a good success story, or you’re an aspiring entrepreneur looking for tips on how to get started, our cover package has plenty. Get a glance at how the uber-successful Jeff Arnold of Sharecare, Tope Awotona of Calendly and Sara Blakely of Spanx, among others, made their millions in our midst. Discover advice on everything from creating a mission-driven business to the importance of having a Plan B, C and D up your sleeves for those business curveballs.

More helpful guidance in this issue includes what to do with all of your digital photos, trendy ideas for your brows, where to go for art classes, how to budget for next year and what to expect at Chattahoochee River-adjacent restaurant staple Canoe. As we ring in the fall, it’s a picturesque spot to grab a bite. Enjoy!

Sara Hanna Karina Antenucci Managing Editor

Printed

P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355

simplybuckhead.com

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

For advertising rates, call: 404.538.9895

Joanne Hayes Publisher and Founder Sonny Hayes Chief Financial Officer

EDITORIAL

Karina Antenucci

Managing Editor

Jennifer Bradley Franklin

Senior Contributing Editor

Alan Platten

Creative Director

Giannina S. Bedford

Contributing Home Editor

H.M. Cauley Copy Editor

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Chelsie Butler

H.M. Cauley

Carly Cooper Emily L. Foley Lauren Finney Harden

Elizabeth Harper

Mickey Goodman

Angela Hansberger

Michael Jacobs

Denise K. James

Amy Meadows

Hope Philbrick

Claire Ruhlin Ginger Strejcek

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Sara Hanna Erik Meadows

Joann Vitelli

SALES & ADVERTISING

Cheryl Isaacs

Senior Account Executive Michelle Johnson Account Executive

Layla Ghadamyari Account Executive

Layal Akkad Graphic Designer

DIGITAL

BHG Digital Website Development Management

Mike Jose Director of Audience Development

LEGAL Scott I. Zucker Legal Counsel

Erik Meadows

Erik Meadows is a food, commercial and lifestyle photographer based in Atlanta. In addition to shooting portraits, restaurants and more for Simply Buckhead, some of his favorite local clients include Banner Butter, The Fox Theatre and Emory Uni versity. When he is not busy taking beautiful photos, he enjoys CrossFit, yoga, Duke basketball, woodshed ding on the jazz drums and spending time with Rosie, his Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, and his two cats, Bruce and Mac. @erikmeadows

PROUD SPONSOR OF MEMBER

Copyright 2022 by Simply Buckhead

Sweet

Every villa at Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort in St. Lucia, offers a dramatic, mountains-meet-sea view.

SIPS AND THE CITY

For splashy drinks, savory bites and buzzy views, head to the rooftop lounge of The James Room at Buckhead Village, which opens later this month in a third floor interior space, complete with outdoor balcony.

Tapping into a spirited vibe with signature playlists and rustic woodsy decor, the restaurant features an extensive beverage program comple

mented by a selection of chef-driven small plates. Guests can imbibe with colorful concoctions such as the Angry Pina Margarita with Tanteo jalapeno tequila and Like A Jungle with Bacardi cuatro rum. On the menu: balsamic raspberry lamb chops, vegan meatballs, shrimp cru dité and charcuterie board offerings.

The interplay of all five senses defines the eating and drinking

experience here, says owner Harold Brinkley, who teamed up with restaurateur Aaron Mattison of Ponce City Market’s Bar Vegan and pop-up Excuse My French to open the second location of The James Room (the first is on the BeltLine in Old Fourth Ward).

“People love the way it feels! It's elegant enough to impress your date but welcoming enough to make

anyone feel right at home,” Brinkley says. “Our guests love our musical selection: Music is at the core of our ethos, and we believe good music can be the difference between a good night and a great night.”

It will be open nightly, Wednesday through Sunday. n

THE JAMES ROOM thejamesroom.com • @thejamesroom

READY FOR MARKET

As fall conjures foodie dreams of pumpkin pie and sweet potato souf flé, get baking with farm-fresh fare delivered straight to your front door through a new online service from the largest supermarket chain in the country. The Kroger Farmers Market powered by Market Wagon connects buyers with more than 60 local food producers, cutting a 60-mile swath through the heart of Buckhead that covers 28 counties. Order everything from seasonal veggies to free-range eggs and grass-fed steaks—more than 1,150 goods total—with a flat $6.95 fee for delivery (available Tues days and Fridays), and no member

ship or subscription required.

“Market Wagon transforms the farm-to-table concept into a farmto-front-door reality,” says co-found er/CEO Nick Carter, who launched Market Wagon in 2016 with Dan Brunner. The two have since grown the business to 30-plus markets across 19 states. “Our mission is to enable food producers to thrive in their local markets.”

That includes family-run D&B Farm and Livestock in Loganville, Piedmont Kitchen Co. in Atlanta and 7W Farm in Winston that are all beefing up the supply chain with homegrown goodness. marketwagon.com • @marketwagon

NEW HANG

Coloring the world of art patrons since 1996, Gregg Irby Gallery has unveiled a swanky new space at Peachtree Battle Shopping Center in Buckhead after relocating from Atlanta’s Westside. Step in to view an eclectic array of paintings by more than 45 artists, both emerging and established. From vibrant florals by Laura Park to moody landscapes by Jill Holland, the works are beauti fully displayed in curated collections, with a mix of sizes and prices adding to the design appeal.

“Nearly every member of the gallery is represented on the floor. This exposure is key for our artists

and beneficial to our collectors as well,” says Irby. “We love that we were able to build out the space ourselves to make it perfect for what we need.” greggirbygallery.com @greggirbygallery

BLAZING TRAILS

A destination for equestrians since 1939, Chastain Horse Park is saddling up for an epic expansion, with an $8.9 million upgrade that will double the horsepower of its nationally-recognized therapeutic riding program. The comprehensive redesign of the 15-acre property in Buckhead’s Chastain Park includes

a Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, additional covered riding arena, new boarder barn and expanded outdoor paddocks, with projected completion by mid-2023.

“Equine therapy is at the heart of what we do—empowering individ uals of all ages and abilities through life-changing relationships with horses,” says Executive Director Trisha Gross of the accredited Pro fessional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship center. “With these improvements, we’re on course to double our impact with 10,000 therapeutic sessions each year.” chastainhorsepark.org @chastainhorsepark

Ogle-worthy offerings from the curated menu include robust cocktails and charcuterie.

Preventing the Summer Slide

Program gives students a boost

Buckhead’s Atlanta International School Head of School Kevin Glass was searching for a program boost ing literacy in young people experi encing poverty. He was introduced to Horizons Atlanta, a national program founded in 1964. “It had the proven results we were looking for,” he says.

Glass quickly became involved in the six-week program that takes place at AIS, one of 10 Horizons’ sites for kids from rising first graders to rising ninth graders. Funding comes from foundations, AIS and individu als. He is the current chairman of the Horizons Atlanta board of directors.

Fifteen rising first-grade students are selected by teachers at Garden Hills Elementary for the six-week pro gram designed to keep students on track during the long “summer slide” when kids who lack enrichment can lose academic skills. The emphasis

is on literacy and math, but students also receive swim lessons, nutritious meals and enrichment activities.

At summer’s end, Horizons Atlanta holds a fourth-grade swim meet for participating schools. “Teachers tell us that the program is transforma tive,” Glass says. “Ninety-nine percent graduate from high school.”

Atlanta has nine additional Hori zons sites serving approximately 1,000 students. “Eventually we hope to reach students throughout metro Atlanta.” says Glass. “The program allows young people to become the best version of themselves as young scholars and opens doors that make a difference in their lives.”

ATLANTA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL 404.851.3840 • aisschool.org • @aischool HORIZONS ATLANTA 678.995.5108 horizonsatlanta.org • @horizonsatlanta

Cadence Bank presents a grant to Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs.

Left to right: David Berdugo, Eric Swilling, Martina Edwards, Grace Covington Fricks, John Jackson and Chris Clay.

New Heights for the High

Donation transforms collection

Along with providing loans and investments to local small business es, Cadence Bank offers affordable housing lending options and joins forces with nonprofits and commu nity developers through grants and direct investments that contribute to economic revitalization.

“In June, we awarded a $15,000 grant to Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs, Inc. whose mission of granting loans to entrepreneurs aligns well with the bank’s,” says John Jackson, Atlanta division presi dent with offices on Pharr Road.

“We’re all about engaging and understanding the needs of communities and encouraging our employees to volunteer,” he says.

ACE, the largest small businesscentered community development loan fund in Georgia, is laser focused.

“Our ‘secret sauce’ is providing capital, coaching and connections to help entrepreneurs acquire financial acumen” says Grace Fricks, president and CEO. “The grant will go toward our business advisory services.”

The nonprofit was founded by Fricks in 1997 while she was on the board of North Georgia Technical College. “There were students in the entrepreneurial program who couldn’t qualify for small bank loans, and we had access to $50,000. I was fascinated with the idea that we could do something different with capital that has a social impact.”

ACE has provided $135 million to 2,000 small businesses.

When Claudia Einecke became the Frances B. Bunzi Family Curator of European Art at the High Museum in 2018, she could have never dreamed what was on the horizon. The next year, Doris and Shouky Shaheen donated their entire collection of 24 impressionist, post-impressionist and modernist paintings—one of the most significant collections ever to enter a museum of comparable size. She was also stunned to have an opportunity to see the priceless art hanging on the walls of the Shaheens’ Buckhead home.

“It was quite amazing,” she says. “There was a Monet over the sofa, Pissarros in the dining room and a Matisse in the corner. To honor the couple for their generosity, we estab lished the Doris and Shouky Shaheen Gallery in the Stent Family Wing.”

According to Einecke, the Sha heens’ gift transformed the museum’s 19th century art collection and lifted it to a new level, but they didn’t stop there. Since 2018, they’ve donated six additional works, including the muse um’s first by Edouard Manet entitled Portrait of Madame Jules Guillemet that went on display recently.

The Shaheens’ contribution to the High is just one of the couple’s philanthropic endeavors that include the Doris Shaheen Breast Health Center at Piedmont Hospital and the annual Shouky Shaheen Lecture at the University of Georgia Lamar Dodd School of Art. Doris passed away in 2020.

HIGH MUSEUM OF ART 404-733-4400 high.org @highmuseumofart

Doris collection.

Atlanta

Courtesy of the Shaheen Family and Piedmont Healthcare Foundation

POORVI CHORDIA

Buckhead-based physician turns her passion for holistic living into a family activity and a burgeoning new business

As told to Amy Meadows

PHOTO: Erik Meadows

W hen our family moved into our new home in Buckhead four years ago, the first thing we did was plant a blueberry bush. I always wanted an urban garden like my grand father had in India, where I grew up, and our move to Atlanta from Boston gave us the perfect oppor tunity to create one. I worked with a designer, and we now have three beds in our backyard and 12 beds out front. In the fall we grow lettuce, radishes and carrots. In the summer, we have tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans. We have a big straw berry patch, as well as blackberries, blueberries and raspberries. You name it, we have it.

It's wonderful because we eat fresh produce right from our garden. We know exactly what’s in our plants, and we make sure that they’re pesticide-free. My husband, Abe, and I are both physicians—I’m an internal medicine doctor at Grady, and he’s a radiologist—and we are all about holistic living and well-being. Our garden helps support that. But it’s even more than that: We spend a lot of time in the garden with our daughters planting, pruning and harvesting. It has become an activity our family does together, and it brings a lot of calm and peace to our house. It’s also great for us to be outside and for our girls, 6 and 8, to learn that you really can produce delicious food in your very own garden.

For the last year and a half, I’ve also enjoyed seeing our daughters develop entrepreneurial skills. In spring 2021, we started a tea company, Herbs & Kettles, because we wanted to share our love of tea and its wellness properties with Atlanta. I started by blending chai and creating my own recipes, and

Left: Caring for this beautiful urban garden in Buckhead has become a family affair.

we began selling at The Green Mar ket at Piedmont Park. We launched an online presence and expanded by adding single origin, high-qual ity tea that I source from India. We also added the Grant Park Farmers Market and the Avondale Estates Farmers Market to our locations.

It’s become a real family business. My husband loves talking to cus tomers, and the girls offer samples and ring customers up on Square. It’s a great life skill for them.

The business also allows us to travel, which is something I love to do. When I go home to India, I visit different tea regions all around the country and meet with tea growers. I try different teas, select what I like and often ask the farmers to make special batches for me during the coming year. It allows us to import the best quality tea from India, as well as improve the economies of the regions where we source our ingredients. Additionally, we have the opportunity to share the cul ture of India with our customers in Atlanta. It’s a way for us to connect with our roots and give back. That’s something that is important to us. In fact, through Herbs & Kettles, we give 1% of our proceeds to wildlife

A SWEET TREAT

While the fruits and vegetables grown in Poorvi Chordia’s Buckhead garden typically are enjoyed by her family, she has been known to use her homegrown strawberries in the lattes she sells at the Green Market at Piedmont Park, which runs every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. between March and December 10. piedmontpark.org/green-market

conservation in India.

Abe and I love sharing our joy of tea with our customers, and this business has really brought us closer together. It has taught us new skills that we never would have learned otherwise, and it’s so fun to see us grow and learn different aspects of how to run a business. I even took an online course from the International Tea Masters Association to become a tea sommelier, which taught me about different types of teas, the steps involved in the production of tea, how to steep the perfect cup and more. I’m about tea and natural and holistic living. This has been such an amazing journey for me. n

HERBS & KETTLES

Below: Poorvi Chordia's love of tea has opened the door to a new passion project, Herbs & Kettles.

Fit Finds

It’s time amp up your fitness routine. These chic athleisure sets will have you looking fit from the Pilates reformer to Atlanta’s running trails. Let’s get moving.

STORY: Elizabeth Harper

Lanston Motivation Stripe Bra ($110) and Legging ($132)

Hit the gym in style. Neon pink and electrified lavender pop against the taupe backdrop of this fitness star. Ideal for SculptHouse’s signature blend of Megaformer-meets-treadmill classes, this set is supportive thanks to its slight compression but has a silky-soft feel for ultimate comfort. And it naturally wicks when things get spicy. Bonus, it’s UV protective for those outdoor workout sessions.

SculptHouse • 470.553.0080 sculpthouse.com • @sculpthouse

Soul by SoulCycle Bra & Bike Short Kit ($98)

Form and function prove they’re a match made in cycling heaven with Soul by SoulCycle’s classic bra and bike short set. The matching kit sets purists’ hearts ablaze with high-functioning black ribbed fabric, a simplistic white piping detail and a dose of modernity with thoughtfully placed branding.

SoulCycle • 470.381.4770 soul-cycle.com • @soulcycle

Lululemon Blissfeel Women’s Running Shoe ($148)

This kaleidoscopic workhorse is equal parts comfort and utility. Expect a superior fit in Lululemon’s footwear hero: The Blissfeel shoe was crafted based on more than a million women’s feet. Extra support comes from the specially fabricated upper, and an extra pep is added to your step courtesy of the tuned foam cushioning. Looking to complete the outfit? Local artist Leah Abucayan recently launched an exclusive-to-Atlanta capsule collection of T-shirts, shorts and leggings. Lululemon • 404.898.0774 • shop.lululemon.com • @lululemon

The Upside Kelsey Bra ($79.99) and Mirage Dance Midi Legging ($119.99)

Supportive, seamless and super soft, The Upside’s Kelsey bra and Mirage leggings are tailor-made for Stellar Bodies’ custom Starformer machine. Smash the mental and physical challenge of Pilates with the set’s punchy stripes and stylish neutral backdrop. Its moisture-control properties will help you power through that last set. Deep breath in, deep breath out.

Stellar Bodies • 404.467.1060 • stellarstyleatl.com • @stellarbodiesatl

Aviator Nation 5 Stripe Crew Sweatshirt ($165) and Sweatpants ($145)

Balance your workout routine with some much-needed stretching and meditation. Whether you subscribe to a more traditional meditative practice or lean toward sound baths and what’s trending in the holistic sphere, the comfy-cozy Aviator Nation sweatshirt and sweatpants set will ease you into your practice with their vintage feel and plush cotton make up.

Mitylene • 678.333.1075 • shopmitylene.com • @shopmitylene

Head for the Hills

For anyone who craves the boardwalk excitement of a beach-front town, but hates that Buckhead is hours away from the shore, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is a great option.

This town of about 4,000 in the eastern corner of the state has built a reputation around attractions similar to those visitors will find in touristy, seaside destinations: a Ripley’s Believe It or Not, Aquarium, Mirror Maze; the Anakeesta Theme Park with zip lines, gondola rides and a tree canopy connected by swinging bridges; and a 407-foot tall space needle. A stroll down Parkway, the main thoroughfare, isn’t com plete without stops for funnel cakes, caramel apples, ice cream and a

the tykes were tiny. This time, they were more interested in discovering the area’s natural beauty. Gatlinburg is a hub for outdoors lovers who will find plenty of places to rest and re fuel in between treks into the near by Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A highlight was the moderate ly challenging, 5.4-mile roundtrip hike that leads to Rainbow Falls, an 80-foot cascade of water known for its rainbow-producing mist in summer and spectacular ice for mations in winter. Horseback riding and bicycles provide other options for seeing the park.

Downtown Gatlinburg is home to another spot for spectacular views, especially of fall foliage. The SkyLift hoists travelers 500 feet above the

deep breath, get over the fear of heights and stroll the 700 feet across the valley for jaw-dropping vistas.

We didn’t get to spend as much time communing with nature as we’d planned when some serious rainfall set in. But that didn’t impact the in door fun we had at our lodgings, the Westgate Smoky Mountain Resort and Water Park, where the lazy river, water slides and splash pads are indoors. Lounge chairs, lockers and showers are provided, so it’s easy to forget the weather and dive in.

When the temperature dropped in the evening, the gas fireplace in the resort’s apartment-style ac commodations made the luxurious ly appointed space seem cozy. It was also easy to chill out in the master bedroom’s oversized hot tub—as in a multi-person, wear-a-bathingsuit tub, not a bathtub. Both the bedroom and living area, complete with dining table and fully outfit

Above: Zip lines at Anakeesta Theme Park send riders soaring over the scenery.

Left: Forget your fear of heights and stroll out onto the SkyBridge, a 700-foot span across Gatlinburg's valley.

ted kitchen, featured sliding doors to balconies that opened onto the hazy mountain scenery.

Westgate is also home to the Southern Comfort restaurant, where the menu is built around stick-to-the-ribs comfort favor ites: shrimp and grits, chicken and dumplings, bacon-wrapped meat loaf and a grilled ribeye drizzled in garlic butter. While downtown Gat linburg is awash in fast-casual food, we splurged at the Chesapeake Seafood House, noted for its wellstocked raw bar. The patio is heated, but we went for an inside booth that still gave a clear view of the Little River that gushes through town.

Our mountain outing included one final stop on the way out: lunch at the Sunliner Diner. Technically in neighboring Pigeon Forge, the ’50s-style eatery embraces the era with authentic period autos retro fitted with tables inside the frames, classic rock ’n roll on the sound sys tem and a menu of American classics served up with soda-fountain floats, sundaes, splits and shakes. The Fonz would have been right at home. n

GATLINBURG gatlinburg.com • @visitgatlinburg

WESTGATE SMOKY MOUNTAIN RESORT AND WATER PARK • 865.430.4800 westgateresorts.com • @westgatesmokies

Left: The unspoiled beauty of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is minutes from the heart of town.

Right: Visitors to downtown Gatlinburg will find a plethora of activities and attractions for all ages.

Foliage and fun are in store around Gatlinburg STORY: H.M. Cauley

Above: Fresh fruit provides the foundation for many of the resort's balanced cocktails.

Left: Villas and bungalows frame the glittering bay at Sugar Beach.

Below: Palm Court is an elegant spot for a glass of French Champagne and canapes.

Sweet Escape

St. Lucia’s Viceroy Sugar Beach is a first-rate getaway STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin

Time is standing still in the best possible way. Instead of scurrying to start my day or make it to an appointment as I would be on a standard Atlanta morning, I’m reclining in the lone hammock suspended over aqua marine water. My view is filled with puffy clouds passing behind St. Lucia’s majestic Pitons, the peaks that frame the bay where the Viceroy Resort of Sugar Beach sits. The gentle waves lap against the hammock frame, glittering like cut crystal. It’s a near-perfect moment. The enchantment started early. From the moment my driver turned into the 100-acre property set in a tropical forest, the glittering sea

spread out before me. The resort still bears remnants of its past as a working sugar plantation, including the hauntingly beautiful ruins of an 18th-century mill. Since the major ity of the 130 rooms and suites are standalone villas and bungalows, my driver deposited me directly at my sprawling accommodations, perched on the side of a mountain. Felicia, my butler, welcomed me with a build-your-own rum punch kit with a petite bottle of Chairman's Reserve Rum. I settled in, relishing every ele ment from the high-beamed ceilings and a deep soaking tub to the private infinity pool with jaw-dropping views of both Pitons and the sea below.

While I would have been content to luxuriate in my villa, discov ery beckoned. I joined local tour guide Sherman Abraham to see some of the area’s top draws.

in the crater, and I smelled it before glimpsing the sulfur-scented steam rising from the caldera. Last erupted in 1766, the volcano gives the town of Soufriere (meaning “sulfur” in French) its name. The rich mix of minerals such as copper and mag nesium is reported to have healing properties, so of course I had to see if they would, in fact, help me age backwards. Mud bath guests pack on the mineral-rich sludge and let it dry before rinsing off in a series of naturally heated baths. I can’t con firm the anti-aging benefits, but I certainly felt rejuvenated. Our next stop was the lush Diamond Botan ical Gardens, where a proliferation of brightly colored plants thrives. Red hibiscus (the national flower), vanilla orchids, mahogany trees and cashews line the pathways leading to the rushing Diamond Falls.

Back on property, I indulged in a massage at the Rainforest Spa. A freestanding gazebo built among the trees added a touch of whimsy,

ral-scented oil. I wandered back to my villa in a haze of relaxation and happy appreciation for the resort, which seamlessly blends lush nat ural beauty, stunning architecture and a first-rate art collection that includes works by Andy Warhol and Banksy. The food here is just as art ful, with pristine sushi at The Cane Bar, contemporary presentations of local favorites at Bonté steps from the sand and, the culinary pièce de résistance, The Saltwood, where oysters Rockefeller and Kobe beef are illuminated by soft candle light.

Everything on this island get away felt like a revelation, from the arresting scenery and genuine hospitality to the wide variety of activities and flavors. Though my perfect moments are now a distant memory, I’m cheered that paradise is just a 4.5-hour direct flight from Atlanta away. n

SUGAR BEACH, A VICEROY RESORT

Diamond Falls is the 50-foot waterfall made famous for its appearance in 1980’s Superman

with Triad Advisors, LLC.

CLASSIC BEAUTY

An Athens visit feels like coming home

If you cried happy tears when the UGA Bulldogs clinched the 2022 National College Foot ball Championship, know the lore surrounding walking beneath the university’s Arch or have sung along with the B-52s’ “Love Shack” lyrics while actually driving down Atlanta Highway, you have a connection to Athens. As a proud University of Georgia alumna, returning to Georgia’s Classic City never fails to stir my heart.

ATH | BNB, a luxury boutique inn of 14 individually decorated suites, is one of the most exciting recent additions to town. Opened in fall 2021, the 1918 Rushmore (formerly the home of a fraternity) on Milledge Avenue was lovingly restored by owners Candice and Cameron Treadway. Now it’s a charming homeaway-from-home for Athens visitors, located in the heart of Five Points and within easy walking distance to campus. Every room is outfitted with a Smeg fridge stocked with Topo Chico, plush Peacock Alley bed lin ens and Grown Alchemist bath prod ucts. After checking in via mobile app, I wandered the property and discovered a wine and charcuterie reception in the historic home’s parlor to kick off my visit in style.

Athens has long been known for its legendary music scene. Beyond the aforementioned B-52s, it’s also the city that launched acts such as Widespread Panic and

STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin

R.E.M. These days, the food scene is nearly as exciting. There are low-key barbecue and burgers at White Tiger, pristine oysters and lobster rolls at Seabear and elevated Italian at ZZ & Simone’s.

The highlight from my recent trip was a cozy dinner with a local best friend at Five & Ten, the brainchild of former “Top Chef” judge Hugh Acheson, who is the culinary equiv alent of a rock star. We feasted on housemade pimento cheese topped with bacon marmalade, Caesar salad topped with toothsome croutons and crispy bacon lardons, pappar delle Bolognese with veal ragout and a rather extraordinary chocolate tart with crème fraîche ice cream.

It’s no wonder that Georgia’s most noteworthy college town has a bur geoning brewery culture. Old favorite Terrapin has been joined by newcom ers such as Normaltown Brewing and Authentic Brewing Company, both opened in 2020. Though my tastes tend more toward wine, I have a soft spot in my heart for Creature Comforts, the star of Athens’ beer scene. A child hood friend and I met to catch up over a pint in the downtown taproom, built into

UGA's Sanford Stadium hold's nearly 93,000 fans for football Saturdays.

a refurbished former automobile showroom and garage. Surrounded by of-age students, locals and a group of my friends in town for a reunion of sorts, I sipped on a frosty glass of Athena Paradiso, a refreshingly tart Berliner Weisse flavored with passionfruit and guava. It felt apropos to raise a glass.

The next day, I rounded out my Athens pilgrimage with a cup of

coffee from my old standby, Jittery Joes, and spent some time wan dering through the magnificent mature trees and historic academic buildings on campus. Like so many others who graduated from the United State’s oldest public universi ty created by state charter and who will make a pilgrimage to watch the Dawgs play “between the hedges” this football season, it’s heartening to know that the city that will always feel a little bit like home keeps getting better and better. n

ATH | BNB stayathbnb.com • @athbnb

CREATURE COMFORTS BREWING CO. creaturecomfortsbeer.com @creaturecomfortsbeer

FIVE & TEN • fiveandten.com • @fiveandten

VISIT ATHENS visitathensga.com • @visitathensga

Left: Downtown Athens boasts cool shopping and dining opportunities.

Below: Chef Hugh Acheson has helped draw attention to the Athens culinary scene.

Below: Stay in style at ATH | BNB where each of the 14 rooms is uniquely decorated with cozy furnishings.

Katie Bricker Photography

LIVING

For Sahil Kochhar, building his family a custom home was inevitable.

As the principal of Bedrock Homes, he makes clients’ residential dreams come true for a living. So after he and his wife, Smita, had their first son, they decided it was time to trade in their Brookhaven townhome for a more expansive abode. In 2019, they purchased a lot less than a mile away and

began construction at the start of 2020.

“When we saw this lot, we absolutely fell in love with the street and the walkability to the Dresden Drive restaurants and shops,” Smita says.

During construction, the couple found out another baby was on the way, making the project even more pressing. After 14 months and many design decisions, the Kochhars moved into their 6,500-square-foot home. ➥

STORY: Giannina S. Bedford

PHOTOS: Joshua Bartolotti CUSTOM BESPOKE ABODE Wait

Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances make the aesthetically pleasing kitchen cook-worthy.

"It was important that we had a space that was custom-built to our needs. We added features that would make the home timeless and work with our lifestyle,” Sahil says.

Like many of the projects Sahil builds for his clients, the Kochhar home boasts a modern aesthetic with large aluminum windows filtering an abundance of daylight. Step through the oversized iron front doors into an interior of neutral colors with pops of black, brass and stone accents. Trim work and modern light fixtures from Circa Lighting and Restoration Hardware add intrigue above, as do the stained 7-inch white oak panels on select areas of the ceiling that match the flooring. The Kochhars consulted with a few designers for the project, but in the end the duo did most of the decor themselves.

accents we knew we wanted when designing our home, and after a lot of research and visiting local showrooms, the rest of our home and furniture selections just came together,” Smita says. “Through this process, I really developed an eye and love for design. We wanted a home that was classic with a touch of glam throughout as you will see

"It was important that we had a space that was custom-built to our needs.”

— Sahil Kochhar

From the oak on the ceiling to the mix of materials and colors, each detail was handpicked by the Kochhars.

Smita and Sahil Kochhar, with sons Shaan and Veer, are enjoying every square foot of their upgraded home.

Joann

Vitelli

Right: The dining room is accented by ceiling trim and a prism light fixture from Restoration Hardware.

Below: The stylish study overlooks the front yard through floor-to-ceiling windows.

with certain gold accents.”

The interior’s open concept features a spacious kitchen with a quartzite waterfall edge island, twotoned cabinets in white and white oak with gold hardware and a range hood that is one of the couple’s favor ite pieces. “When we started building, Smita fell in love with the style of the black and gold range hood and knew she had to have it in her kitchen,” Sahil says. “We love how everything else came together around it.”

Around the corner from the kitchen, a wet bar with high-gloss lacquered cabinets in blue-gray Ben jamin Moore French Beret and stone

backsplash is the ideal spot to mix a cocktail. On the opposite side of the kitchen, a built-in bench surrounds a France & Son table topped with a Lazy Susan, creating a stylishly cozy breakfast nook. The eating spot overlooks the manicured backyard, pool and patio with a well-equipped outdoor kitchen. While many musthaves were on the homeowners’ list, plenty of space for entertaining was at the top. “We built our home to en tertain, and we love it,” Smita says. A 15-foot sliding pocket door connects the inside to an outdoor kitchen.

“It’s what really makes our home great for entertaining,” she says.

Art from McGee & Co. and a fixture from Circa Lighting adorns the cozy breakfast nook.

In the basement is a wet bar ideal for sports-watching season.

The living room, anchored by a Boule De Cristal chandelier from Resto ration Hardware, is another popular gathering spot. Furnished in an Arhaus sofa with Crypton fabric, cus tom Etsy pillows and Sunpan chairs, it also boasts window seats that flank the stone fireplace. Additional hosting is done in the dining room at the Restoration Hardware table surrounded by Sunpan chairs and lit by an eye-catching prism fixture.

When working from home, Sahil and Smita, a luxury home specialist at Compass Real Estate in Buckhead and former executive director of the Buckhead Business Association, often retreat to the study off of the entry foyer. Floor-to-ceiling win dows, a ceiling of white oak hard woods, walls in Benjamin Moore Lead Gray and sleek pieces from CB2 create a design-forward office

that could easily double as a lounge.

With six bedrooms and six and a half baths, the domicile has space for overnight guests. Sahil is originally from Mumbai (he came to Atlanta to attend Georgia Tech), and while Smita grew up in Woodstock, her parents now live in London. When their overseas families visit, the main level in-law suite makes them feel at home. There are two additional guestrooms, one of which is in the basement that also houses the kids’ playroom, a gym, wet bar and large seating space designed for watching sports. “We don’t have family here, so when family comes to town, they need space to stay,” Smita says.

The home’s full-time residents have their bedrooms upstairs. The second level features a quaint land ing with book-stocked built-ins— an extra play area for the Kochhar

boys. Close by is Shaan’s black, white and wood-accented nursery and Veer’s big boy room, decorated in Restoration Hardware bunk beds and superhero prints. Down the hall, their parents’ mostly white bedroom has a coffee/beverage bar and furniture from McGee & Co., Crate & Barrel, Serena & Lily and Williams-Sonoma.

“We love how light, bright and inviting this space is. The light furniture pieces and our hanging pendants really make it trendy but also our little sanctuary,” Smita says.

Smita and Sahil’s bathroom may be the most striking element of their suite. Outfitted head-to-toe in mar ble with a sparkling chandelier, it features a walk-in shower with dual shower heads, standalone tub by Kohler and his-and-her toilets. One of Smita’s favorite touches is the

ombré rose gold and chrome faucets she picked out at the Buckhead Kohler store. Through the bathroom is a dressing area by Creative Closets designed to store the couple's ex pansive wardrobe, from sports hats and designer shoes to decorative Indian clothing and jewelry.

Sahil has built more than 50 homes, but creating a sanctuary for his growing family was a project he and Smita poured their hearts into, not overlooking any detail.

“We love that our kids love the house. They have everything they need—a basement to themselves, spacious backyard, pool and loft space upstairs. Our oldest, who is 5, says he never wants to move from here,” Smita says. “We also love the fact that we designed our home, and to finally have it come together and live here is a great feeling.” n

Right: The light-filled master bathroom glitters with an overhead chandelier..

Below: The outdoor living space, complete with a Big Green Egg and second grill, overlooks the pool.

IN THE DETAILS

1. Fireplace backsplash

“The thoughtfully selected, bookmatched stone fireplace adds character to the living room space.”

2. Foyer wall sconce

“The blown glass sconces make a statement but also act as a focal point in the foyer. The 60-inch large round mirror in between completes the space.”

3. Colored tile in upstairs guest bathroom wall

“Throughout the home, you'll find mostly neutral tones, but there are spaces where we brought in some color. In this

Above: Sunlight fills the homeowner's bedroom, which is also equipped with roller shades to block out the rays when needed.

Left: The closet includes custom drawers for Smita's Indian bangles and jewelry.

Smita Kochhar shares some of her favorite home touches

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Vintage Ken and Barbie dolls take center stage in photographer David Parise’s eye-catching images being sold at Framebridge through the end of the year. The more than 50 best-selling prints are inspired by photographer Slim Aarons’ iconic pool party scenes from the 1960s. The prints are available in five custom framing options for $140 at framebridge.com/david-parise-prints

Safety Season

Enjoying outdoor fires responsibly

Bonfires are a highlight of the fall season, but with October being Fire Prevention Month, it’s also a good time to brush up on fire safety. We tapped The Home Depot’s associate merchant for fire safety, Sandy Springs resident Alex Forte, for some top tips for using and building a fire pit.

Build a blaze safely…

Step 1: Check with your local fire department to confirm that outdoor fires are permitted in the area.

Step 2: Make sure the fire pit is at least 10 feet away from the home,

surrounding buildings or flammable materials.

Step 3: Keep the pit properly surrounded by non-flammable material, such as rocks or cement, and clear away any dry leaves, sticks, overhanging low branches or shrubs from the area.

Step 4: Check the weather and avoid starting a fire on windy days when flames can travel easily through the air, especially in a dry environment.

Step 5: Once the area is prepped, light the fire using tinder and a non-liquid fire accelerant, such as a match.

And remember…

n Never light with gasoline or other combustible liquids. It’s important to keep the fire small and manageable so it’s easier to control. And never leave the fire unattended. A fire can become uncontainable quickly, so always keep an eye on it.

n Do not burn anything in your fire pit that is not specifically des ignated as firewood. This includes furniture and other items that may have coatings that can create toxic smoke or burn more rapidly than firewood.

n Always have a hose, bucket of water or shovel for dirt or sand close by to put out the fire, making sure to completely extinguish it before leaving. n For more tips, visit homedepot.com/ firesafety

The Home Depot's Alex Forte keeps fire safety top of mind.

Visual artist Anderson Smith has opened his first gallery in Buckhead Village. Gallery Anderson Smith, located at 294 Buckhead Ave., opened its doors in September showcasing a mixture of abstract, pop and modern contemporary creations by self-taught Smith and others, including Hopeton St. Clair Hibbert, Vando Davis, Dawn Stringer and others. “I was part of another gallery in Buckhead on the same block, and working out of the studio gave me motivation and an idea to have my own space,” Anderson says. “The location is great as I am surrounded by great retail shops and restaurants.” andersonsmithcollection.com

n Buckhead’s Kimpton Sylvan Hotel was honored with an Excellence in Rehab Award by The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. The distinction was part of 26 awards presented in April at the 45th annual Preservation Awards ceremony in Augusta that recognized the best of preservation in Georgia. The Excellence in Rehabilitation Awards recognize projects that make compatible use of a building through repair, alterations or additions while preserving features of the property that convey its historic value. Originally named Paces Ferry Tower, the Kimpton Sylvan is housed in a 1951 apartment building that was designed in the Inter

national style by architect James C. Wise. At one time, it was the tallest structure in Buckhead. georgiatrust.org/preserva tion-awards/kimpton-sylvan-hotel

n Multifamily developer Terwilliger Pappas recently broke ground on Solis Dresden Village, a mixed-use project in Brookhaven. Upon completion, the development will include 183 luxury residential units—176 residential flats and seven townhomes—as well as walk able street retail. A short stroll from the Brookhaven-Oglethorpe MARTA station, the village is slated to open in mid-2024. terwilligerpappas.com

The Right Time Could Be Right Now

Changes in interest rates continue to impact the Real Estate market across the U.S. and abroad as the housing market adjusts to a more balanced position. If you have been waiting for the right time to make a move, that could be now.

When it comes to sales, homes continue to move fast. In metro Atlanta, the average time on market is now 19 days (about two and a half weeks), which is a slight increase on last month and last year. However, this is still a short sales window, and almost half that of August 2020. This indicates that demand remains strong for homes that are priced right.

Securing the next home has also become easier as inventory levels in the market increase. While not yet back to pre-pandemic levels, the number of homes for sale in metro Atlanta across July and August returned to the levels seen in 2020. With more homes on the market, you have more options for your next purchase.

Regardless of what other markets may be experiencing, Atlanta prices are not showing signs of long-term decline. In August, the price of a home in metro Atlanta was 14% higher than a year prior. Based on the current average sales price of $505,000, that is $60,000 in equity growth in one year. Looking back two years, home values have appreciated almost 30%. With these equity gains, the next home of your dreams may now be within easier reach.

These are dynamic times in the real estate market where expertise and insight can make a tremendous difference to the outcome. As Atlanta’s first luxury real estate brokerage, Harry Norman, REALTORS® offers incomparable experience and results. Reach out today to discuss if now is the right time for you.

Expert Contributor, Jenni Bonura and CEO, Harry Norman, REALTORS®

Lee Jofa Lyre Paper in Fiery (price upon request)

Part of Kelly Wearstler’s collection for Lee Jofa Modern, the Lyre paper sings in Fiery, pulling in copper, peach and other traditionally earthy neutrals. Use it as an accent wall or go for bold and cover an entire space with it. If you’re not feeling a wallcovering, it’s also available in a corresponding fabric.

Kravet • 404.812.6995 kravet.com • @kravetinc

Annika Throw ($129)

Made from combed and recycled cotton sourced in North Carolina, Room & Board’s Annika throw adds instant texture to any room. The classic waffle weave offers depth, while the warm brown tones ground it. Toss it over a brown or mustard sofa to stay within the palette.

Room & Board • 877.389.9707 roomandboard.com • @roomandboard

Find Your Groove

The ' 70s are back in style. Before you cringe conjuring up visions of avocado kitchens and orange shag carpet, know that updates give these midcentury-inspired pieces the modernity they crave. The trick to keeping them from looking dated or theatrical is to find pieces in updated silhouettes. Here are a few to make your next room design super groovy.

STORY: Lauren Finney Harden

Florence Knoll Relaxed Settee in Hourglass Beeswax ($8,450)

Forget references: You can have a piece of Florence Knoll’s original design from 1954. Updated to be slightly softer and deeper than the first iteration and done in a nubby mustard hue, it’s the epitome of modern design. Not feeling the yellow? It comes in 15 total colors. Knoll • 404.522.1835 • knoll.com • @knoll

Arteriors Turin Side Table ($1,625)

Contemporary and sculptural in style, the Arteriors Turin Side Table is functional while nodding to the past. A muted jade green shade veers the color towards neutral, and the high-shine lacquer effect adds visual interest.

Practical in nature and highly architectural, it’s the best of both worlds.

Topography Home 844.633.3211 topographyhome.com @topographyhomeatl

Half-Moon Ivory Velvet Dining Chair ($1,299)

From its wildly popular Lawson-Fenning collection comes CB2’s Half-Moon Ivory Velvet Dining Chair. Made from solid black American walnut and ivory velvet, it’s an explosion of texture that will elevate any room. Details such as channel tufting and solid brass accents make it modern, and its scale makes it versatile for both dining and living rooms.

CB2 • 404.260.7264 • cb2.com • @cb2

Color Crush

rate color. I also like to create fresh, clean looks that incorporate some tradition. That might be a beautiful antique that the clients already have. We always try to keep it fresh and modern, not dated or stale.

simple and clean-lined. That could be a beautiful console table with a simple stone top and an iron base with some simple medallions. It’s that balance of mixing cleaner lines with more ornate details.

Although interior designer Susan Currie began her career as an assignment editor and news writer in the tele vision industry, she couldn’t ignore her passion for design. “I was al ready helping family members and doing projects on my own,” Cur rie says. “I had fun designing and creating spaces that were beautiful, cohesive and functional.”

The Brookwood Hills resident went back to school to earn a de gree in interior design, and in 2008 she opened Susan Currie Design in New Orleans. Her firm now has a satellite office in Brooklyn and a full-service office at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center. Here, we catch up with Currie about her design philosophy and expert use of hues (her firm won Best Use of Color at the Luxe Residential Excel lence in Design Awards in June).

What lessons from your time in the television news business have you applied to your interior design business?

You learn to think on your feet; there's always breaking news that might change things. And that's what can happen on a design project you plan. Sometimes you discover things in a house, and you have to alter your plans or decide how you're going to handle the challenge. As a designer, I feel like I'm a problem-solver for my clients. They tell me what they like or don't like about their home. We listen to what they're saying, hear their vision and help them get to where they want to go.

How would you describe your design style?

My style is anything but neutral. I really like to find ways to incorpo

What’s your advice for homeowners who are hesitant to dip their toes into designing with color?

If my clients say something like, “Hey, I’m a bit afraid of this,” or “I want to keep my walls neutral,” I look to find other ways we can bring in rich, saturated colors, whether it's through pillows or upholstery. It’s really about introducing enough to get them comfortable. Right now with how stressful our world can be, I think people want to get back to na ture. So sometimes those colors that you see in nature are more calming and can make a space inviting.

How do you create transitional designs while respecting existing historical architecture?

I don’t lean towards anything too fussy. For instance, if a home has classical, ornate architectural details, like Corinthian or Ionic columns, it’s nice to balance that with some things that are more

Congratulations on being a regional finalist in Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove’s Kitchen Design Contest. How do you approach kitchen design differently? I think with kitchen design, the space has to be beautiful and, more importantly, functional. You have to get to know how a client uses a kitchen and really think about the right location for everything. You have to open up cabinets and see what they have. Do they have vintage pieces? Do they like to bake? I think about that and offer suggestions on how to make it work better for them. For example, if we put the right organizational components inside drawers and cabinets, is that going to make it easier for them to work in the kitchen? It’s also great putting in fabulous appliances that people will be able to use for years. n

SUSAN CURRIE DESIGN • 404.254.2172 susancurriedesign.com • @susancurriedesign

Susan Currie’s style is anything but neutral STORY: Claire Ruhlin

Tis The Season!

STYLISH

Discover what to expect from the traditional technique its benefits.

“ The original gua sha tool was a no-frills wooden spoon.” Carly Rominger Sha, What?

LUXURY REDUX

STORY: Emily L. Foley

They say necessity is the mother of invention, but for Sarah Davis, it was the mother of re-invention.

Growing up, Davis loved fashion, but as the oldest of six children, she was responsible for buying her own clothes. “I shopped consign ment and thrift my entire life,” she says. “As someone who wanted nice things but had no money, I always turned to resale.”

While attending law school in Washington, D.C., in 1999, Davis discovered eBay and its global access to resale shoppers, and quickly stepped up to innovate in that new space. From the start, she viewed her eBay platform as a business. She launched FASHIONPHILE, an ultra-luxury brand that re-sells bags, jewelry, watches, shoes and accesso ries, and from the start, she viewed her eBay platform as a business, carefully branding it down to the tissue paper in the shipping boxes.

“When I saw people talking in on line forums about what they bought

from FASHIONPHILE, not what they bought from eBay, I knew what we were doing was working,” says Davis.

In 2007, Davis moved her busi ness from eBay to fashionphile.com and opened a few brick and mortar showrooms. The brand holds the distinction of being the first online recommerce brand and, according to the brand, the largest inventory of any online platform for selling and purchasing luxury handbags and accessories in the country.

If you’ve walked into Lenox Square’s Neiman Marcus lately, you might have spotted a FASHION PHILE Selling Studio where custom ers can sell items. (All the shopping still happens online.) In 2019, The Neiman Marcus Group became Davis’s first investment partner and the first major luxury retailer to expand into the pre-owned market. Along with the Atlanta location that opened in January, 10 studios are now in Neiman Marcus stores across the country.

“We knew that we had a huge

customer base in Atlanta, so when we sat down with Neiman to discuss where to open stores, we were excit ed to get into Atlanta as soon as we could,” says Davis, who is based in Los Angeles.

One differentiator between FASHIONPHILE and many other luxury resalers is its buy-out option. “We learned early on that our sellers want to get the burden of this item off their mental shoulders as soon as possible [rather than] wait through the consignment,” Davis says of the unpredictable and potentially lengthy process. An other difference is its dedication to authenticity, including a curriculum for authenticating bags and trained experts to identify fakes.

Have a luxury item to sell? After FASHIONPHILE authenticates your piece and provides you with a purchase quote, Neiman Marcus offers a 10% bonus if you put the money on a Neiman Marcus gift card. (FASHIONPHILE also offers a 10% bonus if you apply your

offer to one of its gift cards.)

“Our Neiman Marcus partnership is a beautiful example of fashion circularity in motion,” says Davis.

“You can walk into FASHIONPHILE with a bag you bought and loved, sell it for a great price and [receive] an additional 10% bonus on a gift card to turn around and go buy the new bag you want.” n

FASHIONPHILE SELLING STUDIO - ATLANTA 678.786.7477 fashionphile.com @fashionphile

How one founder changed luxury resale forever

Sarah Davis, founder and CCO of FASHIONPHILE, modernized fashion resale.

DIY BROWS

Two products that are great options for your makeup arsenal

It Cosmetics Brow Power Filler Volumizing Tinted Fiber Eyebrow Gel [$25]

In one easy step, this product fills, shapes and sets your brows with just a swipe or two.

Ulta ulta.com • @ulta

Deck of Scarlet Over-Arching Brow Kit [$38]

This all-in-one kit includes an ultra-fine brow pencil, shaping powder, setting balm and a double-sided brush that multi-tasks for filling in and shaping.

Deck of Scarlet deckofscarlet.com • @deckofscarlet

Just Brows-ing

While eyebrows have always helped define beauty standards and trends, it is still fair to say they have been having “a moment” over the past few years. This focus on eyebrows can be attributed to an entire generation of women rehabbing their brows back from the overplucked skinny rainbows of their ’90s youth. Though TikTok seems determined to bring back the old trend, brow expert Leza Ben nett-McCall of The Perfect Brows in Buckhead assures us that the social media platform’s skinny brow videos are a momentary fad and to stand firm on bold, bushy brows. “Skinny brows can never replace a natural, beautiful brow,” she says. “As long as it takes people to grow their thin brows back out, I say ‘no’ to the skinny brow.”

Drumroll, please, for three of the most popular in-salon brow services that will keep them perfectly shaped.

Brow Lamination

This non-invasive straightening perm for your brows holds the hairs

up in a vertical position to give them a more feathery, bold look. Brow lamination specialist Skylar Barrett of Tinte Color and Blow Dry Bar in Upper Westside says, “Lamination is an amazing solution for anyone who wants the look of fuller brows because no matter what your brow concern is—thin, overplucked, un ruly or curly—it can help.” Lamina tion is possible on any skin or hair type and takes roughly 30 minutes to complete. The results are immedi ate and can last anywhere from four to eight weeks. “It allows the hair to be shaped in any way, so even if brow shape trends change, lamination can accommodate that,” Barrett says.

Microblading

This author is currently on year six with microblading and receives at least one compliment per day on her brows. It is a semi-permanent makeup technique during which tiny incisions are made with a special ized hand tool to deposit color that mimics the look of individual hairs. The result is thicker shaped brows that are customized to each per

son’s face shape and preference that require a touch-up every few years. The initial treatment requires two appointments, the first of which takes roughly two hours, and then a touch-up appointment six to eight weeks later. In the healing process, the pigment fades and deepens, so final results take about two months to be seen. Individuals with particu larly oily skin, autoimmune diseases or diabetes are not good candidates for the procedure. But according to Bennett-McCall, the highly popular treatment is here to stay. “Microblad ing is the perfect low-maintenance eyebrow treatment. It’s definitely not a fad but a household name that is re quested in salons around the world.”

Powder Brows

This semi-permanent makeup technique involves a hand tool with a tiny needle used to apply pin dot pigment within your brows to create a soft look similar to filling in with a powder product. The treatment

requires two appointments: an initial application lasts roughly two hours, and a touch-up takes places about six to eight weeks after the initial appointment, as well as every one to three years, depending on your skin. According to brow expert Inga Bailey-Hedge whose studio is in Dunwoody. “The powder brow tech nique is for anyone who wants to redefine the shape of their eyebrows whether they have naturally thin brows or they are fading with age.” The primary difference in appear ance between microblading and this option is that the former looks like you have perfectly groomed brows naturally, while powder brows give the appearance of having the perfect makeup application. n

INGA BAILEY BROWS • 770.940.2569 ingabaileybrows.com • @ingabaileybrows

THE PERFECT BROWS BY LEZA • 404.816.5392 theperfectbrows.com • @theperfectbrows

SKYN BY SKY AT TINTE COLOR AND BLOW DRY BAR • 404.969.6739 • tinteatl.com •@skynbysky

These trends will keep your eyebrows perfectly shaped STORY: Emily L. Foley

Gua Sha, What?

EXPLORING A TECHNIQUE STORY: Karina Antenucci

Gua sha add-ons are all the rage on spa service menus, and how-to videos are hot on Instagram. So should you try it?

“Gua sha, which translates to ‘scrape illness,’ comes from tradi tional Chinese medicine. It’s both a scraping technique and a smoothedged tool to help energy flow freely throughout the body so that health problems, including muscle tightness that can lead to other issues, don’t occur,” says Carly Rominger of Carly Rose Massage Therapy. Rominger’s mobile service—exclusively serving Buckhead—often incorporates gua sha into the 60-, 90- or 120-minute massages and bodywork. Here, she explains what to expect from the practice and its benefits.

The Tool

Walk into any wellness retail space or browse online and you’re sure to find the flat tool that often comes in a pretty jade or other stone like pink quartz. “The original gua sha

jade piece and promises that it’s not necessary to buy an expensive tool for at-home use.

The Technique

During a body treatment or mas sage, the therapist might use the tool to gently scrape various areas on your body. It is typically laid flat

and moved slowly across fascia, muscles and lymphatic fluid. “This creates friction that draws old, stagnant blood up to the surface, making space for oxygen and nu trients to flow more freely in your muscles and body,” Rominger says.

“If muscles are really tight, there’s not enough blood being pumped through the muscle.” It’s also beneficial to break up scar tissue and reduce chronic pain.

Gua sha shouldn’t be painful. “You’ll feel it in a tight area, but it shouldn’t hurt,” Rominger says.

“Having healthy, fresh, oxygenated blood throughout is how the body is designed to work. When some thing is stuck, it will cause pain and injury over time. When the blood is moving freely, your systems are going to work better together, and you’ll feel better.”

The DIY

From face to forearms, you can add gua sha into your daily wellness and beauty routine at home. Rominger

with one hand while holding the tool flat in the other. Create pressure without digging in and keep that pressure as you slide the tool across your body. Traveling over bony parts is fine; just adjust the pressure as needed. “Go slow, be intentional, create fluidity.” On the face, start in the middle and move outward and then down the neck to the clavicle to help drain lymphatic fluid. Need a visual? Rominger likes @wildling_ beauty on Instagram for how-to’s.

The Contraindications

Avoid gua sha if you've recently had surgery, are taking blood thinners or have clotting disorders, broken bones or varicose veins. Rominger also says it isn’t good for anyone with skin inflammation such as eczema or psoriasis. n

CARLY ROSE MASSAGE THERAPY @carlyrosemassagetherapy

Carly Rominger of Carly Rose Massage Therapy favors a jade tool to "gua sha" on clients.

Photos: JP Schlick

Hair Raising

Like many people, the pan demic made celebrity hair stylist Michael Kanyon take a hard look at where he was living and what he and his wife wanted for their future. “LA at that time was getting pretty scary,” he says. “Something inside was telling us to leave.”

When the Kanyons traveled to Atlanta in 2020, they loved the “vibe and vegetation,” as it reminded them of Long Island where they are from, yet with more Southern hospitality.

The couple settled in Buckhead the same year, where Kanyon does hair from his home salon. This sum mer, the former stylist for “America’s

Next Top Model” launched KANYON Beauty, a brand with three highperformance, vegan hair styling products that are made in America. Here, he talks about the brand, his experiences and the hottest hair trend.

What was the catalyst for launching KANYON Beauty?

I left the fashion world in New York and moved to LA in 2008. A lot of the people started asking me questions about ingredients. Little by little, I started looking at the in gredients in the products I had used for my entire career. I worked with a

partner to formulate clean products years ago and have been using them on my clients. We’ve just branded them for sale as KANYON Beauty.

Why these three products? I wanted to make sure I started with styling products that I have used on every single top model, in every photo on my Instagram. The Vitamin Mist has a low pH that gets into the hair shaft, neutralizing it. It gets rid of static and is a great detangler. The Thickening Lotion creates a founda tion for your hair and scalp, produc ing a nourishing barrier around the root for a blow dry that holds for days. The Satin Dry Oil is a very light oil finishing mist that uses a perfume actuator [fine-mist technology].

You’ve been in the business for 20 years. When was the moment you knew you made it? I still haven’t felt that yet! I con

stantly want to get to the next level. I get uncomfortable with success.

What was it like styling for “America’s Next Top Model”?

It was a family. I would get de pressed after the season was over because of being around the same group of people for so long. And then we would see each other again, and it was like coming back to a party. It was one of the greatest jobs; I had it for nine years.

Who has been your favorite celebrity to style?

[Actress] Lindsey Morgan. She’s probably one of the nicest people I’ve ever worked on. Also, when I did Jack Nicholson’s hair, he wouldn’t take his sunglasses off! When he walked into the salon, you felt his presence.

Where do you like to go out in Atlanta?

Problem is, I would rather stay home! But I like Le Bilboquet, Le Colonial, Yebo Beach Haus and Pure Taqueria. I really like Inman Park where bartaco is, too. It reminds me of Soho in New York in the ’90s.

What’s the most notable hair trend right now?

Americana is coming back in a massive way. Thank you, [filmmak er] Taylor Sheridan, who I know by the way. We are done with buns, and sexy hair is in. Southern women never stopped with beautiful, sexy waves. Classic beauty never goes out of style.

What are you looking forward to creating next?

The product line will continue to expand into a lifestyle brand. n

KANYON BEAUTY kanyonbeauty.com • @kanyonbeauty

Celebrity hairstylist Michael Kanyon launches a beauty brand STORY: Karina Antenucci

KANYON Beauty's three launch products include the Thickening Lotion, Satin Dry Oil and Vitamin Mist.

Jim Malucci

Please the of SC has access to the lake, of the SC property. Those rules include no motor boats or party Fishin is allowed at the of lake property at a radius of

View of the Appellation mountain from

PHOTO:

“Now is the time to reset your focus on your family's spending and budget”

Photo Flurry

We love to capture every moment on our smartphones. But then what? The purpose of picture taking is to preserve memories, especially when the images are of your children. Yet so often our photos go into the digital universe, never to be seen again. If you’re looking for clever ways to orga nize and actually use your photos, Kate Byars, founder of concierge framing and family photography service Lo & Behold on the westside, has creative and practical advice.

Storage Solutions

“Use the most automatic thing you can find,” says Byars. Both Google Photos and Apple iCloud can be connected to your devices to upload and store your photos in real time and organize them by date. From there, you can also create and share albums for specific life events or to use for a printed photo book.

Organization Trick

No matter which one you choose, Byars recommends favoriting

your photos by clicking on the heart icon in the moment or going through them once a week to do the same. “When you start a print project, it’s so much easier to go back to favorites. We all shoot five times as many photos as we actually need to get the best shot. Heart one thing per moment, and when you go back through, you’ll save time by knowing that’s the one you like the most.”

Digital Viewing

Put that smart TV to good use as a digital photo album, suggests Byars. Connect your favorites folder to your television and use the slide show as the go-to screensaver.

Album Routine

“We enjoy our photos much more and much more frequently when they are in some sort of tangible format,” says Byars, who advises creating an annual print ed photo album. “Give yourself a week or more to get it done so the process isn’t stressful. That’s why favorites are important!”

Kate Byars, founder of Lo & Behold, helps families create custom, framed wall galleries from their thousands of digital photos.

Time Capsule Framers

Instead of adding to a plethora of framed photos or buying new frames each year to feature your family and kids as they grow up, Byars says to reuse the frames.

“Put in the most recent photos but keep the others in the frame. If you do this for several years, you end up with a little time capsule.”

Gallery Wall

“The reason I created my business is because I heard from moms over and over that they wanted the family gallery but just could not approach the project. It seemed too daunting,” says Byars, who offers a comprehensive service to create the custom, framed wall galleries of your dreams for around $2,500$6,000, which can include every thing from going through your 20K disorganized photo file to selecting images to installation.

Not in the budget? She offers this DIY sequence: Measure your space; buy the frames; hang the empty frames each with two nails spaced apart by a couple inches; stick bum

pers on the bottom of the frame that grip the wall. Next, allow the empty frames to stare at you from the wall. Then, sit down in front of the wall with your laptop or phone, pick the images and sizes and send them to print. When the prints come in, pop them in the frames. “Break it down into manageable steps that can be done over several Saturdays,” she says.

Special Gifts

Use your now-organized photos as holiday gifts, such as ornaments.

“It’s a little capture of that child or family in time that can be brought out once a year.” Grand parents in particular also love a beautifully framed 8-by-10-inch photo. “They want a forest of those on their piano,” Byars says. n

LO & BEHOLD • 678.820.0404 loandbeholdhome.com • @loandbehold.atl

What on Earth to do with all your pics STORY: Karina Antenucci

The Healing Power of Pumpkin is Back

Pumpkin the power to penetrate deep benefits. It’s full of C both soothe

In 2005, my husband, Darrell Mays, founded a non-profit organization after watching a documentary on a plane.

The documentary, “Aging Out”, taught him about the stark realities that youth experience as they age out of the U.S. foster care system and head out into adulthood without a plan, a support system, income, or even a home. That movie ignited the philanthropic passion of our family and of the now more than 600 youth who have been lifted up by The nsoro Educational Foundation.

The odds for TAY (Transition-Aged Youth) are bleak:

• 20% become homeless at the age of 18.

• Only 55% earn a high school diploma.

• 51% of TAY women are pregnant by the age of 19.

• 70% of foster youth require government assistance by the age of 22.

• 50% are unemployed by the age of 24.

nsoro Foundation has changed this for hundreds of youth. By providing college gap funding for youth and wrap-around services, our Scholars achieve an amazing 81% college graduation rate (vs. 4% without our help). We match Scholars with a certified executive coach who teaches one-onone about Emotional Intelligence, Financial Literacy, and Workforce Readiness skills. Our volunteer mentors, led by the LINKS of Azalea City and other metro Atlanta volunteers, provide guidance and a listening ear, even beyond graduation.

Serving as the head of our scholarship selection committee has changed me. The challenges, chaos, and family loss our applicants have suffered are overwhelming, but I am constantly impressed by their G.R.I.T. (Greatness Rising in Time) in the face of these obstacles. There is a part of aging out of foster care that most of us do not see and will never understand.

Education is the great equalizer and with the right tools and focus, nsoro Scholars can do anything! I’ve found that changing the minds of young adults who thought “they couldn’t” is powerful and rewarding.

But the reward isn’t for us, it’s for our young adults. We are just the vessels.

As we move into the fall, we need new mentors to match with our 121 current Scholars. Mentors meet with them once a month via phone, Zoom, or in person. All it takes to be a great mentor is the ability to listen, guide, and support. nsoro staff provide short training on trauma-informed mentorship and support our volunteer mentors every step of the way.

nsoro means everything to our family, and I see that same passion in the board, volunteers, staff, and donors we are lucky to have joined us in this mission. We invite you to consider volunteering for our scholarship selection committee or being a mentor. G.R.I.T. is contagious!

Could you be a mentor? Contact us by October 31 at monica@nsoro.foundation or by calling 404.524.0807.

Volunteer Movement

STORY: Chelsie Butler

Volunteering at an animal shelter or welfare group is rewarding all around, both for you and for the furry friends you will meet. According to WebMD, just petting a dog can help stabilize your blood pressure. Even if you don’t have a lot of spare time to volunteer at one of these facilities, a little can go a long way in helping adoptable animals and, in turn, improving your own quality of life.

“Volunteering with an animal shelter is a great way to support your local community, help animals find homes and keep pets with their families,” says Nick Hemenway, director of volunteer services and events for LifeLine Animal Project, which manages the Fulton and DeKalb County Animal shelters on the westside and in Chamblee. Here

he shares some things to consider when thinking about volunteering.

Volunteer Qualities

Are you compassionate, resourceful, open-minded and eager to help?

Then you’d be a natural volunteer, Hemenway says. Consider what you’re best at and would most enjoy doing at an animal shelter.

Flexibility with Your Schedule

Also consider what you’re able to commit to. Many animal shelters and rescue groups offer several ways, some even virtually, to contrib ute depending on your schedule.

For instance, organizations might need help promoting events within volunteers’ networks and neighbor hoods, writing online bios to get pets adopted, taking animals out for

day trips or overnights or fostering. Hemenway says every little bit helps.

Guides to Help Navigate the Process

Hemenway notes another concern might be unfamiliarity with a facility and its processes. However, most or ganizations offer thorough training to get you to your comfort level.

At LifeLine, we guide you through the essentials of our organization and the animal welfare industry, and show you how to safely interact with dogs and cats,” he says. “We also have an amazing team of staff and experienced volunteers who will help guide newer volunteers through the process.”

Other Considerations

Volunteering in animal care isn’t

always pleasant or easy because it’s hard to see so many animals in need of loving homes, says Hemenway.

“Some days can be filled with joyful moments, and others can be difficult and sad. However, I know our volun teers would agree that the good days and experiences definitely outnum ber the bad, especially knowing that you are making a difference. Even walking just one dog makes all the difference for that one pet.”

If you want to volunteer for the long-term, avoid the urge to adopt a pet on your first day until you settle in. Multiple opportunities will pop up for you to take home a fur baby, so take your time and get used to your volunteer role first. n

LIFELINE lifelineanimal.org

What to consider when working with animal rescues

Clockwise from top left: DeKalb County Animal Shelter, managed by LifeLine Animal Project; two adoptable cats; a LifeLine volunteer; an adoptable dog; Nick Hemenway, director of volunteer services and events for LifeLine Animal Project.

This summer was an expensive one for so many families.

The costs of traveling, home goods and grocery items soared. As fall sets in and you start planning for the holidays, you might be feel ing the pinch financially. Brandon Hayes, a certified financial planner and managing director of Buck head’s oXYGen Financial, has some advice for managing your money throughout the next few months so you can enjoy the season and pre pare for a prosperous new year.

When is the best time to begin preparing my finances for the holiday season?

Fall is a great time to sit down with your partner and do a bit of a reset. Focus on creating a spending plan through the holidays. Consider the money that is going out of the household, something you may have lost sight of during the summer. So many couples and families let their budgets go and don’t realize how much they’ve spent during the pre vious few months because they’ve been focused on enjoying experi ences together. Now is the time to reset your focus on your family’s spending and budget.

How can I ease the financial pressure of end-of-year gift giving this year?

I’m a big advocate of setting a distinct budget for gifts. Discuss expectations and set a per-person spending limit with your family as early as you can, maybe sometime in October or when everyone is together around the table during Thanksgiving. I’ve found that this really alleviates the stress families feel around gift giving and lets them focus on enjoying each other’s com pany. Beyond that, you can use a site like drawnames.com to create a Secret Santa arrangement [instead of everyone exchanging gifts].

How do I tackle the debt if I end up spending too much?

If you have multiple credit cards, and they are all running a balance, many people will tell you to attack the one with the highest interest rate first. That makes sense, but I think people really want to see wins when paying down debt. I suggest tackling the smallest balance first so

MONEY MATTERS

you can get used to seeing those ze roes. That way, you can feel like you accomplished something and then move on to tackle the next one. Just make sure that once you’ve paid off a balance, it doesn’t jump back up with more spending.

What should I do to prepare myself financially for the new year?

You always have to expect the unex pected. But I think so many American families don’t have a true savings plan that is separate from their main checking or savings account. You should be saving a certain percent age of your paycheck in this separate bank account so it is safe and secure for a rainy day. Now is a great time to revisit that strategy if you don’t

have a savings account in place. With the Fed increasing interest rates, it will impact personal savings in a posi tive way. If you can make a little more of the money you have in savings, when expenses pop up, you can use those funds to pay for them. n

CULTURE

Chef Kevin Gillespie finds his food the old-fashioned way and then prepares it with mastery in the new series “Sabertooth.”

HUNTERS, GATHERERS AND BROADCASTERS

Chef Kevin Gillespie grew up hunting and fishing with his father and learning to cook from his grandmother. An aspiring nuclear engineer, he never expect ed to lead the kitchen at some of the country’s most established restaurants, much less earn nation wide fame as a celebrity chef.

But every life takes its own set of twists and turns. Today, the “Top Chef” alum and James Beard Award finalist owns multiple restaurants in Atlanta, including Gunshow and Revival. But a cancer diagnosis and resulting renewed focus on health have him returning to his roots both in hunting and in television.

Recently, Gillespie produced and starred in “Sabertooth,” a spinoff of the popular “MeatEater”

Netflix hunting series he’s also involved in. The new show features Gillespie hunting, fishing and/or foraging, then preparing a sophis ticated meal from his findings for friends and family. The first episode aired Aug. 5 on YouTube, and at least two others will follow.

“It allows viewers to see where the ingredients come from and showcases just how far wild ingredi ents can be taken. It is one of many avenues to foster sustainability in the future,” Gillespie says. “I would encourage people to check this show out whether they like hunting or not. If we do it right, it might make people question what they think of as hunting.”

Each episode takes place in a different area of the country,

including Texas, Arkansas and Georgia. In one, Gillespie fishes bass, forages plants from around Atlanta and pursues deer, ducks, quail, hogs and doves. He turns the fruits of his labor into an immersive tasting experience, either in a restaurant kitchen or outside wilderness-style.

“The goal is to showcase elevated food. It’s meant to be aspirational,” he says. “My family didn’t have any money. We relied on hunting and fishing to put food on the table.”

Founding chef of Red Beard Restaurants, Gillespie is still heav ily involved in the businesses he started, but his focus has turned to coaching and mentoring. Due to his diagnosis and resulting sur geries, he says he doesn’t have the physical stamina for the long hours in the kitchen anymore.

“It makes me sad that this thing I love, that I’ve made my career

doing, isn’t something I can do,” he says. “I miss cooking for people who’ve never tasted my food before. This is a creative way to do that while still [spreading awareness of] my restaurants.”

Gillespie says he has additional projects in the works, including “a significant future to [my] in volvement at ‘MeatEater,’” but is not at liberty to share details yet. He’s also planning to reopen Ole Reliable, his order-at-thecounter, breakfast and lunch spot in the Georgia-Pacific Center downtown. It has been temporarily closed due to lack of office workers during the pandemic.

For now, fans can find Gillespie making surprise appearances at his restaurants and catch him in action on “Sabertooth.” n

KEVIN GILLESPIE redbeardrestaurants.com

Kevin Gillespie combines his passions in “Sabertooth” Carly Cooper

Gillespie grinds oryx, a kind of antelope, on “Sabertooth.”

Above: Live models help students at Cherrylion perfect their sculpting skills.

Left: The Chastain Arts Center has hands-on facilities for multiple media.

Right: Ceramics classes at Chastain are among the most popular.

The Spruill Center for the Arts offers a variety of artistic classes for all ages.

As the education director at Dunwoody’s Spruill Center for the Arts, Amy Gresens is seeing first-hand one of the leading lessons of a long pandemic lockdown.

“A lot of people are rediscovering their creative sides,” says Gresens, who’s been teaching at the center since 2010. “Many of them thought about getting into the arts and just didn’t do it. But since we reopened in late May 2020, we’ve had so many new students.”

Many are making up for lost time, enrolling in classes that run the gamut from basic watercolors to complex ceramics.

“We have a good range for people who have never done anything to those who want to brush up their skills,” says Gresens. “They can do that in one-day workshops or ses sions that go from five to 10 weeks. We pretty much have classes seven

days a week in the morning, midday or evening for all ages.”

Ceramics classes fill up first and fast, says Gresens, because the center offers materials, work spaces and kilns few artists have at home. “Ceramics are a big investment. You could get a wheel to throw on at home, but then you’d have to fire it somewhere. Here, that’s part of the class.”

Sculptor Martin Dawe, owner of the Cherrylion Studios on the west side, also offers students the space and guidance to start sculpting— a craft that can get messy without a dedicated studio.

“It’s very difficult; I’ve been doing this for 47 years, and I learn more every time I do it,” says Dawe, whose work includes the Martin Luther King Jr. statue at the state capitol. “So we start off with parts of the figure. We meet once a week for 10

weeks with two live-model ses sions, then fire the pieces and have a fun finishing class when people paint them or make them look like bronze.”

The classes attract all levels, but participants usually have two things in common, says Dawe. “They are so sweet and creative. Some have been coming for 20 years because they love having their hands in mud, and they’ve become good friends and colleagues. People get addicted to it.”

Ceramics, jewelry making, fram ing, papermaking and painting are a few of the options on the course schedule at the Chastain Arts Center in Buckhead. Facility Manager Alma Kadri says the multi-week ceramics sessions fill quickly, but would-be artists can also sign up for shorter workshops often led by local artists. It’s also one of the few area studios to offer the gas reduction firing

method designed to make colors pop. While some would-be Monets sign up for a class just to see if they’ll like it, some may find it life changing. Dawe worked with one student who made a career out of sculpting. And Gresens first went to Spruill to learn jewelry making and wound up with a second income by selling it. “Well, you end up with so much you have to do something with it,” she says.

Prices for art classes can range from $50 for a half-day workshop to $350 for a multi-week session. Some programs have additional charges for materials. Check the program catalogs for complete details. n Creative!

CHASTAIN ARTS CENTER • 404.252.2927 ocaatlanta.com/chastain • @chastainartscenter CHERRYLION STUDIOS • 404.350.4040 cherrylion.com • @cherrylionstudios

SPRUILL CENTER FOR THE ARTS 770.394.3447 • spruillarts.org • @spruillarts

Tap your inner Picasso, van Gogh or Rodin with an art class

STORY: H.M. Cauley

Last month, Atlanta’s long time news anchor Karyn Greer went on-camera in her dream job reporting the nightly news at WSB-TV.

“I’ve worked at great stations with great people. But as you look to fur ther your career, to be at the number one station in the city and one of the top stations in the country, it’s huge. I’m just grateful and thankful that this opportunity has come to be,” says Greer, whose storied profes sional history in Atlanta includes reporting at WGNX-TV (now CBS 46

WGCL) from 1989 to 1999, 11Alive for the following 15 years and returning to CBS 46 in 2015 before accepting the WSB-TV position.

As an only child growing up in Chi cago, Greer knew she wanted to be a broadcaster and practiced newscasts with her father. “My parents told me I could do whatever I wanted to do,” she says, though her trajectory to success wasn’t always smooth. She ran into roadblocks, such as pro fessors at the University of Illinois telling her that, as a woman of color, she didn’t have “the look” required

to be a news anchor. “I thought, ‘I’m going to prove you wrong,’” she says. And she did, including winning six Southeast Emmys.

Here, the go-getter talks about her love for her job and how she recharges outside of the newsroom.

What does it mean to step into the late Jovita Moore’s role at the station?

I could never even think of trying to fill her shoes. She will always be an amazing talent. She had such flair, class and knowledge, and would

light up a screen. WSB’s thinking all along has been that trying to replace Jovita would be an impos sible task. They instead decided on a team approach—familiar faces with years of experience who could carry the torch that Jovita so gra ciously carried.

What is your favorite aspect of the job?

I love being able to do something new every day, being in the com munity and telling the stories that people are interested in here in Georgia. I’m not at a desk, pushing papers. That’s not me! Even though there are challenging and depress ing days reporting about people who lose their lives and families suffering, I like that we try to find answers and relief for our audience.

What do you most look forward to in this new position?

Being a blessing to others and being able to do this work. Journalism is not something that’s respected by a lot of people lately. I hope we can return the honor to the great work that journalists do daily.

What was a fundamental stepping stone moment in your career?

Receiving my first Emmy award made me realize my work was being appreciated. I got it for a series of stories I did on the AIDS epidemic when I was at CBS 46 in the ’90s. The station gave me the time to follow one person who had AIDS until he died.

How do you recharge outside of the newsroom?

Spending time with family is the most important thing. My boys, 23 and 27, are older now and they don’t like to travel with mom and dad like we used to, but we enjoy time together, sitting and talking. I travel with my husband, too.

You’re so stylish. What’s your secret?

I rent a lot of clothes because I go out so much. One of my go-to plac es for high-end clothing rentals is The Ivy Showroom on Miami Circle. I also go to Lisa Cloud of Lisa Nicole Collection to rent evening gowns— you can only wear them once! n @karyngreer

Anchor Karyn Greer’s next chapter STORY: Karina Antenucci

PHOTO: Sara Hanna

On the last Thursday in October, Brook Run Park in Dunwoody will be crowded with princesses, superheroes and maybe even a few goblins and witches. Truck or Treat, the final Food Truck Thursday of the year, promises a festive time and free admission for everyone, complete with costumes to admire, local cuisine to nosh and plenty of Halloween candy.

Hosted by the Dunwoody Homeowners Association with assistance from the city and the police depart ment, Truck or Treat has been a tradition since 2017 and attracts between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees each year, according to Rachel Waldron, the city’s rec reation program supervisor. The 10 trucks in atten dance booked by Redbird Events aim to offer a variety of food to please all palates.

Dance the evening away to the Adrian Duke Project, a seven-piece party band ready to regale the crowd with familiar favorites starting at 6 p.m. Learn Hallow een safety for the whole family with the Dunwoody Police’s “See and Be Seen” presentation, featuring advice on whether to keep or toss a treat, and then score candy galore from the food trucks and the event staff. According to Waldron, the best part of the evening is seeing the costumes, which are “highly encouraged” for both children and adults.

“Everyone dresses up, including staff. One year, we did a group costume for ‘Parks and Recreation,’” she says. “And we probably spend thousands of dollars on candy. It’s a really fun night.” n YOURSELVES WITH FOOD TRUCKS

dunwoodyga.gov •@cityofdunwoodyga

Kids will love collecting treats galore from food trucks and event staff.

Adults and children are encouraged to wear costumes at Dunwoody's Truck or Treat.

Want your mind completely blown and inspired at the same time? Check out Cirque du Soleil’s KURIOS - Cabinet of Curiosities, premiering Oct. 6 and running through Dec. 24 at Atlantic Station. Written and directed by Michel Laprise, KURIOS is the story of familiar inventions such as steam trains, gramophones and electricity, and how they began as dreams in the 19th century. The inspiration behind the show is celebrat ing the idea that anything is possible.

Audience members will marvel as performers soar 50 feet into the air on a special trampoline known as the acro-net. Used exclusively in KURIOS, the acro-net allows performers to travel at 35 miles per hour, perfect for a show about embracing possibility.

Tickets start at $49 per person.  n

Did you ever spend hours pondering whether Colonel Mustard commit ted the crime in the hallway with the wrench? If so, your favorite murder mystery boardgame can now be played out in person at the new Clue: The Escape Room in Buckhead, by creators

Breakout Games Atlanta and Hasbro. This room brings the game to life and positions you and your friends as the investigative team inside Mr. Boddy’s mansion. You’ll have one hour to figure out the weapon, room and murderous dinner party guest to solve the crime.

Clue: The Escape Room accommo dates between two and seven players. It’s best for ages 14 and up, but all ages are allowed, says Richard Stauffer, manager. To book this room or any of the other nine themed rooms at Break out Games Atlanta, visit the website and check your date’s availability. The room is $93.98 for two players, and group rates are available. n

TASTE OF CHAMBLEE Oct. 15 tasteofchamblee.net Sample Chamblee restaurants while you watch college football on the big screen. Admission is free; just download the Crowd Blink app to purchase food from vendors such as Won Kitchen Korean Cuisine, Grapes & Grains, Tower Treats and more.

ELEGANT ELF MARKETPLACE AT SANDY SPRINGS

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Oct. 15-16 sandyspringssociety.org/ the-elegant-elf

Skip the holiday rush and find early treasures including hand-crafted items, local art and tasty treats at this annual twoday event benefiting The Sandy Springs Society.

BUCKHEAD CREEPY CRAWL Oct. 29

atlantabartours.com/events/ event/buckhead-creepy-crawlhalloween

Celebrate the season at Buckhead bars such as Elbow Room, Stagecoach, 5 Paces Inn, Moondogs and others. Tickets are $12.50 per person or $40 per couple and include compli mentary shots and more.

WHISKIES OF THE WORLD IN ATLANTA AT INTERCONTINENTAL BUCKHEAD Oct. 29 whiskiesoftheworld.com/ events/atlanta

Sample more than 200 global whiskies, savor gourmet snacks and meet talented distillers at this one-day event benefiting the North Atlanta Rotary Club Foundation. Tickets start at $99 per person.

Photos: MathewTsang

BUSINESS BUILDERS

Success stories, career advice and financial tips from top entrepreneurs and experts

Atlantans are surrounded by established corporations such as Delta, Home Depot, Coca-Cola and many more names and logos recognized around the world. Georgia’s capital—and more specifically, Buckhead—is a destination for the visionaries who work hard to build businesses from the ground up. Entrepreneurs are a unique breed: They find inspiration in unlikely places, don’t take no for an answer and figure out the answers to questions others haven’t even asked yet. From the brains behind super-successful companies to the financial know-how of how to get started, this feature offers inspiration for any would-be business builder.

PHOTO: Sara Hanna

CREATING A MISSIONDRIVEN BUSINESS

For the Wilsons, incorporating their passion for community-building into their business was simple. They made it an integral part of Chime Solutions’ business plan. “If you have [social] programs that you want to include in your business, don’t look at them as separate special initiatives,” Mark says. “For us, the programs were fundamental to the way we wanted to run our company. For us, it was just standard operat

WMark and Shelly Wilson decided to launch Chime Solutions in 2016, the first thing they did was take out a map of Georgia. They pinpointed the area that had the highest unemployment rate in the state—Morrow—and chose it as the location for their new company’s inaugural call center. The husband-and-wife team then transformed a former JCPenney store in Southlake Mall into a bustling customer care center that now employs 1,500 people in the community.

“We could see the impact that it had in the community, and it was so inspirational for us,” says Mark, who serves as president and CEO. “We knew we had to spread that model to other communities around the country.”

Before starting Chime, the Wil sons already had an extraordinary amount of experience in the busi ness process outsourcing industry, having founded call center business Ryla Teleservices in Atlanta in 2001 before selling it in 2010 in a $70 million deal. Several years later, when a former customer reached out about starting a call center for their business, Chime Solutions was born. This time, however, the couple decided to put a different spin on their approach.

“We wanted to be a bit more intentional about where we were going to focus our interests,” says Shelly, who is chief operating officer of the company. “We wanted to go into underserved communities and bring jobs to the people there. We wanted to create opportunities for those who normally would not

Mark agrees. “We operate by the domino effect. Once you give one person a job, it has the impact of three other jobs being created,” he says. “When money is being regenerated in the community where people live, that’s the real benefit to the entire community.”

Today, Chime, a certified mi nority-owned business, operates in Georgia, Texas and North Caroli na, and has plans to expand into Arkansas. The company provides customized customer care solu tions to Fortune 500 corporations and mid-sized companies across industries, many of which feel a connection to Chime because of the company’s dedication to supporting local communities. And within the centers, the company provides a range of jobs and a myriad of per

sonal development opportunities for employees. Chime supports up ward mobility among its employees and often promotes from within.

“We have various tracks that people can take to put themselves in a position to compete for other opportunities,” says Shelly. We have many people who started at entry level and now are in managerial po sitions. We really encourage that.”

What’s more, the company is home to Chime University, which offers self-development programs on topics such as homeownership. “Our goal is to try to create as many homeowners as we can,” Mark says. “When someone achieves homeownership status and can put their children in a dif ferent environment when they’ve never had that before, that facili tates a generational impact.”

Mark says Chime’s ultimate goal is to create 10,000 jobs in under served communities across the country. However, that figure does not represent the ceiling. “The model is working, and we plan to keep expanding. The U.S. is a big place, and the talent out there deserves to be invested in,” he says. “That legacy is very important to us. We are doing the best we can to make a difference.”

Shelly says, “We are grateful to have the opportunity to use the skills we have to create opportunities for others. It’s overwhelming, and we’re excited to be where we are.” n

CHIME SOLUTIONS • 404.891.0777 chimesolutions.com • @chimesolutions

Jesse Itzler doesn’t have an advanced degree from an Ivy League school, nor does he come from a dynasty of busi ness tycoons. Still, he stands tall among successful entrepreneurs as co-founder of Marquis Jet, one of the world’s largest private jet membership companies, and as a partner in Zico Coconut Water, both of which were sold for undisclosed amounts to Berkshire Hathaway and Coca-Cola, respectively. His experi ence in business, and life as a whole, doesn’t fit neatly into an easily quantifiable box, and that’s just the way he likes it.

The now-Buckhead resident had an epiphany when, as an early 20-something and recent grad of Washington, D.C.’s American University, he was taking odd jobs, sleeping on a friend’s New York City sofa and having a blast. “I realized it’s not what you have; it’s what you do. I became a doer,” he says. Itzler had his first big professional win in 1990, at 22, when he got a record deal thanks to old fashioned hard work. “It was the first time, completely on my own, with no contacts and no help, I got something done,” he says of his time as an aspiring rapper. “It proved that all I needed was me.” A year later, he wrote and performed “Go NY Go,” the theme song for the New York Knicks, as well as original tunes for dozens of other pro teams.

Itzler’s father, the Long Island owner of a plumbing supply, may not have had business contacts to share, but he was a role model. “As an entrepreneur, you can do [one of] two things: create some thing new or make something better. My dad was always trying to do both. That was the exposure I had to an entrepreneurial mind set,” he says. “He didn't monetize it, but he had the credentials.”

While Itzler won’t need a resume to score his next opportunity, he spends significant time thinking about—and coaching others on— how to build their “life resume.”

“It makes you more interesting, and it's like a lightning rod for opportunities,” he explains of prioritizing relationships, wellness and experiences to enrich your life. Success stories abound: Those Itzler has mentored have launched businesses, run races, strengthened

SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR JESSE ITZLER DOES LIFE—AND BUSINESS—WITHOUT

LIMITS STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin PHOTO: Sara Hanna NO HOLDS BARRED

relationships and more, all of them carrying the theme of breaking free from self-limiting mindsets.

The serial entrepreneur refuses to be content with his past successes.

“If Elon Musk did that, there'd be no Tesla,” Itzler says. Unlike others, such as Itzler’s wife, Sara Blakely of Spanx, who are primarily known for a particular brand, Itzler takes a dif ferent approach. “I kind of reverse engineered it,” he says. “I live a life that's built around experiences, do

ing things that I love to do, building my life’s resume and creating new stuff. I guess that is my brand.” Who knows what’s next? n jesseitzler.com • @jesseitzler

See Jesse Itzler along with special guests live at the Buckhead Theatre on Oct. 27 for an evening of comedy, music and inspira tion. To honor his late father, 100% of ticket proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. jesse-itzler-live.webflow.io

THINK LIKE A WINNER

Your mindset has a huge impact on whether or not you succeed. “Every body has a fear of failure because ego comes into play,” Itzler says. “‘What if it doesn't work?’ doesn't cross my mind.” Case in point: When he signed up for his first 100-mile race, he couldn’t run 2 continuous miles. Still, he was relentless in pursuit of his goal and succeeded.

“Sometimes it works out for you; sometimes it doesn't, but I always have a belief that I'll be able to pull it off somehow,” he says.

UNENDING ROAD SHOW

Marc Gorlin, founder and CEO of the UPSowned company and delivery platform Roadie, is a storytelling engine.

To tell Roadie’s origin story, he recalls driving through Montgom

Chamblee High and University of Georgia graduate wrote a business plan for a ride-sharing app for packages, and Roadie was born.

Now Gorlin can tell stories about UPS, which bought Roadie in October 2021. As a wholly owned subsidiary

a really big company buys a really small company,” which has grown to more than 180 employees support ing some 200,000 contract drivers. Gorlin was 23 when he co-found ed PGP Corp. to commercialize Pretty Good Privacy encryption in

HOW TO TURN AN IDEA INTO A BUSINESS

“There’s value in the grind. Just get started, and things will begin to fall into place,” Gorlin says. “Novelists say this all the time. You don’t have to know how the book is going to end before you start writing it. You just start putting pen to paper”.

He explains his entrepreneurship with a story: “In middle school and high school, I did magic. I loved how you could make people believe in what they thought was impossi ble. You’re making something out of nothing. Startups are kind of like that.”

Roadie’s magic comes from its people, Gorlin says. “A lot of our folks are wicked smart, but they’re also pretty funny, and they run at problems, not away from them.”

His father, Steve, a biotech entrepreneur, taught him that every business hits roadblocks. Gorlin passes similar lessons to his children, Lily, 17, and Mills, 14.

When Gorlin accepted an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year National Award last November, he told a story about Lily’s project for a marketing class. She sought his advice on whether to build a sharkrepellent surfboard or wetsuit. “It depends,” he told her. “Do you not want your surfboard to get eaten, or do you not want you to get eaten?”

She got an A.

Gorlin majored in journalism at UGA because his father advised that an entrepreneur’s job was commu nication. “You’ve got to sell employ ees to take a chance on something,” Gorlin’s father told him. “You’ve got to sell your first customers. You’ve got to sell your investors.”

What sells the story, Gorlin says, is making it relatable. When he talks about tile, someone tells the story back, but it’s about a child’s jersey or a grandmother’s rocking chair. “There’s a lot of people who have the same need you’re trying to sell.” n

MARC GORLIN KEEPS ROADIE ROLLING ALONG WITH UPS STORY: Michael Jacobs PHOTO: Sara Hanna

Al Longman and Su So-Long man often reflect on the fact that what started in the living room of their rented home in Buckhead has become one of the top five pallet brokerage companies in the country, placing it at the top of a global market worth more than $63.4 billion.

“I think it speaks volumes about what we’ve done over the years,” says Su, CEO of Pallet Central Enterprises, Inc., the powerhouse brokerage company she co-found ed with her husband in Septem ber 2005 after he lost his job as a national sales manager for a large pallet company. “It was started out of necessity. When Al lost his job, I said, ‘You have all this experience. I don’t know anything about the pallet industry, but I know how to organize. Can we do this together?’ And he thought we could.”

Did they ever. Today, PCE serves Fortune 500 companies across the United States, Canada, South Amer ica and Asia, selling, distributing, stocking and managing their pallets and waste streams. The company has 20 regional sales offices across the country and has become a multi-million-dollar corporation.

“Everything you eat, drink and wear is shipped on a pallet. It’s a huge piece of the manufacturing world that people don’t really think about,” says Al, who serves as pres ident. “When we started, Su only had knowledge about the industry that she picked up from discussing my work with me. But she grabbed this and ran with it. She made sure we survived by having us operate on a very lean, mean business model. Everything had to make dollars and sense. That automatically set us apart in the industry. And we went from zero to millions of dollars.”

In fact, PCE has become recog nized as one of the most versatile and adaptable pallet brokerages anywhere, based on Al’s deep understanding of the industry and Su’s innate business sense, which she attributes to her father, who is a successful businessman. Together, the husband-and-wife team has charted a path for con tinued substantial growth that includes a new sales program that will allow the national team to

shop faster and more efficiently on behalf of PCE’s customers.

“Su and I sit down regularly and talk about how we can do things bet ter,” Al says. “We know that no matter what happens, there is going to be a requirement for our product. If you don’t have a pallet, you can’t ship. It doesn’t matter if you make the best widget in the world. There’s a need, and we make sure we look ahead. It’s all about planning and preparation.”

For the Longmans, it’s also about working with someone who enhanc es your strengths and balances out

your weaknesses. “You have to have a partner who complements you, whether it’s in business or in a rela tionship. Al and I met each other later in life, so we want to spend time together,” says Su of the cou ple’s meeting in 2004. “That’s part of why this works for us. Business puts food on our table, but what makes it work is the love and respect we have for each other.”

The couple has always been willing to bet on each other and their pro fessional aspirations. “If you have a dream, take a chance. If you’re scared

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

“We’re good at pivoting,” says Su about PCE’s ability to be agile during challenges. The same sentiment can be applied to the couple’s life together. Their ability to handle curveballs that life or business throws at them can be attributed to Su’s penchant for planning. “We always have a Plan A and a Plan B. Then we have a Plan C and D. You have to have plans in case something goes awry.”

about failure, just remember that you need to get right back up,” Al says. “A dream without a plan for success is just a dream. You’ll never achieve anything unless you’re willing to take the risk and put the effort into it.” n

PALLET 404.814.1048

AL LONGMAN AND SU SO-LONGMAN TOOK A LEAP OF FAITH TO LAUNCH A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESS STORY: Amy Meadows PHOTO: Sara RISK/REWARD

All the elements for entre preneurship come to gether in Buckhead, from 100,000 residents and 122,000 commuting workers to 23 million square feet of office space and ample venture capital, says Garth Peters, the Buckhead Coalition’s director of member, citizen and government affairs.

Atlanta is the economic and cultural hub of the Southeast, Roadie founder Marc Gorlin says, and Buckhead is the economic engine of Atlanta.

“This is the place for innovation,” Peters says, both for people who come up with ideas here, such as OneTrust founder Kabir Barday, and those whose ideas draw them here, such as Intercontinental Exchange founder Jeffrey Sprecher.

“The thing that I think’s pretty cool in Atlanta that’s different is people in venture, legal, account ing, creative spaces are willing to help you even if it doesn’t help them directly,” says Gorlin.

Here are a few of the entrepre neurs behind successful, exciting businesses rooted in the area.

1. JEFF ARNOLD SHARECARE

Arnold, 52, was just out of the University of Georgia in 1994 when he and wife Meg borrowed $25,000 from her father to start heart-mon itoring company Quality Diagnostic Services. They sold it for $25 million in 1998, and Arnold started WebMD, which merged with Healtheon in 1999.

The Buckhead resident then led website HowStuffWorks, which he sold to Discovery Communica tions for $250 million in 2007. He launched Buckhead-based digital health care and information com pany Sharecare in 2010.

This summer, Sharecare merged with special purpose acquisition

company Falcon Capital, which invested $571 million, and went public at a valuation of $3.9 billion.

Sharecare has more than 2,400 employees and tops $400 million in annual revenue.

2. TOPE AWOTONA CALENDLY

Calendly founder and CEO Awotona launched the scheduling platform at Atlanta Tech Village in Buckhead with savings and loans in 2013. A $350 million equity investment in 2021 valued the private company at $3 billion and, Forbes says, estab lished Awotona as the second black tech billionaire in the United States. Now 41, he immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 1996. His business false starts included a patented idea for optical charac ter recognition in cash registers, a dating app, a projector seller and a garden tools company.

projects based on money-making opportunities versus picking things that align with my passion,” Awoto na told website Mogul Millennial His passion for Calendly, which topped $100 million in sales last year, came from frustration at try ing to schedule a sales meeting.

3. KABIR BARDAY ONETRUST

As president and CEO, Barday, 34, founded digital privacy platform OneTrust in 2016 and saw it top Inc.’s list of fastest-growing compa nies by 2020.

Based in Sandy Springs and Lon don, OneTrust has more than 2,500 employees, a $5.3 billion valuation, 150 patents, half the Fortune 500 as customers and the 24th spot on the 2022 Forbes Cloud 100 list of private cloud computing companies.

A 2009 Georgia Tech grad and

proud to be a part of Atlanta’s budding tech community.”

4. JEFFREY SPRECHER INTERCONTINENTAL EXCHANGE

“ICE’s simple mission has been to make analog and opaque finan cial transactions more digital and transparent,” Sprecher said in May, announcing the $13.1 billion acquisition of housing data company Black Knight. HAS WHAT BUSINESS BUILDERS NEED TO SUCCEED Michael Jacobs HEART OF INNOVATION

Buckhead resident Sprecher, 67, founded Sandy Springs-based In ternational Exchange (ICE) in 2000 as an energy trading platform built on the foundation of Georgia-based Continental Power Exchange, which the Wisconsin native bought in 1997 for $1,000 plus the assump tion of debt.

Now ICE has more than 10,000 employees and exceeds $6 billion in annual revenue from data and finan cial services. Its assets include the New York Stock Exchange, which ICE bought for $8.2 billion in 2013.

Sprecher serves as the NYSE chair as well as ICE’s chair and CEO. He’s married to former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler.

5. SARA BLAKELY SPANX

Blakely’s story is an entrepreneurial legend: The Atlanta door-to-door fax machine saleswoman cut the toes off some control-top pantyhose to wear under cream-colored pants, spent $5,000 of her own money to turn that idea into an undergarment busi ness, never took an investment and built Spanx into a shapewear giant.

She ranks 23rd on Forbes’ 2022 list of America’s Self-Made Women and is married to fellow entrepre neur Jesse Itzler (read our profile on him on page 77).

Blakely, 51, sold a majority of her Buckhead-based business in November 2021 to investment group Blackstone. The deal includ ed Oprah Winfrey and Reese With erspoon and valued Spanx at $1.2 billion. Blakely stayed as part-owner and executive chair.

“I have run this business—I’ve run my life—very, very connected to intuition,” Blakely told the Forbes Power Women’s Summit in Decem ber to explain the sale.

6. TED TURNER TURNER ENTERPRISES

Turner, 83, turned an independent Atlanta TV station into a global

media empire encompassing TBS, TNT, TCM, Cartoon Network, CNN and more from a downtown perch on Luckie Street. He swept up the Braves and Hawks along the way, moved into environmentalism, introduced many to bison meat through Ted’s Montana Grill and re ceived the Atlanta Business Chron icle’s Most Admired CEOs Lifetime Achievement Award in August.

Although Turner operated out side Buckhead, the late Sam Massell used a Turner appearance at the 2015 annual meeting of the Buck head Coalition to offer the media mogul a spot on the organization’s exclusive membership list.

“I need to know more about it,” Turner said. He apparently learned enough: Turner became and remains a coalition member. n

STARTUP SUCCESS STARTS BY SORTING THROUGH SETS OF THREE STORY: Michael Jacobs TRIPLE NUMBERS GAME

Starting a business on sound finan cial footing involves facing three sets of three: three options for the money, three options for the structure and three types of advisers.

Those decisions come after you turn your idea into a business plan built to achieve a quick exit or long-term suc cess, says Thomas Prevatt, who works with entrepreneurs as a partner in the tax practice of Brookhaven-based accounting and advisory firm Aprio.

Prevatt says he sees many entrepre neurs who could have thrived “if not for those first couple stumbling blocks that knock out so many business owners.”

For working capital, you can use your own money, borrow or find investors. Self-financing is high risk and high reward, Prevatt says. You lose everything if the business fails but get all the profit if it succeeds.

You also set your own timeline, says David Aferiat, co-founder and manag ing partner of investment intelligence company Trade Ideas and founder and owner of organic wine importer Avid Vines. His two partners couldn’t satisfy the quick-profit pressure of in vestors in a previous business, Aferiat says, so they launched Trade Ideas in 2003 with their own money.

Aferiat, an Upper Westside resident, went 18 months without a salary, but says the partners could “make the mis takes we needed to make at the timeta ble that we needed to make them.”

Borrowing can create more risk. Lenders for new businesses usually want a personal guarantee, Prevatt says, so even if the business fails, the loan obligation remains. He advises finding a lender that specializes in your industry to get the best terms.

Investors, whether friends, family or venture capitalists, reduce financial risk in exchange for partial control and potential profits, Prevatt says. “You have different voices, and they all feel like they have a say.”

of business structure: C corporation, S corporation, or limited liability corporation or partnership. The wrong choice, Prevatt says, could mean thousands of dollars going to the IRS instead of the business.

Because an S-corp and an LLC/ partnership provide flexibility to use startup losses to offset outside income, they are better than a C-corp to build a new business for the long term, Prevatt says.

For an advisory team, Prevatt says every startup needs a great lawyer, a good accountant and a solid support group.

Accept the upfront cost of a lawyer who creates ironclad documents and agreements, Prevatt says, and trust an accountant to minimize taxes and provide advice ranging from local incentives for job creation to potential advantages from making the wife the majority owner of a family business. Just be sure the lawyer and accountant coordinate their efforts.

Prevatt advises paying yourself something from the start to avoid burnout and setting aside a slice of all revenues to force yourself to minimize expenses and build an emergency fund.

The final advisory element is a sup port group of like-minded entrepreneurs to provide advice, insight and sympathy.

Aferiat was more than a decade into Trade Ideas before he found such a group in the Atlanta chapter of Entre preneurs’ Organization. He joined after seeing EO’s impact on a cousin and a friend, and he found that it satisfied his need for continual learning. Now he’s the chapter president. “Other people have tread these waters before,” he says. “Why should you have to suffer when you can learn from someone else’s experience?” n

APRIO • 404.892.9651 • aprio.com

TURNER

Control is also a factor in the choice

ENTREPRENEURS’ ORGANIZATION: ATLANTA CHAPTER eoatlanta.com @eoatlanta

David Aferiat of Trade Ideas Thomas Prevatt of Aprio 844.847.7154 929.303.7118 888.806.7311

DELICIOUS

Vacation

Vibes

A MEAL AT CANOE FEELS LIKE A LUXE GETAWAY

Desperately in need of a vacation but too buried under deadlines to take time off work? Book a table at Canoe. Whether you opt for brunch, lunch or dinner, you’ll leave feeling much better than you did upon arrival.

Nestled on the shores of the Chattahoochee River, this restaurant is more than a place to get upscale food and pampering service, though it’s that, too. At Canoe, you can truly relax as you sit over looking manicured gardens, rippled water flowing toward a bridge, hummingbirds darting

between blooms and people posing for photos against a variety of backdrops. Few restaurants genuinely feel like a vacation destination, but Canoe reliably lifts moods while pleasing palates wheth er you sit on the covered patio or inside the dining room with expansive windows.

STORY: Hope S. Philbrick

PHOTOS: Sara Hanna

Canoe's signature dessert is available throughout the year. cream sundae favorite adult flavors.

this year, Canoe has built a reputa tion that extends beyond Atlanta: It’s been featured in Bon Appétit, Food & Wine, Gourmet, The Wine Spectator and The New York Times, among others. Located on the western edge of Buckhead, it’s near the city yet feels a world away.

Thoughtful service begins as you pull up to the valet stand. Step inside for a friendly greeting. If you’ve arrived before your table is ready, you’ll be invited to visit the bar or stroll the gardens. Once seated, attentive servers will describe specials, answer questions, make recommendations and keep your glasses filled with whatever beverage you prefer.

Sipping options abound. More than 300 bottles of wine are avail able, as well as 40 by the glass. Beers range from well-known interna tional brands to local craft brews. Creative cocktails are updated often and include riffs such as “Bird of Paradise” that steers the clas sic Aviation toward a more bitter profile, while the Canoe Manhattan adds Cherry Heering for a sweeter edge to tradition. Canoe’s talented mixologists work with a full bar to meet special requests. American whiskey is featured with options

to regional ryes.

The food menu is driven by ingredients at the peak of flavor, so several changes are made through out a season. Fall typically showcas es apples and hard squashes. “The goal is always to have a menu that is approachable for guests that are joining us,” says Executive Chef Matthew Basford, who has helmed the Canoe kitchen since 2013. “We want people to feel comfortable and have an option that they can choose.” While salmon, steak, chick en, rabbit and kangaroo are menu constants, presentations vary. “The accompaniments that support the proteins are what will change from menu to menu,” says Basford, who grew up in Australia. He worked in kitchens Down Under before moving to the U.S. in 2002, working in New Orleans before relocating to Atlanta.

Trust an Australian to cook kangaroo to tender perfection and marry it with bold yet complemen tary flavors such as peppercorns, tomatoes, beets and bacon bread pudding. “We always strive for bal ance in the dishes we create,” says Basford. “But we also lean towards certain proteins’ characteristics and either complement or play off of them with different sides.”

Chef Matthew Basford grew up in Australia, but his creamy Vidalia onion soup proves he's skilled with native Georgia ingredients.

Maple-marinated duck breast balances savory with sweet in each juicy bite. Duck is a menu constant; presentations vary by season.

Creamy Vidalia onion soup proves the chef is equally skilled with native Georgia ingredients. Warmly balancing sweet and savory notes, it’s the equivalent of a hug in a bowl. Drizzled with goat cheese cream and topped with a toasted wedge of brioche dabbed with bacon jam, the presentation is upscale yet approachable.

Slow-braised rabbit is fork-tender and moist, offering about the same level of gaminess as turkey. Tender brie ravioli, tart bacon-braised cabbage and light garlic jus make a delightful combination.

Maple-marinated duck breast balances savory with sweet in each juicy bite. Green tomato vinaigrette

adds a tangy kick. A crusty veg etable tart lends a comfort-food component.

Among Canoe’s gardens is a small plot for the kitchen. “It’s more a hobby garden to give guests anoth er avenue to relax and soak up the river vibes,” says Basford. “We also gained a wild bee colony this year, and they seem to be doing great. The bees are Executive Pastry Chef Jessica McKinney’s pet project, and she is attending to all their needs.” McKinney aims to incorporate fresh honey into Canoe’s dessert menu.

Canoe’s signature dessert is its popcorn ice cream sundae, avail able on all menus throughout the year. Popcorn-flavored ice cream

is layered with peanut “Cracker Jack,” Chantilly cream and driz zled with salted caramel sauce. A satisfying combination of textures, it straddles favorite childhood and sophisticated adult flavors. Rising above the rim of a towering glass and accompanied with a handful of

crunchy candied popcorn, the por tion is generous enough to share. But it arrives with just one spoon, so there’s no need to feel obligated to do so. Each decadent mouthful is as gratifying as schoolyard recess.

Escape to Canoe for blissful refreshment. n

Canoe 770.432.2663 • canoerestaurantatlanta.com • @canoeatlanta

Prices: (Brunch) pastries, $2-14; appetizers, $14-18; mains, $14-28. (Lunch) appetizers, $9-18; soups & salads, $10-14; burgers & sandwiches, $14-19; entrees, $16-26. (Dinner) appetizers, $10-22; entrees, $22-48; dessert, $11.

Recommended: Canoe Manhattan, peppercorn crusted kangaroo, slow braised rabbit, maple marinated duck breast, popcorn sundae.

Bottom line: An Atlanta classic known for its lush setting on the banks of the Chattahoochee, its upscale food and attentive service lives up to its reputation.

Succulent roasted chicken and fried okra sits atop creamed collards and tomato coulis.

"Bird of Paradise" steers the classic Aviation toward a more bitter flavor profile.

The Canoe Manhattan adds Cherry Heering for a sweeter edge to tradition.

Kangaroo is cooked to tender perfection and married with bold yet complimentary seasonal flavors and ingredients such as peppercorns, beets and tomatoes.

Slow-braised rabbit is fork-tender and moist, offering about the same level of gaminess as turkey.

Left: The caffeinated retro classic is back. Espress Yourself with Taco Mac's version.

Right: Amalfi's Ketel One Vodka Espresso Martini gets an earthy flavor from Hoodoo Chicory Liqueur.

Below: Easily serve a delightful espresso martini at home with Post Meridiem's new ready-to-drink cans.

EXTRA BUZZ

The espresso martini is back

Without a drop of gin or vermouth, the espresso martini became a clas sic of modern times. The rich and creamy cocktail is a simple mix of vodka, coffee liqueur and a shot of espresso. It’s a kickstarter of a drink that reached a level of ubiquity in the 1990s and, like the adage “everything old is new again,” it’s back in full force.

Created in the 1980s at London’s Soho Brasserie, it was originally called a vodka espresso by bartender Dick Bradsell. He never divulged her name, but a famous model wanted something that would both wake her up and get her tipsy. In the United States, it hit its heyday in the ’90s then swiftly faded into obscurity.

Just like cropped tops and bub blegum pink, espresso martinis are making a comeback. Bartenders use fresh, high-quality espresso, interesting coffee liqueurs and vod kas. Easy new ways bring the boozy throwback into modern times, too.

What about those trademark beans floating on the surface? Bradsell realized his drink needed something to take it over the top. He incorporated the Italian tradi

STORY: Angela Hansberger

tion for garnishing Sambuca. Three coffee beans placed con la mosca, “with the fly,” represent health, wealth and happiness.

At the new Amalfi Cucina & Mercato, the bar experts keep it classic with a little flair. Their martini stirs together Ketel One Vodka, Hoodoo Chicory Liqueur and cold brew espresso topped with three beans. Salute!

La Grotta’s espresso martini is among the best in Atlanta. In addition to the top-notch service and cozy interior with brick arch ways, the staff serves up a dreamy concoction with Van Gogh Dou ble Espresso Vodka, Grand Brulot Cafe Liqueur, Kahlua and a freshly brewed J. Martinez Jamaican coffee and a splash of cream. It’s a stunning complement to a crème brûlée or tiramisu, or as a dessert on its own.

New liqueurs make shaking up an espresso martini tasty as well as easy, even without an espresso maker. Taco Mac bartenders are quick to craft an Espress Yourself with just Tito’s Handmade Vodka, homemade simple syrup and Caffè Borghetti Espresso Liqueur. Made with Italian espresso, the 160-year-old recipe for

Borghetti is rich and intense with the full-bodied taste of fresh espresso.

At Storico Fresco, Beverage Director Jose Pereiro takes the espresso martini into new terri tory with interesting ingredients as well as tossing it on nitro draft. “This recipe was originally made with vodka as the main spirit, plus Borghetti espresso liqueur, Hoodoo chicory liqueur, Danesi espresso and Demerara sugar,” says Pereiro. Though guests loved it, he want ed to bring up more of the coffee notes and make it different from other espresso martinis out there. “I decided to add Santa Teresa 1796 Rum from Venezuela,” he says. “Venezuela is known for cultivating excellent coffee, cacao and sugar cane, so using the rum expressing its terroir into our espresso martini is what took it to the next level." The Nitro Espresso Martini is also on tap at Forza Storico in Westside. It’s easy to shake up an espresso martini at home with freshly pulled

espresso or cold brew concentrate found in grocery stores or local coffee shops. Even easier: ready-todrink espresso martinis. Local Post Meridiem Spirits launched Into the Night Espresso Martini in 100-milli liter cans this summer. “It took two years to get it right,” says company Co-Founder Andrew Rodbell. Made with vodka, coffee liqueur and 100% Arabica cold brew, they are rich, creamy and balanced. And all it takes is opening a can and shaking with ice to impress at home. Coffee and cocktails never go out of style. n

AMALFI CUCINA & MERCATO • 678.973.0903 amalfiatl.com • @amalfiatl

LA GROTTA RISTORANTE ITALIANO 404.231.1368 • lagrottaatlanta.com @lagrottaatl

POST MERIDIEM SPIRITS postmeridiemspirits.com • @postmeridiemspirits

STORICO FRESCO ALIMENTARI • 404.500.2181 storicofresco.com •@storicofresco

TACO MAC • Multiple locations tacomac.com • @tacomacofficial

Sarah Newman

Fresh Perspective

Scottsdale, Arizona-based Original ChopShop debuts its first Georgia location in Buck head this month in the Peachtree Square Shopping Center. High lighting customizable dishes, Original ChopShop’s menu includes protein bowls, salads (“chops”), sandwiches, breakfast items, fresh juice, acai bowls and more made from high-qual ity ingredients. We spoke with CEO Jason Morgan about what Atlantans can expect.

Why did you choose Buckhead?

Atlanta has always been at the top of our list when looking for new markets for Original Chop Shop. Buckhead is a nice entry point into the market because of its high visibility, traffic and population. We also have found

a site with both surface-level parking as well as a large, shaded patio area, which is extremely hard to come by in an urban area. We believe we will be filling an on-the-go, feel-good need that the com munity is currently missing.

What makes the eatery unique? At Original ChopShop, inspiring others to "just feel good" is at the heart of everything we do, both internally and externally. We believe that we've created some thing really special, from our guest experience and shop de sign to our career development and team benefits programs. The variety allows us to offer four dayparts: breakfast, lunch, snack and dinner. Additionally, our en tire menu is available for catering,

Original ChopShop CEO Jason Morgan

which we know will be a hit with the office and medical communi ties in the Buckhead area.

What does your “food for Every/Body” ethos mean? Almost anything on our menu can be modified to meet the dietary needs or preferences of every guest. We also like to say that we have food for “Every/ Body” because there is truly something for everyone on our menu. Whether you're a health nut or you want something more filling or indulgent, we've got you covered. n

ORIGINAL CHOPSHOP • 404.381.8877 originalchopshop.com @originalchopshop

HOMEMADE HARVEST

A sweet and savory, caramelroasted cauliflower from Palo Santo’s Santiago Gome

St. Regis Sabrage Masterclasses are now available at St. Regis Atlanta. During the 30-minute sessions led by an expert butler, guests will learn how to open a bottle of Champagne using a saber. The experience also includes a bottle of Champagne and canapés. marriott.com/en-us/hotels/ atlxr-the-st-regis-atlanta

Earlier this year, Mexican chef Santiago Gomez opened his supper-club-style restaurant, Palo Santo, in West Midtown. Stop by for Mexican-inspired cuisine and cocktails, or venture to the rooftop to enjoy city views and a separate Japanese-Mexican menu. You can also bring a taste of the restaurant home with this savory-meets-sweet caramel-roasted cauliflower recipe.

IINGREDIENTS

1 whole white cauliflower

5 tbsp white miso

5 tbsp brown sugar

5 jalapeño peppers (seeded)

2 oz goat cheese

½ cup grape seed oil

Salt (to taste)

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Season the cauliflower with salt, then place it on a sheet pan and cook for 15 minutes until golden brown. Heat the white miso in a pan, add the brown sugar and mix until the sugar dissolves and turns golden brown. Remove from the heat. In a blender, process the jala peño peppers and add oil until smooth. Add the goat cheese and salt to taste. Remove the cauliflower from the oven. Using a spatula, cover the entire cau liflower with the caramel miso. Put in the oven for 5 minutes and remove. Serve the jalapeño sauce on a plate and finish with the roasted cauliflower on top. Claire Ruhlin

PALO SANTO 678.492.9211 botanicohospitality.com/palo-santo @palosanto_atl

n Flight Club, a modern dart bar offering food and cocktails, is coming to West Midtown’s Star Metals development. A concept by Lon don-based Social Entertainment Ventures, Flight Club will offer guests “Social Darts,” a technologically enabled darts game with automatic scoring. flightclubdarts.com/atlanta

n Brunch is now on the menu at West Midtown’s wine and mozzarella bar Bastone (owned by Grana chef Pat Pas carella). Available Saturdays & Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., offerings in clude a traditional Italian brunch spread, shakshuka and pasta dishes. A selection of craft cocktails and wines by the glass make it festive. bastoneatlanta.com

The Heiress

Sachiyo “Sachi” Nakato Takahara was born into the restaurant industry.

She earned her first tip at age 12, and by 24, she’d tried every job at Nakato, the Japanese restaurant her grandmother founded in 1972. Three generations of hardworking women later, the Buckhead resident is celebrating the success of her family business.

November marks the restaurant’s 50th anniversary. It’ll be commem orated with retro cocktail specials, appetizers from the original menu and a private event for regulars.

Over the years, Takahara has worked hard to maintain Japanese traditions while bringing Nakato into the 21st century. She’s updated the restaurant’s design, implement ed Japanese trends and hosted numerous events. Today, Nakato offers sushi, teppanyaki (similar to hibachi), hot pot dishes and Shokado Bento Boxes.

“[My grandmother] started a brand-new business in her mid60s without knowing one lick of English,” Takahara says. “The guts to do that still inspires me.”

In addition to her upbringing, Taka hara carries artistic and business expertise gained through studies at Boston University and time run ning a successful pottery business in Massachusetts. Still, she’s most honored to carry on the hospitality of her ancestors. “All the hard work that my grandma and parents did put a lot of pressure on me. I’m re ally proud that we made it through COVID,” she says.

We learn more about her work and family life below.

How do you keep the traditions going while still modernizing?

The core of the restaurant is hospitality. That has been ingrained in me from childhood. From my grandmother to my mother to me, that is the Japanese culture of omotenashi—to take care of a guest without anything in return. We hold doors open for guests coming in, greet them with a smile and pay attention to small details to show hospitality from the get-go. When you dine in the back rooms, the shoes are flipped around so guests can slide into them on their way

Takahara showcases the variety of food offered at Nakato.

out. That small detail is an everyday occurrence in Japan.

How do you decide what modern elements to incorporate?

I keep an eye on social media trends. They give me inspiration. Tasty Japan’s Instagram has a lot of fun things I want to try.

When I came back into the family business in 2004, we were still using Red Books—big diaries with dates. We were blocking off times and hav ing the host handwrite reservations

STORY: Carly Cooper

and phone numbers. OpenTable was coming onto the market, and I thought, “Why not give it a try? The industry is changing and becoming more digital.” That was the first step in adding more technology. I also updated the point-of-sale system.

What would your late grandma think of the restaurant today?

She was very innovative. When we served shrimp tempura in the ’70s, I heard she wanted to serve it with ketchup because the guest would enjoy it more that way. She didn’t, but the fact that she was open to it was enough for me to get a sense that she was OK changing certain things to fit the guests’ palates and needs.

What are your plans for Nakato’s future?

We’re renovating the front façade to make it more inviting. We’re adding a covered walkway to the valet area and updating the bar. It’s too crammed. n

NAKATO JAPANESE RESTAURANT 404.873.6582 nakatorestaurant.com

Sachi Nakato Takahara celebrates 50 years of Nakato Japanese Restaurant

FUN FACT Takahara learned how to ride a unicycle as a child in Japan.

FEATURED RESTAURANTS

A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead

Treehouse's dense chocolate torte comes drizzled with sweet and spicy raspberry-chipotle sauce.

Kyma's grilled lamb chops, with a stack of potatoes and a mound of cucumber-yogurt tzatziki, are pure bliss.

Gypsy Kitchen's tapas-style menu takes you on a tour of some of the world's best flavors.

AZIZA

Meaning “happiness” in Arabic, Aziza is tucked into the lower level of Westside Provisions District, with a dimly lit dining room and diminutive bar. The open kitchen, with its large wood-burning oven that factors heavily into most dishes, is a welcoming focal point. Have a cocktail such as the herbaceous Shug Shake to whet your appetite for the simple, elegant and intensely flavorful dishes to come. Sharing is the best way to maximize your tour of the menu. Don’t miss Hummus No. 1, a silky chickpea mixture topped with braised duck, pecans, pomegranate and nutty tahini served with laffa bread. You can’t go wrong with tender-crisp octopus with coriander, tuna tartare with preserved lemon labneh, short rib tagine or grilled lamb shoulder with fava beans and herbed rice. Blending Israeli cuisine with seasonal ingredients available in the American South, Aziza strikes just the right balance between adventurous and comforting.

Small plates: $10-$21 • Mains: $29-$43 Desserts: $13 • aziza-restaurant.com

BROOKLYN CAFE

This Sandy Springs institution is never without crowds of satisfied diners, and it’s easy to see why. Join lunching locals over sandwiches and fresh salads such as the petite Caesar with peppery cayenne croutons or the mission fig and crumbled blue cheese with greens. The in-house smoked salmon salad is near perfection, as is the Brooklynfamous Reuben consisting of juicy corned beef piled atop buttery toasted rye. Dinner highlights include the blackened mahi tacos and crab cake salad. Wrap things up with mile-high double chocolate cake or the homemade Key lime pie, each one sliced to feed two or more. And as if the phenomenal grub weren’t enough, it’s all served up by a friendly, whiz-bang staff, making for a delightful meal you won’t soon forget. Appetizers and salads: $7-$12 Sandwiches and mains: $11-$31 Desserts: $7 • brooklyncafe.com

THE CAPITAL GRILLE BUCKHEAD

Despite the clubby decor (think leather oxblood booths, mounted animal heads, mahogany paneling), The Capital Grille is a blend of high-class aesthetic and Lowcountry hospitality. Your obliging waiter will walk you through the classic steakhouse menu heavy on in-house, dry-aged cuts. It’s a tough call. The juicy, 22-ounce, bone-in ribeye will make you swoon, but so will the sizzling, Kona-crusted New York strip. There’s top-notch fish and poultry, too, and gussiedup sides like lobster mac ’n’ cheese and soy-glazed Brussels sprouts. Salads run the gamut from the classic iceberg wedge to the

continental burrata with heirloom tomatoes. Wine lovers will thrill over the world-class, 350-plus bottle wine list.

Appetizers, salads: $10-$110 Mains: $33-$59 • Sides: $11-$18 Desserts: $11 • thecapitalgrille.com

FLOWER CHILD

Get your groove on at this 21st century health food haven where bright colors, happy smiles and good vibes abound. Whet your whistle with some refreshingly fruity on-tap kombucha (a fermented tea drink) and treat yourself to starters of tart, juicy tomato toast or creamy avocado hummus. You’ll be bowled over by the tantalizing flavors of the Mother Earth bowl, the Glow bowl and other health-friendly bowls, wraps and plates. Menu standouts include the “Forbidden Rice” bowl with grass-fed steak, the Mediterranean quinoa salad and for dessert, the vegan dark chocolate pudding. A limited wine and beer selection is available for those who prefer a cocktail with their quinoa or a tipple with their tofu.

Soups, salads and appetizers: $6.25 - $12.50 Bowls, entrées and wraps: $9.95 - $15.50 iamaflowerchild.com

GYPSY KITCHEN

Take your taste buds on a nomadic journey at Gypsy Kitchen in the Buckhead Village District, where you’ll find abundant flavors plus an upbeat vibe. Small plates dominate the menu, true to the Spanish tapas experience. The eclectic assortment ensures there’s something to please just about anyone, with abundant vegetarian options as well as diverse omnivore plates. Don’t miss tirokroketes, a trio of crisp cheese balls served with spicy-tart almond romesco sauce. Grilled octopus is cooked to tender perfection. Roasted mushrooms and whipped goat cheese toast surely makes avocado toast green with envy. Moroccan spiced lamb skewers are pleasantly spicy. Sumac honey-roasted carrots offer a healthy way to satisfy sweet cravings. The bar menu presents wine, beer and creative cocktails including gin and tonic on draught with an exclusive tonic. Sangria is offered in both red and rosé versions, with shareable carafes available for an authentic Spanish experience. Cocktails: $9-15 • Small Plates: $9-20 Meat & Cheese: $8-48 • Mains: $25-65 Desserts: $10-12 • gk-atl.com

KYMA

The name means “wave,” and making waves is exactly what executive chef Pano I. Karatassos has been doing at his family’s stellar Greek seafood restaurant since 2002. From marides (tiny, “French fry”-size white fish) to Greek specimens grilled whole (try the barbounia or bronzino), Kyma excels

at delivering the kind of simple, unadorned flavors you’ll encounter on a patio by the Aegean. Order a glass of Greek wine (there are many options) and a few classic meze for sharing (we like the dolmades, spanakopita, cuttlefish stuffed with lamb stew and the feta-zucchini fritters), and your meal will go just swimmingly. Meze: $8-$14 • Mains: $26-$46 (whole fish $30 or $36 per pound) buckheadrestaurants.com/kyma

LA GROTTA

This four-decades-old institution is as popular today as it ever was. And that has as much to do with the generations of devotees—many of them old school Atlanta royalty—as it does with its reliable, often superlative food. Whether you begin with earthy bresaola Valtellinese, milky burrata di mozzarella fresca or verdant insalata di carciofi freschi, it’s imperative you save room for the mains, for this is where the kitchen truly shines. Silky cream-sauced pastas such as penne con verdure and pappardelle con astice will become your new gastro obsession, and delectable meat dishes such as scaloppine di vitello Antonio and filetto di manzo al Barolo are best enjoyed with a bottle of fine Italian red. Appetizers and salads: $9.95-$15.95 Pastas and risottos: $10.95-$35.95 Mains: $21.95-$39.95 • Desserts: $7.95-$9.95 lagrottaatlanta.com

OK CAFÉ

Just as we send diners to Bone’s for the definitive steakhouse experience, we suggest OK Café as a classic diner with a strong Southern twang. The offerings here are anchored in time and tradition: Root beer floats and cherry lemonade are called Black Cows and Pink Ladies. Meat-and-twos and veggie plates laden with silken collards and exquisite mac and cheese are meant to be washed down with sweet ice tea and sopped up with a perfect corn muffin. Fat slices of meatloaf encrusted with tomato sauce, roast turkey with cornbread dressing and gravy, chicken pot pie with an adorable little “OK” stamped onto its puff-pastry blanket—this stuff draws a crowd. If you don’t want to play the waiting game, you’d better arrive before 11 a.m. or between the lunch and dinner rush. After a quarter-century, OK Café never goes out of style. Appetizers: $4-$8 • Burgers and sandwiches: $4-$13 • Mains: $12-$16 • okcafe.com

TREEHOUSE

Occasionally, sitting at Treehouse feels more like a cookout. Neighbors and regulars have been coming here for the familiar comfort food and laid-back atmosphere for more than 20 years. Brunch is a big deal, with

a large menu and generous portions of favorites such as the Georgia pecan waffle and Southern-style eggs Benedict covered with sausage gravy. It’s all about the patio here, and dogs are welcome guests. The chef works to enliven old favorites with as much attention to the all-American fried chicken sandwich as the New York strip au poivre. He also curates a mighty fine list of craft beers. Brunch: $8-$10 • Appetizers: $3-$13

Burgers and sandwiches: $7-$10 • Large plates: $17-$22 • treehouseatlanta.com

VALENZA

There’s something alluring about the Italian way of life—and of dining. It’s marked by family and friends enjoying unhurried meals made with ingredients grown nearby and crafted with care. A meal at Valenza, in the heart of Brookhaven, embodies those ideals. You can’t go wrong with the spaghettini, topped with fist-sized meatballs made of tender veal, pork and beef and a tart sauce of San Marzano tomatoes and red wine; mezze maniche pasta tubes tossed with a silky ragu made of tender pork shoulder, Umbrian lentils, white wine and roasted red peppers topped with crunchy breadcrumbs; or wood-grilled octopus served on wedges of panelle (Sicilian chickpea fritters) with mint, Castelvetrano olives, pine nuts and pea shoots. Each dish is as pretty as it is delicious, and everything is served in such a welcoming atmosphere that you’ll want to become a regular.

Antipasti: $8-$24 • Primi: $20-$28 Secondi: $24-$44 • Sides: $10 Desserts: $10 • valenzarestaurant.com

YUZU

Chamblee is to Atlanta what 1980s SOHO was to Manhattan: edgy and on the verge, which is why traditional, sedate Yuzu is such a welcome respite in its midst. Veteran restaurateurs Anna and Kenny Kim run their dining room with efficiency and grace. With a flash of his Masamoto knife, Chef Kim delivers top-notch sushi and sashimi such as chu-toro, escolar and salmon, as well as mouthwatering rolls (we highly recommend the special spicy rainbow roll and the crunchy dragon roll).

With dishes such as tempura udon, charred salmon skin salad, Japanese ceviche and an impeccable teriyaki chicken, there’s something for everyone at this authentic sushi bistro. Appetizers, salads: $4-$14.50 • Special plates: $13.50-$17.80 • Sushi plates, rolls: $8.50-$16.50 • Dinner entrees: $13.50-$15.90 yuzusushiatlanta.com

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

HUNGRY FOR MORE?

Visit simplybuckhead.com to read all of our restaurant reviews!

BY: Wendell Brock, Rebecca Cha, Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Angela Hansberger, Hope S. Philbrick Sara Hanna, Erik Meadows

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 goals. She is known for her excellent bedside manner, exceptional patient care, and innovative treatments that cannot be found at other prac tices. 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

FULL PLATES, FULL HEARTS

Mercedes-Benz Stadium was the backdrop for the inaugural Full Plates, Full Hearts gala in late August that honored Sandy Springs resident Sheri Labovitz and Buckhead resident Liz Blake for their unwavering dedication to the cause: addressing hunger issues in the metro area. The event marked the nonprofit’s 17 years and laid out plans for the future. It kicked off with a cocktail reception and hors d’oeuvres, followed by a seated dinner created by stadium chef Matt Cooper. Guests were serenaded by a trio and inspired by videos and speeches designed to raise critical funding. And the event did just that, as the 350 guests contributed more than $600,000. Co-chairs Steve and Ann Cannon, along with Jack and Lynne Halpern, oversaw the event, while Dorian Denburg chaired the host committee.

STORY: H.M. Cauley PHOTOS: Chris Helton with John Klein Photography

Liz Blake, Sheri Labovitz, Executive Director Andrea Jaron

Angela Ewers, Jeremy Ewers, Frank Argenbright

Jessie Handler, Jeff Handler

Co-Chairs Steve Cannon, Lynne Halpern, Jack Halpern

Board of Directors President Lisa Boren Sivy

Jason Belknap, Julie Belknap, Cathy Schiff, Stephen Opler

Mayor Andre Dickens, Faye Twersky, Jill Blair

Dee Kline, Gerald Kline, Phyllis Abramson

BUSINESS BRAIN

Having a good time—and getting things done—has been a key to entrepreneur Jesse Itzler's string of successes.

PHOTO: Sara Hanna