Serving Buckhead, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Upper Westside
Ushering in the next era of Bentley, the new Continental GT Speed is the most powerful Bentley ever created. The first of our models to feature the innovative new Ultra Performance Hybrid powertrain, the new car provides unparalleled power: with a 0 - 100km/h (62mph) sprint of just 3.2 seconds, it can also travel up to 80 kilometres (50 miles) in full EV mode. Find your extraordinary at BentleyAtlanta.com.
SPRING 2025 TRUNK SHOW & PERSONAL APPEARANCE
OCTOBER 16 – OCTOBER 19
Photos:
26: Adam Ernster, Condor Express,
28: Mali Azima
30: Patrick Heagney, 40: Joann Vitelli, 68, 78: Erik Meadows
STYLISH
42 FASHION
Fashion Through the Ages
Tips on looking your best at every age
44 BEAUTY
Not Relaxing
Studies connect uterine cancer with hair relaxer use
46 WELLNESS
Breast Health
A surgeon weighs in on what everyone should know
48 TASTEMAKER
Not a Stretch
Estelle Harford brings Ki-Hara to Atlanta
FAMILY
54 KIDS
Brace Yourself
A beginner’s guide to orthodontics
56 PETS
Ruffin’ It
Outdoor adventures are even more fetching with Fido
58 STRATEGIES
Changing Course
Buckhead expert helps others manage career change
CULTURE
60 ON STAGE
Hard News, Soft Touch
WSB’s Courtney Francisco wins awards while easing pain
62 LITERARY
Lessons from a Lonely Lobster
Family lore leads to kids’ book on inclusion
64 TASTEMAKER
Comeback Kid
Atlanta Fashion Week celebrates FUBU’s U.S. return
65 EVENTS
Places to go and things to do
COVER STORY
68 Living Artfully
Meet the artists, collectors,
DELICIOUS
78 REVIEW
Flavor Trip
Oaxaca brings Mexico’s renowned gastronomic region to Chamblee
82 DRINKS
Make Mine a Manhattan
This cocktail can be tailored to your tastebuds
FOODIE JOURNAL
Community Center
A conversation with John Haggai, CEO of Burtons Grill & Bar
TASTEMAKER
Ms. Mezcal
Roxana Aguirre runs the city’s first agave-based bottle shop
Featured Restaurants
A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead
BEHIND THE COVER
90 Scene
When it comes to artists in Buckhead, Steve Penley, known for his vivid hues, bold brush strokes and modern expressionist style, leads the pack. His gallery on West Paces Ferry doubles as a studio, so nearly every surface—from walls to floors and sofas to guitars—is a paint-splattered explosion of color. We knew it was the perfect place to shoot our cover for “The Art Issue.” Our small crew arrived on a sunny summer day and found Penley ready to bring our vision to life. He gamely posed while photographer Erik Meadows snapped away. Penley even chatted with our team while sketching a vibrant Coca-Cola bottle (one of his signature subjects) on a massive canvas. Read more about his story on page 70.
Photographer: Erik Meadows
Producer: Jennifer Bradley Franklin Hair and makeup: Nyssa Green @simplybuckhead
Editor's Letter
I’ll admit that I don’t know a lot about art, except that it makes me happy, especially colorful works. I tend to explore art when I travel mainly because I have the time to appreciate it. As a result, my home is filled with lively pieces from far-flung locales. I love looking at the paintings on my walls and remembering where I was when I purchased each one. I don’t get to travel as much as I used to, so I was excited about the theme of this issue, which is all about appreciating art in our hometown. From the murals that grace the public spaces we walk and drive by to the galleries, museums and numerous artists who call Atlanta home, our city is awash with art inspiration if you take the time to appreciate it.
For our cover feature “Living Artfully,” writer Helen Cauley offers a roundup of public art destinations, interviews Buckhead-based artist Steve Penley and gathers expert tips on hanging art at home. Atlanta Artist Collective’s Muriel Schelke also offers expertise on how to curate an art collection, and builder and philanthropist John Wieland talks about his passion for fine art and the recently opened The Warehouse.
This issue also includes a review on Chamblee’s Oaxaca restaurant, shares a conversation with FUBU founder Carlton Brown on the brand’s relaunch at Atlanta Fashion Week and, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Karina Antenucci interviews breast surgeon Dr. Laurel Barnes on what everyone should know about this prevalent disease.
We are lucky to live in a place with so many great stories to tell and art to share. Now I just need to make the time to check it out and maybe even bring home a local piece to join the rest of my international collection.
Giannina S. Bedford Managing Editor
Sara Hanna
Serving Buckhead, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Upper Westside
P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355 simplybuckhead.com
For advertising rates, call: 404.538.9895
Joanne Hayes
Publisher and Founder
Sonny Hayes
Chief Financial Officer
EDITORIAL
Giannina S. Bedford
Managing Editor
Jennifer Bradley Franklin
Senior Contributing Editor
Alan Platten
Creative Director
H.M. Cauley
Copy Editor
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Karina Antenucci
Jill Becker
H.M. Cauley
Carly Cooper
Emily L. Foley
Lauren Finney Harden
Mickey Goodman
Angela Hansberger
Katie Hughes
Michael Jacobs
Nicole Letts
Amy Meadows
Hope S. Philbrick
Claire Ruhlin
Jessica Saunders
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Patrick Heagney
Erik Meadows
Joann Vitelli
SALES & ADVERTISING
Stephanie Dorfman
FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR
Senior Director of Partnerships
Layal Akkad
Graphic Designer
DIGITAL
BHG Digital
Website Development Management
Mike Jose
Director of Audience Development
LEGAL
Scott I. Zucker
Legal Counsel
serves the Athens and UGA communities. Hughes also wrote for her hometown newspaper, The Hinsdalean, in Hinsdale, Illinois, for six years. Hughes has written about politics, food and beverage, social justice and more. She is currently working in media and communications for an Atlantabased law firm. Her long-term goal is to write her own novel.
We welcome all contributions, but we assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. No portion of this publication can be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission.
Printed by Walton Press, Inc. Distributed by Distributech and Distribution Services Group.
UP FRONT
Living The Life: Adam Dorfman Page 20
“We believe that great relationships and important times in life are celebrated around a drink.” — Adam Dorfman
Adam Dorfman never thought he could turn his hobby into a business loved by so many.
PHOTO: Erik Meadows
The St. Regis Atlanta
88 West Paces Ferry Road Northwest
Saturday, November 9, 2024 6:30 pm
Cocktails and Dinner
Dancing to The SEEiT Choir
HONORARY CHAIRS
Nancy and David Stonecipher
Jane Jordan Casavant and Julie Fox
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University is at the forefront of cancer innovation and discovery. Join us to celebrate and support Winship as Georgia’s NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Register Now at engage.emory.edu/WinshipGala2024
BY Nicole Letts
Below: Composed of
NEW ART IN SANDY SPRINGS
THE WORKS BRING THE CITY’S COLLECTION TO 33 PIECES
The Sandy Springs City Council expanded its public art collection by purchasing three sculptures and accepting a donated sculpture. Caprice, a stainless steel and bronze work by Charles Pilkey, was awarded to the city by Art Sandy Springs to place at the Abernathy Arts Center. The other pieces coming soon are Nesting, a steel and driftwood sculpture by Richard Herzog;
UpCycle, made of steel, bicycle wheels and paint by sculptor Joni Younkins-Herzog; and Flowing Arches, painted steel by sculptor Matty Moyer. These artworks will be situated at Morgan Falls Overlook Park, Abernathy Greenway South and Windsor Meadows Park, respectively.
"Public art is vital for energizing our environment, and I’m thrilled to see our city's collection continue
to expand through collaborations with Art Sandy Springs," says Mayor Rusty Paul. "Every investment in public art makes our city a more inviting place to live and work, and fosters a community that celebrates creativity in all forms."
These sculptures placed among the top nine in last year’s Arts in the Open, a project by Art Sandy Springs and the city. The program hosts an annual competition in
which local, regional and national artists make submissions to participate in the exhibit surrounding the City Green at City Springs. From each annual event, the city plans to purchase one or more sculptures to add to its growing public collection. n
SANDY SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL sandyspringsga.gov/art-collections @cityofsandysprings
Blue Heron Art Director Sally Eppstein has been named art director at Blue Heron Nature Preserve. Eppstein is an accomplished artist who has five sculptures in three metro Atlanta parks as well as downtown Hapeville, Georgia. One of her pieces, Freedom, is at Blue Heron. She is also a former participant in the center’s artist-in-residency program and was once the director of the onsite art gallery.
“What draws me to the Blue Heron Nature Preserve is the community, watching the land change as it is sculpted by Nancy Creek, founder Nancy Jones and all the wonderful artists we get to exhibit there, both indoors and out. The Blue Heron is a true hidden gem,” Eppstein says. In 2025, Eppstein plans to deep dive into the indigenous tribes who lived next to Nancy Creek. bhnp.org • @bhnpatlanta
Emilia George to Open at Buckhead Village New York-based lifestyle brand Emilia George is set to open at Buckhead Village this month. The boutique presents clothing for expecting and new moms, as well as baby gear and gifts, making it a one-stop shop for parents-to-be, new families and gift givers. The 2,500-square-foot space also includes a dedicated
play area for kids, so adults can shop “hands-free.” emiliageorge.co • @emiliageorgeofficial
Iconic Travel Brand Lands in ATL
TUMI has touched down in the heart of Buckhead, opening a stylish new flagship store at Lenox Square. This 2,300-square-foot space is a haven for discerning travelers and urbanites alike. Showcasing the brand's
signature blend of function and luxury, the store offers a comprehensive collection of luggage and travel gear, including the 19 Degree, Alpha and Voyageur lines. For the active adventurer, TUMI Sport features high-quality, premium sporting gear. Beyond travel essentials, the store also curates a refined lifestyle experience with a selection of fragrances, eyewear, belts and outerwear. tumi.com • @tumitravel
Left: Flowing Arches is a painted steel sculpture by Matty Moyer.
steel and bicycle wheels, UpCycle was created by Joni Younkins-Herzog.
Above: Richard Herzog is the artist behind Nesting, a steel and driftwood sculpture.
LOCAL SALUTE
Setting Down Roots
Helping renters
Just when you thought there was nothing new in the finance industry, along comes Roots Real Estate Investment Company with one goal: to align the interests of renters and property owners so tenants anywhere can build wealth alongside accredited investors by contributing as little as $100. “We’re the first fund of its kind with this platform,” says co-founder and CEO Daniel Dorfman. Since its launch three years ago, 6,200 people have invested $35 million, most in $100 increments.
An important aspect of the company is its charitable arm, Free
Co-founder and CEO Daniel Dorfman (second from left in
with his team at Roots Real Estate Investment Company.
Rent Atlanta, that held an online forum this year offering 12 months of free rental assistance to anyone living within 20 miles of downtown. Four thousand people applied.
“We selected 13, posted their stories online and asked people to vote and to make a donation if they had extra capital,” Dorfman says. “We planned to help three families but ended up with enough for seven.
Kid on a Mission Tournament brings kids with autism together
Thirteen-year old Shyam Contractor is on a mission to help kids like him, with autism, get the mental health care they need. “Georgia ranks fifth from the bottom in the U.S.,” says Shyam, a straight-A student. “I got help for severe depression and bullying, and want others to improve like I did.” When he told his mom that he wanted to give back, the two came up with Happy Kids Tournaments, a nonprofit that stages events. The first, a basketball tournament in June for kids 5-17, featured shoot-a-thons, three-on-three games, $750 in prize money and swag bags. “We blew up
our expectations,” he says. “Our goal was $2,000, but we tripled it by raising $6,128 and donated 100% to CHRIS 180.” The Atlanta-based behavioral health organization has been helping kids and adults overcome trauma for more than 40 years.
Shyam, who lives in Sandy Springs with his mom and 9-year old brother, recruited sponsors by writing them individual letters. Shift 3 Basketball, Edward Jones, Atlanta Hand Specialists, Farm Burger and OTP Basketball all stepped up. So did Netflix star Connor Tomlinson from “Love on the Spectrum” who came to support the players and promised to make promo videos with Shyam to promote future tennis or chess tournaments.
We also provided wrap-around services including financial education and information about clothing and food banks. Next year, we hope to offer free rent for 25 families.”
Respite Relief
Caring for a child with a life-limiting illness is a labor of love, but it takes a toll on primary caregivers who, year after year, can't get time off to recharge their batteries. To fill that gap, Sandy Springs resident Mary Cotta Reed and a team of volunteers are raising money to build Life House Atlanta. It will be the first freestanding, pediatric respite house for kids in Georgia and only the second in the Southeast to provide 24/7 care. Reed was inspired by her experience caring for her daughter, Catherine, who has cerebral palsy and is 100% tube-fed.
“Round-the-clock caregiving is very hard on marriages,” Reed says. “My husband, Rob, and I are dedicated to giving Catherine the biggest life possible, but we haven’t
Lifeline for caregivers
had a date night in over five years.”
Though profoundly deaf since birth, Reed is no stranger to volunteerism. In addition to her current role as chair of the Life House board, she’s been president of the Georgia Chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Georgia Commission for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
“Last year, Life House raised $71,000, and we hope our September breakfast at the Georgia Aquarium will launch us to a whole new level. Our dedicated board is working non-stop to make that happen,” she says.
Happy Kids Tournaments founder Shyam Contractor (center front), pictured with his brother, Arjun Contractor-Bali, his mother, Dhruti and basketball coach Jay Slone.
rear)
Mary Cotta Reed, board chair of Life House Atlanta cuddles her daughter Catherine in her specially equipped bedroom.
At the end of 2022, we discovered that Atlanta’s beloved Old Fourth Distillery was up for sale by the owners, brothers Craig and Jeff Moore. We weren’t the highest bidders, but the they chose us to acquire their business because we made a commitment to buy their assets and to keep the Old Fourth Distillery brand going and growing. By this point, Clinton, Patrick and I had never taken a penny from Shortbarrel, and we had taken out second mortgages and home equity lines to pay for our barrels and supplies. But we found a way to get the funds and closed the sale in February 2023. By May of that year, we moved our now joint businesses of Shortbarrel Bourbon and Old Fourth Distillery into a new space in Norcross.
ADAM DORFMAN
Chastain resident turned his passion for bourbon into a “full proof” business
As told to Amy Meadows PHOTOS: Erik Meadows
There is always a bottle of Shortbarrel Bourbon’s Rye 101 on my bar at home. It’s incredibly versatile. It’s great served neat or over a big rock; it’s great in a cocktail. It’s even great in bourbon slushies. It’s my baby—my favorite product that we produce at Shortbarrel. I never expected to turn a hobby —my passion for bourbon—into a business. It started in 2015 when I was introduced to someone who owns a local liquor store. We became fast friends over our love of spirits, and he suggested we get some people
together to go to Kentucky to pick single barrels of bourbon for his shop. In 2016, we made our trip, and we discovered that, as a group, we were good at picking single barrels. Over the next four years, our barrel picking group, which included Clinton Dugan and Patrick Lemmond whom I met on the internet in Facebook bourbon groups, expanded into rye, tequila, rum, Cognac and more. We picked 350 barrels of spirits from a variety of distilleries. We even started an Instagram page to share our picks, calling it Shortbarrel. Our
budding reputation in the bourbon world helped our selections fly off the shelves of our friend’s store, with them selling out in hours or days once we announced the new barrels we had chosen.
By 2020, Clinton, Patrick and I began daydreaming about starting our own bourbon brand. During a single barrel-picking trip to Louisville, we met a barrel broker who told us to let him know if we were ever serious about launching a business. The next day, we wired him the money to purchase six barrels of bourbon. We had no corporation and no real idea what we were doing, and we all had full-time jobs.
I founded DMC Atlanta, a marketing consulting firm, in Sandy Springs in 2003; that is my job to this day, and at Shortbarrel, I joke that I’m the founder and an unpaid sales intern. But we did everything we needed to launch our first single barrels. We had other people blend for us, and we put out some cool products. Things were going pretty well.
Today, we have 10 full-time employees, and Patrick and Clinton, our master blender, both work at the company. We do all of our blending, aging and bottling here locally, and we distribute to four states: Georgia, Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky. We have a wide array of bourbon and clear spirits, including Lawn Dart, a lemon ginger vodka we relaunched for Old Fourth Distillery. We also have Shortbarrel’s annual Bee’s Knees release, which is a honey-finished bourbon. And we are continuing to expand our list of offerings and our locations. In 2025, we will open a 2,500-square-foot Old Fourth tasting room and kitchen in Concourse E of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in collaboration with Areas USA, the company that manages many of the concession options at the airport.
We never expected this to take off as quickly as it has. We have been blown away by the support from the community, and we’re incredibly grateful for the people who rally around our brand and us. So we’re going to keep working hard to put out great products that people enjoy. We love the spirits business. We believe that great relationships and important times in life are celebrated around a drink. And for us, this is about sharing something we’re passionate about. That passion for whiskey and enjoying the company of great people is why we did this. n
OLD FOURTH DISTILLERY o4d.com • @oldfourthdistillery
Harry Potter Floating Candle String Lights ($149)
These floating candles inspired by the Great Hall in the Harry Potter series have a ghostly effect that gives your home a hauntingly beautiful look. The 10-candle string lights come with a battery operated remote control and can stay on for up to six hours—magic!
Pottery Barn potterybarn.com @potterybarn
Hanging Witch Hats ($11.38)
It’s all a bunch of hocus pocus with these hanging witch hats from Ginger Ray at Etsy. Each pack contains three hats and clear twine for easy hanging. This adorable witchy decor is an affordable way to make your house stand out.
Etsy • etsy.com • @etsy
With the spirit of a classic Christmas tree, this glittery Halloween version from Balsam Hill has a darker and spookier aura, making it the perfect addition to your October doorstep. The tree is available in three sizes: 4, 5 or 6 feet. Balsam Hill • balsamhill.com • @balsamhill
Spooky Season
Ghosts and ghouls guard the entryways of homes all around Atlanta this month. But festive Halloween decorations aren't just for candy-crazed kids. Adults, too, can heighten the thrill of the season with these reusable decor options that scream of fun.
STORY: Katie Hughes
Outdoor Pre-Lit Faux Pumpkings ($59.95-$219.85)
24-inch Halloween Wreath with Ball Ornaments ($42.99) Deck the halls in black and orange! No matter the season, no holiday decor is complete without a wreath. This one from Michaels pairs a modern fall vibe with classic Halloween. Orange and black balls add a shiny pop to muted faux-evergreen branches, noir leaves, stems and fern fronds. Michaels • michaels.com @michaelsstores
Bored of orange? Bring some color into your pumpkin display with these darlings from Williams Sonoma. The faux light-up pumpkins come in white, green and classic orange, and can be bought either individually or in a set of three. Williams Sonoma • williams-sonoma.com • @williamssonoma
Lit Halloween Glitter Twig Trees ($149-$249)
Soul Food
Work these Memphis restaurants into your trip.
The Beauty Shop
Once frequented by Priscilla Presley, this trendy eatery is a stylish throwback to the '50s, complete with hooded Belvedere hair dryers as dining chairs. thebeautyshoprestaurant.com
Catherine and Mary’s
James Beard-nominated chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman whip up dishes inspired by their Italian grandmothers. catherineandmarys.com
Sunrise Memphis
Legendary Central BBQ founders Craig Blondis and Roger Sapp joined forces with Ryan Trimm to dream up a breakfast joint. Don’t miss the housemade Bloody Marys such the Horsey Mary with horseradish-infused vodka. sunrise901.com
Haunted Home of the Blues
STORY: Nicole Letts
October is my favorite month. My birthday falls two days before Halloween, and when I travel, I collect ghost story books from the towns I visit. I’ve never met a black cat I didn’t feel connected to, and my favorite Shakespearean play is Macbeth, in which one iconic scene features a trio of witches concocting a spell around a cauldron. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to all things otherworldly, so when I received an invitation to experience Memphis, the haunted home of the blues, I couldn’t pass it up.
A curious thing about the word haunted: It doesn’t always mean apparitions and specters. To me, something that haunts stays with you. It’s persistently on your mind; it reaches your core. That’s what happened to me when I visited Memphis. Here’s how I spent my time in the Bluff City.
If there’s one thing that represents the spirit of Memphis, besides Elvis Presley, it’s the Peabody Hotel. As soon as I walked through its grand doors, I knew the circa-1925 dame of Memphis,
dubbed the “South’s Grand Hotel,” would make luxurious yet inviting quarters for my stay. The Lobby Bar is the hotel’s hub where guests sit by the soothing fountain and sip cocktails. The hotel’s famous ducks may be seen splashing in the fountain daily 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Naturally, I saw sprawling Graceland, iconic Beale Street and the powerful National Civil Rights Museum, but my main objective was to wander those places less traveled. A tour of Elmwood Cemetery was my first glimpse into Memphis’ underworld. The cemetery dates to 1852 and is the final resting place of more than 75,000. Join a docent-led tour or listen to a digital audio tour on a self-guided stroll. Executive
Director Kimberly Bearden says employees whisper about what has been dubbed the Elmwood effect: “People who are buried here find a way to get attention.”
Mystical encounters didn’t end there. The hair on my neck stood up a few times during my time with Backbeat Tours. The two-hour ghostly walking tour began on Beale Street and stopped at historically significant buildings such as the Orpheum Theater; the John Alexander Austin House, the only remaining single-family Victorian-era residence from the late 1800s; and the city’s oldest tavern, the Green Beetle. Our guide told of the resurrection men who, some say, paid their way through medical school training by
digging up fresh graves and selling the cadavers. We ended at Earnestine & Hazel's, a fabled bar with mysterious allure. The building itself has eerie elements including an upstairs bar, formerly a brothel, where the bulk of the grim ghost stories take place (murder, stalkers, and possible hauntings!). Open only on Fridays and Saturdays, the second story lounge is manned by Nate Barnes, a local legend who has been a bartender since 1992. I couldn’t leave without trying one of the restaurant’s famous soul burgers. It was cheesy and greasy, and exactly what I needed to finish the night and my time in town. n memphistravel.com • @memphistravel
Elmwood Cemetery hosts Soul of the City annually.
Sprawling Graceland hums with tourist and fan activity.
Earnestine & Hazel's features live music, a delectable cheeseburger and, some say, unearthly apparitions.
Jalyn
Souchek
Andrea Zucker
Alex Shansky
WHALE OF A TRIP
Santa Barbara a destination for nature and nourishment STORY: H.M. Cauley
Dressed in multiple layers to ward off the Pacific Ocean’s cold breezes and drenched in SPF against the California sun’s powerful rays, I tried to forget Jeff Foxworthy’s hilarious story about being sprayed by a blue whale (Google it). But that tale kept coming back to me during a fivehour whale-watching trip off the coast of Santa Barbara. Fortunately, my daughter and I never got close enough to the world’s largest creatures to get wet. But we had plenty to see. The excursion took us about 30 miles off the coast and into the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area, designated as such by the World Cetacean Alliance and World Animal Protection. The whales didn’t disappoint, surfacing regularly to spout funnels of water and flipping their tails as they dove back below the blue water. Along the way, brown dolphins, sea lions and a few flying fish also made appearances. While seeing blue whales was a bucket-list item, we were also charmed by Santa Barbara, a town of about 88,000 almost two hours
north of Los Angeles. Its premier neighbor, the unincorporated Montecito, is home to stars such as Tom Cruise, Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The area’s consistently cool temperatures and wide, white beaches, ideal for sunning or a game of volleyball, are seductive, despite the chilly Pacific being less than inviting without a wetsuit.
Santa Barbara is also a wine and food destination. A flight tasting at any of the many wine bars offers a glimpse into California’s vast inventory. At The Society: Mason and Main, part of the Hotel Californian, sommeliers pour selections paired with a menu grounded in local ingredients. Dinner at The Lark, named for the Southern Pacific Railroad train that used to run through town, is housed in the refurbished station and offers a menu that starts with brown butter cornbread and spicy pimento
cheese, a combination to rival any Deep South recipe, and moves on to local seafood and produce.
A stellar dining experience on a smaller scale is the Botanica Afternoon Tea Experience at the El Encanto hotel. Perched high in the hills with sweeping views down to the coastline, the elegant dining room is an appropriate setting for a leisurely indulgence of classic high tea treats served with a selection of teas matched to each zodiac sign and a range of health benefits. Before leaving the hotel, we savored a glass of wine and a charcuterie board on the stone terrace with local artist Danielle Renee while painting a variety of stencils with wine. It turns out red varietals used as paint display interesting colors on paper as well as the palate. Who knew?
Between meals, we relaxed with a visit to the Hotel Californian’s elegant spa and spent an hour in the Salt Cave, a room whose floors and walls are covered in Himalayan salt crystals and where guests can chill in comfy lounge chairs while breathing in the revitalizing air. Two hours were happily spent exploring the house and gardens at Casa del Herrero, a 1920s estate decorated with an unrivaled collection of antiquities, some dating back to the 1500s. With so much to do, we didn’t have time to take beach chairs and umbrellas from our Mar Monte Hotel room down to the water’s edge before it was time to head back to a very hot Atlanta. But thanks to Delta’s new direct flights, getting to and from Santa Barbara made the transition a little bit easier. n
Above: High tea a the El Encanto hotel is a lavish affair.
Left: Blue whales are regular visitors to the Santa Barbara Channel Whale Heritage Area.
The historic Case del Herrero is packed with antiquities, some from the 1500s.
Adam Ernster, Condor Express
Matt Walla, Courtesy of Visit Santa Barbara
Courtesy of El Encanto
Classic City Comfort
Athens’ newest luxury hotel is a repurposing wonder STORY: Jennifer
When I was a student at the University of Georgia, Athens had a bunch of mid-range chain hotels, mostly designed to accommodate the hordes of revelers who came to cheer on the Bulldogs on any given gameday, but not much in the way of high-end accommodations. How times have changed since the early 2000s.
This summer, I drove the hour and 15 minutes northeast of Buckhead to the Classic City to check out Rivet House, a new 50-room boutique hotel. I followed my car’s GPS just west of downtown to an area that I’d always assumed was mostly industrial. With the hotel’s opening this summer, the Southern
Bradley Franklin
Mill development is on track to become a prime destination for both locals and visitors.
The three-story brick building retains vestiges of its original life as a denim mill, circa 1900. When proprietors James and Jessica Whitley bought the property a few years ago, it was in serious disrepair with broken windows that exposed the interior to the elements, vines growing in from outside and rampant graffiti. Still, the enterprising couple had a vision for what the building could be and were determined to transform it into a luxury place to stay while simultaneously honoring its industrial past.
I love this kind of adaptive reuse
project because it’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between what’s old and what’s new. Jessica, who serves as creative director and built her career as an interior designer, created a space that blurs the line between historic and modern. I discovered raw brick and original steel beams that became major design features. The generously sized rooms feature 15-plus-foot ceilings, muted earth tones of sage green and taupe, and a king bed clad in crisp white bedding.
My mom (one of my favorite travel buddies) joined me for this quick overnight getaway, so after exploring the hotel and settling into our room, we headed downstairs to what I consider to be the property’s main attraction: Osteria Olio. The modern Italian eatery by The Indigo Road Hospitality Group (Atlanta readers may know the company behind Oak Steakhouse, O-Ku and Indaco) was packed and with good reason. Everywhere you look is a feast for the eyes, with gallery walls of unique art and chic seating. We dined on rich meatballs of pork and beef; a wood-fired pizza topped with spicy pepperoni, honey and basil; and delicate house-made agnolotti with creamed corn and brown butter. For our grand finale, we chose the chocolate hazelnut semifreddo with brûléed marshmallow. The ultimate luxury was to be able to eat our fill and then take the elevator one floor up to snuggle
in for a good night’s sleep.
For my next visit, I’ll plan to enjoy a service at The Spa at Rivet House, which was opening the day I checked out. Designed by internationally known skincare expert and spa consultant Lydia Mondavi, guests can indulge in services such as a signature massage that combines aromatherapy with Thai and Swedish techniques and a host of facials including an organic superfood treatment designed to leave skin glowing. The serene relaxation rooms and retail shop stocked with wellness products and clinical-level skincare make it a worthy destination in its own right.
For now, once you valet park your car, there’s not much to do immediately outside of the hotel. Its current neighbors include the production facility of Athens-based craft brewery Creature Comforts and local favorite Thai restaurant Puma Yu’s (chef Pete Amadhanirundr was a 2024 James Beard semifinalist). It’s not walkable to local shopping, bars and eateries the way a downtown hotel would be. With its on-site spa, coffee bar, restaurant and chic accommodations, you might be content to stay put. For this UGA alum, it feels like a delightfully grown-up way to experience the Classic City. n
Left: Spacious guestrooms feature exposed brick and custom sofas in earthy sage green velvet.
Above: The lobby provides a preview of the designcentric property, with dark walls, soft lighting and oversized artwork.
Modern Italian cuisine with Southern influences is on offer at Osteria Olio.
Andrew Thomas Lee
Photos: Mali Azima
L ore More Than
A BUCKHEAD COUPLE SOLIDIFIES THEIR STYLE AND STARTS THEIR FAMILY IN A CHASTAIN PARK TOWNHOME
Megan and Steve Lore moved into their 2,400square-foot townhouse the day the world closed down. It was 2020; the global pandemic had just begun, and the Lores dove into
home ownership, decorating their space as the world outside of its four walls stopped. Besides the obvious pandemic roadblock, life then was different than it is now. “We weren't married, weren't engaged and did not have a baby,” Megan says. ➥
STORY: Nicole Letts
PHOTOS: Patrick Heagney
The kitchen island, painted Russian Olive by Behr, speaks to the couple’s personality, and Megan’s preference for green, which she says is her go-to color.
At the time, their three-bedroom home was filled with builder-grade materials and generally lacked personality. Megan, a tastemaker and the owner of art and home decor company Match South, partnered with The Home Depot for a complete upgrade, documenting the experience with her nearly 70,000 Instagram followers. She’s a self-proclaimed color enthusiast, so punchy oranges, earthy greens and calming blues are now distributed throughout the home.
The kitchen island was painted Russian Olive by Behr and became the functional heart of the home.
“We use our dining room as our home office, so we eat most of our meals here,” she says. Oversized brass pendant lights from Savoy
Above: The living room sets the tone for the Lore home. Curated bookshelves hold a collection of sentimental pieces.
Left: Megan, Steve and Jack make their home in Buckhead.
House are suspended above. Knobs were swapped and glass-front cabinets were added for dimension. The result is a vibrant space that greets visitors as the first room on the main living level, while the terrace level is home to the family’s garage, guest room and catch-all foyer.
The walls in the adjacent dining room are covered in Twiggy wallpaper by Schumacher. Thanks to the prominent windows, the paper almost shimmers, reflecting natural light throughout the space. Megan recounts the furniture that’s landed here, a collection of her own frugal finds. The table was a thrifting score; the chairs with neutral cheetah fabric are from Ethan Allen; and the sideboard is a secondhand find from Now & Again in Sandy Springs.
“I had seen a similar one on Chairish for four times the price,” she says. Lore’s ability to find a good deal is a theme throughout the home. In each room, she can point to something that was either a family heirloom or a unique and affordable acquisition. In the family room, plush, cloudlike seating creates an inviting atmosphere and faces the built-in bookshelves stacked with antiques. “I sourced most of this
from Steve’s grandparents' house in Argonne Forest [a Buckhead neighborhood],” she says, gesturing to the shelves. “Anything I could find in their house I would take.”
Leather-bound books gingerly lean against each other, while treasured family art is updated with simple Ikea frames. Other artifacts such as ginger jars and tchotchkes are from various Etsy shops. “I will scour the internet for hours, and
I love to use the reverse image search on Google, too,” she says. When she describes the window treatments designed by Jim Davis, she starts gushing. “He grew up in the business, and he crushes it. He can do anything and everything custom: pillows, bolsters, you name it, but he is best known for his
The dining room wallpaper in Twiggy by Schumacher almost shimmers due to the abundant natural light.
drapery,” she says. The living room is just a peek of the remainder of the window treatments to come.
A stair wall features an ornate gilded mirror, another find from Lore’s in-laws, and the landing opens to a small chest topped with a framed Hèrmes scarf in an equestrian motif. The first room on the second story is her son's nursery, Megan’s favorite space in the house.
Filtered sunlight cascades into the room from the massive windows, casting a serene glow. Here, Davis worked his drapery magic, creating a jaw-dropping geometrical, castle-like statement. “He designed the shape, and when he installed it, it was so much better
than I ever imagined. We live on a busy road, so it blocks a lot of sound and light, too.”
The walls are outfitted in Baxter stripe paper by Schumacher, and the room is punctuated with sweet sentimental accents. A shelf holds a copy of The Velveteen Rabbit (Megan’s favorite childhood book), a few pieces of heirloom silver and a teddy bear from The Dewberry Hotel in Charleston. A watercolor by Atlanta artist Jennifer Keim features a golf motif. The daybed, chair and glider are custom from Buckhead Upholstery.
The Lores’ primary bedroom is at the end of the hall on the back of the home. It bursts with color while maintaining a sense of balanced
peace. The hues are just enough to add a bit of personality. When putting this room together, Lore says she started with the Crown Bed from Coley Home in sage green velvet trimmed in lavender welt. Once again, the windows are outfitted in custom window treatments by Jim Davis Designs. Their unique shape frames the wall, while the nubby fabric shares a similar color scheme as the bed linens as well as the framed Hermes scarf. Patterned grasscloth wallpaper adds charm and dimension without being busy. How does her husband feel about all of this color? “He could not care less!” Megan says. As in the rest of her home, secondhand finds
abound: Rattan mirrors and foo dog lamps flank the bed, while the rug is from Scott Antique Markets. The Lore townhouse feels cozy and lived in. “This is our first home together. We have made it through a lot of challenges here yet are making it our own sweet little oasis in the midst of all the chaos.” She describes her style as transitional with a dash of contemporary sprinkled in. She says she’s now thinking of paring down the unnecessary. “I love clutter and antiques, but they can affect your energy.” Regardless of what’s next, the Lores are sure to have a serene and rejuvenating space that reflects their personalities. n
Left: Megan says the nursery is her favorite room in the house. It combines playful patterns with sturdy and serene fabrics.
Right: The primary bedroom is color drenched with hints of pieces gathered over the years. The tallboy is from Steve's grandparents while the mirrors above the bedside tables are a Facebook Marketplace find.
The changing table, which will eventually become a dresser for Jack, is topped with acrylic organizers from Etsy's LELLOBABY.
Family heirlooms and sentimental pieces are perched on a shelf.
“We have made it through a lot of challenges yet are making it our own little oasis.” —Megan Lore
Megan Lore shares her favorite sources for home decor
1. Megan has an affinity for framed designer scarves. Over the years she has found several via eBay and Etsy. She has them framed locally at Color Chrome in Norcross.
2. “Now & Again used to be right by the house, so I went all the time,” she says. While she doesn’t make it to the Sandy Springs location as often, there are many finds from the secondhand store in her home. The shop has been open since 1991.
3. Items from the Lores’ passion project, Match South, are sprinkled throughout their home. High-quality matchbox photographs, candles, match strikes and coasters are available online at matchsouth.com
Wallpaper in Lincoln
Toile by Thibaut is powerful and playful in the petite powder room.
BY Giannina S. Bedford
ATLANTA ART FAIR DEBUTS
A celebration of the city’s art scene
The inaugural Atlanta Art Fair descends on Pullman Yards Oct. 3-6, celebrating the city’s growth as an art hub. The event, a collaboration between Art Market Productions and Intersect Art and Design, is timed with the third edition of Atlanta Art Week, the annual citywide celebration of visual arts. We chatted with AMP director Kelly Freeman about the first-time Atlanta event and the Buckhead galleries that are taking part.
Give us some background on the Atlanta Art Fair.
Since 2014, I’ve directed all art fairs at AMP, a division of a21 that includes presentations in Seattle, San Francisco and New York. We have been researching markets for launching a new art fair for several years, and Atlanta consistently stood out. Upon exploring its potential, we saw the opportunity become clear: Atlanta boasts world-class institutions, a dynamic mix of emerging and established
DESIGN & REALTY NEWS
This summer, Chamblee and MARTA unveiled the city’s latest public art, a sculpture titled Metaphysica. Created by artist Phil Proctor in 2017, the sculpture aims to explore the possibilities of physical existence beyond the five human senses. Located on the Peachtree Road side of the Chamblee MARTA station, the installation was a collaboration between the Chamblee Public Arts Commission, the city, MARTA and the artist. philproctor. com/#/metaphysica
n The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center continues its growth. The design hub recently announced the expansion of The Design Studios at ADAC, increasing the footprint by 12,500 square feet to more than 40 offices. Expected for completion in the first quarter of 2025, the 17 designer and architect workspaces are on the second floor of the 550,000-square-foot campus. The office suites will offer natural light, shared conference rooms, unisex bathrooms, a break room with a kitchenette and a common area. adacatlanta.com
art galleries, and a vibrant community of local artists, scholars and collectors.
What makes the Atlanta Art Fair unique?
The primary goal of Atlanta Art Fair’s inaugural edition is to spotlight not just the strength of Atlanta’s art scene but also of contemporary art across the South. It’s the first art fair to serve Atlanta, providing an essential commercial platform that can support the city’s ecosystem and connect its local art scene to audiences regionally, nationally and internationally. Galleries participating in the fair reflect an exciting mix of exhibitors from Atlanta and the wider region, shown next to galleries from mainstream art hubs like New York and Los Angeles, and even international galleries.
What can attendees expect at the event?
Atlanta Art Fair will offer an inclusive and accessible experience that celebrates the unique history of contemporary art in Atlanta while providing a new platform to discover work by artists based in Atlanta, the South, the wider U.S. and around
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the world. Visitors who have never been to an art fair before will find booths by each participating gallery with a display of artworks by the artists they love and support. These booths will be staged alongside numerous presentations by our cultural partners, plus special projects by internationally acclaimed artists.
What are some of the Buckhead galleries and local artists that will be involved?
You can expect to see some great galleries from Buckhead, including Alan Avery Art Company, Fay Gold Gallery, Jackson Fine Art, Johnson Lowe Gallery, Maune Contemporary and Spalding Nix Fine Art.
Anything else you’d like to add?
For our inaugural edition, it was extremely important for us to listen to the existing arts community and engage local voices. I’m thrilled to have two Atlantans on our curatorial team: Lauren Jackson Harris and Karen Comer Lowe, two women who are firmly embedded within the Atlanta art scene. n theatlantaartfair.com
Genevieve Garruppo
AMP Director Kelly Freeman
Above: Atlanta Art Fair follows similar events in Seattle, San Francisco and New York.
Ewing sarcoma
Julie Neill for Visual Comfort
Farfalle Large Semi-Flush Mount Light ($2,199)
Forget fluorescent overhead lighting and upgrade to this stunning semi-flush mount light by designer Julie Neill for Visual Comfort. The butterflies are backlit, creating the sense of a romantic escape, even if you’re just folding laundry. The fixture is available in two colors, gild and burnished silver leaf.
Visual Comfort • visualcomfort.com
@visualcomfort
Wash This Way
LG Mega Capacity Smart Front Load Washer ($1,499)
The centerpieces of a well-functioning laundry room are, of course, appliances, and LG’s Mega Capacity Smart front load washer can tackle everything from multiple guest room linens to family laundry day. Knock out large loads in as little as 30 minutes with AI technology. There’s no guess work in selecting the optimal wash setting while also dispensing just the right amount of detergent. Use the corresponding app for smart functions, such as remote start, monitoring energy consumption and checking the status of a wash.
LG • lg.com • @lgusa
We spend more time than we’d probably like attending to our clothes, so why not make the laundry room a stylish destination? Wallpaper, chic baskets, functional cabinetry and chic appliances can make the space more interesting and pleasing. Take a look at these upgrades, all of which are sure to enhance the experience.
STORY: Lauren Finney Harden
Westchester Rattan Storage Basket ($398)
Laundry looks a lot better when sorted into handwoven rattan baskets. Oval-shaped with plenty of room for whites, darks, towels and more, these coastal-inspired vessels look pretty lined up under a cabinet or on top of a counter. Hand-bent pole and caning complement any color scheme, with no two looking exactly alike for a collected finish.
Small spaces become jewel boxes with the right wallpaper. This vibrant blue design from playful line Elliston House will set a calm and peaceful tone for any laundry room. The clay-coated wallpaper comes by the roll and features a vintage-inspired wildflower motif. To make it feel more nook-like, try papering the ceiling and painting the trim and cabinetry in a corresponding shade of blue. Elliston House • ellistonhouse.com • @elliston_house
Black Wall Hanging Glass Display Cabinet ($3,190)
This 36-inch display cabinet complements the sweet florals and femininity of other accents in the laundry room. The powder-coated steel cabinets come with Blum-hinged doors and three adjustable shelves. European crafters make them for the Atlanta-based designer brand étuHOME, and the hardware can be personalized in silver, black or gold. étuHOME • etuhome.com • @etu.home
Working Smarter Not Harder
Kimberly
Bartlett and Tess Dean are streamlining household management
STORY: Carly Cooper PHOTO: Joann Vitelli
In the past 15 years, Kimberly Bartlett and Tess Dean have collectively owned seven homes in Buckhead. They’re not real estate developers—just busy moms who like to move around. Dean, a former software executive, and Bartlett, once a television journalist, left the 9-to-5 after having children yet found themselves busier than ever. Between them, they have six kids, two husbands and four pets, and are constantly moving and renovating. So it was important to have a network of trusted specialists, from painters to plumbers, as well as babysitters and dog walkers, Dean says.
“We were running our households and felt so disorganized,” Bartlett
says. “We knew there had to be a better way to share information and use pooled resources as the heads of household.”
Between shuttling their children to activities and trying to squeeze in a workout, the pair of friends came up with a solution. Enter Stash, an iPhone app for finding, storing and sharing contacts—everything from tree trimmers and pediatric dentists to Pilates instructors. The app has 550 users and is growing.
How did you get Stash off the ground?
KB: We participated in an incubator at Georgia Tech in 2021 to flush out our idea and came out with a prototype. We ran it with 30 busy Buckhead moms. They became
each other’s trusted network. We turned a text chain into an actual business and app.
Why should someone use Stash when they can go on Nextdoor or Facebook for recommendations?
KB: On Facebook Neighborhoods and Nextdoor, you can ask people whom they recommend, but you’ve never met them, so who is to say you have similar taste? On Stash, your trusted network is friends and friends of friends, not just people in your ZIP code.
How does Stash help with home improvement projects?
KB: We have 675 recommendations in the Home section. You can see how many people you know who have used the same contractor. If you don’t like someone, you can UnStash them, and they’ll no longer be linked to you, and you can write a note detailing your experience.
How do you find time to work on Stash while managing your own households?
KB: We’re constantly on the go and must be efficient. This morning, we did strength training with a trainer for 30 minutes while discussing our plans for the day. We can take a walk with the dogs and still talk about work. We built this business in the carpool line. We’re the most frequent users of our own app.
What’s next for Stash?
KB: We’re launching a Groups section so you can create a private neighborhood group or group of whomever you are normally on text chains with. You can store contacts together and cross reference them as a group. We’d like to expand out of Atlanta and break into Android in the next year. n
STASH stash-app.com • @stashapp1
Kimberly Bartlett and Tess Dean, founders of Stash
Not a Stretch Page 48
“Ki-Hara is unique in that it works muscles in both directions.” — Estelle Harford
Estelle Harford is a Ki-Hara master helping clients feel better through targeted resistance training.
PHOTO: Erik Meadows
Fashion Through the Ages
Tips on looking your best at every age
STORY: Emily L. Foley
F“ashion is a visual expression and communication to other people, and it has the power to open doors to other possibilities without you ever having
what you wear. The power of fashion crosses decades and transcends age.
A personal stylist working with clients in Buckhead and beyond, Nicole has a fashion philosophy for building the ideal wardrobe at any age: quality over quantity. She stresses the importance of details like accessories and custom tailoring, no matter your age. But these universal fashion truths don’t negate the fact that the wardrobe that best serves you in your 20s isn’t going to be the same as what works for your lifestyle and your body at 60.
Here, Nicole shares tips for dressing your best, one decade at a time.
20s “Your 20s are a time to experiment. Try on different style personas and embrace different styles.”
Dress for the role you want, she says. “Think about how you can dress like your boss, but add your own spin to it,” Nicole says. “Do it in a way that isn’t boring by adding personality with accessories.”
30s “Your 30s are a time to solidify your style identity and align that identity with your life goals.”
It’s important to have classic, key pieces in your wardrobe so you don’t have to update your closet every year based on trends. “Basics are king. Think tank tops or bodysuits that you can wear with a blazer to work and then with an oversized button-down on the weekends,” Nicole shares.
40s “Your 40s are a time to accept yourself as you are and create a wardrobe that showcases that.”
Once you hit 40, it’s time to dress for who you are now, not who you used to be. “You’re still you, but it’s next level you,” she says. “You have more wisdom, you know yourself more, and you like yourself more, so your wardrobe should be a reflection of that confidence.” If you love neon colors, wear them. And get rid of everything in your closet that doesn’t make you feel like who you are now.
50s “Your 50s are a time to completely let go of everyone’s opinions and only care about your own.”
“Clothes fall differently than they did before. The same silhouette you wore five years ago probably doesn’t serve you well now because your body has changed, but don’t let that scare you,” Nicole says. “Don't focus on the past; get excited for new shapes and styles that look good on you now.” If you feel less comfortable when you get dressed and no longer find joy in your clothing, your wardrobe may not be quite right. When this happens—at any age—it’s the perfect time to call in the help of a professional like Nicole.
60s+ “Your 60s and beyond are a time to embrace getting older, but do it in a unique way that allows you to have fun with your style.” Nicole always tells her clients in this age range that they still have a figure, and they can still flatter it. “Women are very hard on themselves, but you still have a waist: Try accentuating it with a belt,” she says. “Or tailor pieces so they look right proportionally and bring the eye in. It’s important that you don’t hide your body. Embrace it!” n rachel-nicole.com • @rachelnicolestylist
Stylist Rachel Nicole
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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. Schwab Satisfaction Guarantee: if you are not completely satisfied for any reason, at your request Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”), Charles Schwab Bank, SSB (“Schwab Bank”), or another Schwab affiliate, as applicable, will refund any eligible fee related to your concern. Refund requests must be received within 90 days of the date the fee was charged. Two kinds of “Fees” are eligible for this guarantee: (1) “Program Fees” for the Schwab Wealth Advisory (“SWA”). Schwab Managed PortfoliosTM (“SMP”), Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Premium® (“SIP Premium”), and Managed Account Connection® (“Connections”) investment advisory services sponsored by Schwab (together, the “Participating Services”); and (2) commissions and fees listed in the Charles Schwab Pricing Guide for individual investors or the Charles Schwab Bank Pricing Guide.
For more information about Program Fees, please see the disclosure brochure for the Participating Service, made available at enrollment or any time at your request. The Connection service includes only accounts managed by Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., an affiliate of Schwab. The guarantee does not cover Program Fees for accounts management by investment advisors who are not affiliated with Schwab or managed by Schwab-affiliated advisors outside of the SWA, SMP, SIP Premium, and Connection services. The guarantee is only available to current clients. Refunds will only be applied to the account charged and will be credited within approximately four weeks of a valid request. No other charges or expenses, and no market losses will be refunded. Other restrictions may apply. Schwab reserves the right to change or terminate the guarantee at any time.
Studies connect uterine cancer with hair relaxer use
STORY: Karina Antenucci
When you buy a beauty product, it’s natural to assume it’s safe to use. But unlike other countries’ regulatory agencies, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration is not required to approve cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, before they hit the market. This system has led to the FDA’s restricting or prohibiting only 11 ingredients harmful to humans in cosmetics. Contrast that with the European Union’s European Chemicals Agency that has banned more than 2,500 ingredients.
Chemical hair relaxers and straightening treatments, often marketed to Black women and children, fall into the basket of products with toxic ingredients that have gone unchecked. Recent studies link these products containing harmful substances, such as parabens and formaldehyde, to uterine cancer, the most common
gynecologic cancer with two types: endometrial, which is more common, and the rarer uterine sarcoma.
“It is estimated that over 66,000 cases were diagnosed last year in the U.S.,” says Dr. Michelle Glasgow, gynecologic oncologist at Northside Hospital. “Rates of this cancer are going up, and there’s a growing body of research that demonstrates increased mortality rates in black women when compared with other races.”
In 2022, the National Institutes of Health published a report based on data from 33,497 U.S. women ages 35-74 in the Sister Study, a long-term attempt to identify risk factors for breast cancer and other health conditions. It found women who used chemical hair-straightening products were at higher risk for uterine cancer. Other products, such as hair dyes, bleach or perms, showed no correlation to the disease.
Boston University’s Black Women’s Health Study correlates with the Sister Study. This research, released last October included data from nearly 45,000 women who were followed for up to 22 years. Compared to women who never or rarely used hair relaxers, postmenopausal Black
women who had used them more than twice a year or for more than five years had a greater than 50% increased risk of uterine cancer.
“While these studies show statistically significant findings that are definitely worth paying attention to, there needs to be a lot more research done,” Glasgow says. “I don’t think the risk of endometrial cancer attributed to hair relaxers can compare with obesity, which is the number one risk factor. The majority of endometrial cancers are related to an imbalance of estrogen in the body. Women who are obese have higher circulating levels of estrogen.”
Last October, the FDA said it would propose a ban on formaldehyde in hair relaxers and straighteners that
Going Natural
If you’ve decided to go off hair relaxers, Nyssa Green, beauty expert and owner of The Green Room Agency, says it only takes two to three months of new growth before you can cut the relaxed hair off. She provides the following tips for a smooth hair transition to a natural look:
1. Work with your stylist. “Wear a shorter hairstyle over the next few months as the relaxer grows out. Keeping hair trimmed regularly will help the process. Or choose braids, quick-weaves or sew-in extensions.”
2. Start moisturizing now. “For a healthy grow out, start using deep, hydrating or steam treatments to avoid breakage and keep your new growth strong.”
3. Use minimal heat. “Roller sets are a great alternative during the grow-out period.”
thegreenroomagency.com
@thegreenroomagency
has yet to happen. This ingredient, not permitted in cosmetics in the EU, is considered an “endocrinedisrupting chemical.” According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, endocrine disrupters are chemicals that may interfere with the body’s hormones. Just because someone has relaxed their hair at some point doesn’t mean they will end up with uterine cancer. But it’s worth knowing—and studying—what’s in your beauty products to make more informed decisions. n
SISTER STUDY • sisterstudy.niehs.nih.gov
BOSTON UNIVERSITY CHOBANIAN & AVEDISIAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE bumc.bu.edu/camed/2023/10/11/
Dr. Michelle Glasgow, gynecologic oncologist at Northside Hospital.
Sofia Zhuravets
Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education has been inspiring future dancers for nearly 30 years.
What motivated us in 1996 still motivates us today — to inspire every dancer to be the best they can be. We believe that every child, no matter their age or experience, should discover the joy of dance. Whether your child loves to skip and twirl, enjoys ballet technique at the barre, or is ready to take the leap into a professional career, our qualified and experienced instructors will be with them every step of the way. In our noncompetitive, highly nurturing dance environment, everyone is respected, dreams are encouraged,
Gennadi Nedvigin Artistic Director
Sharon Story Dean
Breast Health
A surgeon weighs in on what everyone should know
STORY: Karina Antenucci
As you see pink ribbons and fundraising 5Ks pop up in October, know the genuine purpose behind Breast Cancer Awareness month: More than 4 million women have a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This year, more than 310,000 women will be diagnosed with this pervasive disease, estimates the American Cancer Society. Approximately one in eight will develop invasive breast cancer during her lifetime. Early detection is the current best defense against this most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, hence why “awareness” is so important.
“If we can find a tumor when it is small, the outcomes are so much better,” says Dr. Laurel Barnes, breast surgeon at Northside Breast Surgery-Atlanta. “Of the numerous medical improvements we’ve made since the 1960s, mammography and early detection are thought to be among the most important in decreasing mortality.”
Test your own breast-health awareness with her following advice.
Highest Risk Factors
Being born female, getting older and having a family history of breast cancer in first- or second-degree relatives are the biggest risks for getting the disease. Starting your period at a younger age, not having a baby or giving birth after 35 also are factors. “Studies have shown the uninterrupted estrogen exposure can play a role. It is essentially wear and tear on the breast,” Barnes says.
Relatively new data are also showing that, just like women of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, women of West African heritage are linked to having a BRCA 1 or 2 gene mutation. Patients with these mutations have a higher lifetime risk (up to 60-80%) of developing breast cancer. Several other gene mutations affect the probability, too.
Lifestyle Habits of Concern
Crucially important to decrease breast cancer risk, as well as for heart disease and stroke, is avoiding tobacco use and obesity, Barnes says. Drinking alcohol also has bad
ramifications. “Less is better; none is best,” she says.
“Exercising 30 minutes per day, five days per week—even just going for a walk—decreases your risk of getting the disease by 30% and having a recurrence by 40%. It’s exciting that this is a tangible, easy way for women to participate in their own health,” Barnes says.
Screening Tips
Barnes recommends that women be screened by a primary care or other physician before 35 for family and ovulation history, weight and other factors. This is so that you and your health care provider have a good understanding of your risks for developing breast cancer and can get a personalized screening plan in place. Barnes also suggest performing self-breast exams once per month, standing up and lying down. Detect an unusual lump? Don’t hesitate to visit your doctor.
Those with average breast cancer risk should begin annual mammograms at 40 and keep going throughout their lives. Barnes notes that for African American women, research shows that every month of delaying getting a mammogram
after age 40 is associated with detectable, increased risk of advanced breast cancer on the initial mammogram.
Trans patients taking female hormones for more than five years should be screened like biological women.
Genetic Testing
Gene mutations, which can also be associated with other cancers, such as ovarian, pancreatic and colon in the case of BRCA, can be determined by genetic testing, Barnes says. “Knowing you have a mutation gives the opportunity to increase screening frequency to detect cancers earlier and get treatment when they are easier to treat.” n
NORTHSIDE BREAST SURGERY – ATLANTA 404.845.4667 • northsidebreast.com @northsidehosp
Dr. Laurel Barnes, breast surgeon at Northside Breast Surgery-Atlanta.
NOT A STRETCH
Estelle
Harford
brings Ki-Hara to Atlanta
STORY: Lauren Finney Harden PHOTO: Erik Meadows
Many of Atlanta's top fitness fiends and pro athletes have a secret training weapon: They rely on Estelle Harford of Stellar Strength, a wellness professional. When she moved to Atlanta eight years ago from Chicago, she brought two unique techniques: Ki-Hara and myofascial release. Here, she discusses what they are and how she uses them to eliminate pain and gain strength without causing injury.
How did you get your start in wellness?
I have an art degree and started a high-end decorative wall finishing company out of college. I did that for a long time. It was super labor-intensive! I had been working out a lot, so I decided to become a personal trainer in Chicago. I’d see people get hurt while training and go to physical therapy, and the injury wouldn’t get better. A personal training client had experienced
Ki-Hara, a way of strengthening muscles that I hadn’t heard of, and told me I should look into it.
What is Ki-Hara?
There are two types of muscle work: concentric and eccentric. Typically, when people work out, they’re only working on the concentric movement when the muscle is contracting, not while it's extending. Ki-Hara is unique in that it works on the muscle in both directions. This significantly reduces any chances of potential injury because the muscle is contracting while it's
I use gentle, specifically direct ed pressure on the fascia until it loosens, sometimes three to seven minutes in one area, depending on what I’m feeling. If I force it, it won’t create lasting change. Ki-Hara and MFR are a great complement to each other. One picks up where the other leaves off.
How can someone find you?
I mostly do in-home sessions in the Buckhead and Sandy Springs areas. I get a lot of referrals from current clients, including pro athletes I train. A lot of times, I’m someone’s last resort, and they find me because they have heard myofascial release might work for pain. I can help them thanks to my diverse background in these modalities. n
Adventures in the outdoors are even better with four-legged friends. Ruffin' It Page 56
Brace Yourself
Have you noticed that kids today are going to the orthodontist much earlier than you or your friends ever did? That’s because the school of thought around orthodontics has become more preventative.
“A lot of problems get worse with time, so instead of correcting them all at once in the teen years, as was done in the past, the philosophy these days is to try to avoid complications later on by beginning orthodontics early,” says Dr. Tyler Rathburn of Atlanta Orthodontic Specialists that has several locations in Atlanta, including Buckhead and Sandy Springs.
Here, Rathburn illuminates what all parents should know.
When should the first visit be?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation by age 6 or 7, when children typically get their permanent molars. “This doesn’t mean everyone needs treatment at that age. In fact, many will not,” Rathburn says.
Some instances, including “airway” issues such as those related to breathing, snoring or the tonsils, may warrant an earlier evaluation around age 4 or 5.
Who needs “spacers”?
First of all, what many parents are popularly calling “spacers” are actually called expanders.
“Usually installed on the roof of the mouth, an expander is an appliance designed to expand the upper jaw,” Rathburn says. These create room for adult teeth to grow in or to correct jaw misalignment.
“A spacer is technically a blue rubber band in between teeth that creates room to fit the expander.”
Worn for around eight months to a year, Rathburn says expanders are often needed for a crossbite where the upper teeth sit inside the lower teeth or to correct habits like thumb sucking, chronic ENT problems, mouth breathing, severe grinding and airway issues. Sometimes breathing, and therefore, sleeping issues can correlate with
A beginner’s guide to orthodontics STORY: Karina Antenucci
bed wetting and ADHD. “Lack of sleep can cause an overactivation of the autonomic nervous system that regulates bladder control. It can also result in behavioral issues. Your pediatric dentist will monitor and make referrals for these issues.”
When do kids need braces?
If a child needs early orthodontic treatment, they may need braces twice. Phase one, between ages 6 to 10, is considered “interceptive orthodontics.” When they are older, they might need another round of braces. “It’s most common to treat kids around 12 to 13 years old with braces. This is when they have all of their permanent teeth,” Rathburn says. Eighteen months is the average amount of time to wear braces.
What are the cons to braces?
The main issue is keeping them clean to avoid tooth stains, which become apparent in the form of white spots when the brackets are removed. Dodging stains requires a combination of proper brushing
under and around the braces and reducing or avoiding acidic and sugary foods and drinks, such as Gatorade and sodas.
Does everyone need a retainer after braces?
Short answer: yes. “A retainer keeps the teeth straight and is very important to use the first few years after braces come off. There are lots of different types, from removable nighttime ones to those glued in behind the teeth,” Rathbun says.
Who is a candidate for Invisalign?
Invisalign is a series of clear plastic trays that gradually straighten the teeth. It can be more expensive than braces, but it’s easier to keep the teeth clean because the trays can be removed for brushing. Rathburn says this system can be used successfully if kids follow the required routine of wearing them day and night. “If not, it won’t work well.” n
RUFFIN' IT
Outdoor adventures are even more fetching with Fido STORY: Jessica Saunders
Heading off to an adventure in the great outdoors is even better when your four-legged friends come along. With a little extra preparation, campers can be sure their pets will have the time of their lives on a wilderness excursion.
More than half, 53.7%, of the estimated 84.8 million Americans who camped in 2023 brought dogs along with them, while 5.8% brought cats, according to the 2024 Camping Report by The Dyrt, an app for camping availability. Campers also reported setting up camp with chickens, box turtles, guinea pigs and parrots.
Dogs tend to be more adaptable to their surroundings than most cats, which probably accounts for them
getting more outdoor adventure time than felines and other animals, says Dr. Leanne LeFavi, a veterinarian at Peachtree Hills Animal Hospital.
Jess Bare, veterinary nurse at Peachtree Hills Animal Hospital, has a constant companion in her 8-year-old terrier, Emmett, on her car camping trips to the north Georgia mountains nearly every month spring through fall. She says they both enjoy escaping the hustle and bustle of Midtown, where she lives.
“Emmett loves getting outside, getting dirty, playing in the creeks, being outside at night and listening to the cicadas and the owls. We listen together and really unwind,” says Bare, who is sometimes accompanied by her fiancé.
Nearby places to camp with your pet
n Sweetwater Creek State Park 22 miles from Buckhead gastateparks.org/SweetwaterCreek @sweetwatercreekstatepark
n Shady Grove Campground 39 miles from Buckhead parks.forsythco.com/Parks/ Shady-Grove-Campground
n Payne Campground, Allatoona Lake 31 miles from Buckhead sam.usace.army.mil/Missions/ Civil-Works/Recreation/Allatoona-Lake/ Camping/Payne-Campground/
When cooking over the campfire, Emmett enjoys a bite of Bare's dinner. “Hot dogs and marshmallows are our go-to,” she says.
Ready to start an idyllic outdoor adventure with your four-footed best friend? Ask your veterinarian to make sure he or she is up-to-date on core vaccines, which for a dog include rabies, distemper and parvo, and for a cat, rabies and feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR). Dog owners should also consider adding vaccinating against leptospirosis, a potentially deadly bacteria shed in wildlife urine. Cats are not prone to lepto, but if outside, they should get a feline leukemia (FELV) vaccination.
Then make sure your future furry camper is fully protected against parasites that thrive in the woods: fleas, ticks and heartworm, which is transmitted by mosquitos.
Pets can get lost in unfamiliar surroundings, so owners should be sure they are microchipped and wear collars with their name and owner’s contact information. High-
tech collars that can track a pet’s whereabouts are also available.
For the best trip, pack extra food, water (to avoid dogs seeking out streams or standing water that can have parasites), any medications, extra leashes/collars, and a pet firstaid kit including bandages, Benadryl, sterile saline and antibiotic ointment.
Additionally, keep an eye on the temperature: Dogs can’t sweat and can have heat stroke rapidly, LeFavi says. Extreme cold (below 35 degrees Fahrenheit) is another danger. Booties can prevent paws getting burned on hot pavement, rocks or sand, or injured on trails with metal stair treads.
A familiar bed or crate can help dogs settle down to sleep. Emmett sleeps on a camping doggy bed at the foot of Bare's air mattress. “He is living his best life when he is out there with me,” she says. n
Emmett is always ready for the next hike with his owner, Jess Bare.
Changing Course
Buckhead expert helps others manage career change STORY: Amy Meadows
Bob Lewis was 36 years old when he went through his first major career change, leaving a position in sales and marketing at AT&T to become an executive in career services and corporate outplacement. The changes happening in the telecommunications industry at the time were exhausting, and he knew he would have to take a leap of faith to find what made sense for him. He often recalls that memory today as he helps clients navigate their own occupational shifts through his Buckhead-based business and change management consulting company, Lewis Leadership LLC, that he launched in 2007. Here, he offers some advice if you are considering your own career move.
How do I know if I’m ready for a career change?
To make an informed decision about whether you are going to stay where you are or pursue a transition, you have to do a fact-based evaluation,
asking yourself what really prompted your questioning and if your current job aligns with your values and sense of personal purpose. The first 80% of your decision needs to be based on those facts.
How long should I give myself to make my decision about a career change?
If you feel that you’re in an intolerable situation, then that’s one story; you may want to move more quickly than you ideally would based on your circumstances. But if you can, take the time to fully assess your situation and figure out your next steps. It might take weeks or months. Don’t feel that you have to rush the process.
How can I prepare myself to move into an entirely different industry? Focus on your transferable skills that transcend any particular industry. Many skills can be technically learned and are job specific. But you have to look at the inherent com-
petencies you have, things that you are really good at and enjoy doing, such as leading people or solving complex business problems. You have to be able to articulate these, and they will help you find your way in another industry.
How can I manage the emotional side of a career change?
You’ll be going on a transition journey and emotions that accompany that. There are three phases in the journey. The first is endings; anytime there’s a change, there’s a loss. You need time to grieve and process that. The second phase is exploration; this is the process of discovery, where you’re learning about what your new beginning could be. During this phase, there is huge uncertainty, and it can feel scary and anxiety producing. But if you engage in a healthy process, you get to that third phase: new beginnings. This is when you begin to experience what the new is going to be like.
Is there anyone who can help me make my new career decision? Having a strong network of people around you is critically important. If
Lewis understands both the anxiety and excitement a career change can bring.
you have a mentor or a professional coach, they can be an invaluable safeguard against making mistakes in the process. That person should be someone who is objective and has a perspective and experience with this type of process. And, of course, when you step back and look at your life holistically and the type of career that aligns with your goals and values, then you think of your family. Invite them into the process so they can collaborate. It’s still your individual choice; it shouldn’t be a consensus decision. But it should be a well-informed and collaborative one. n
Bob
— Courtney Francisco Hard News, Soft Touch Page 60
“WSB called, and I can’t turn that down. It’s WSB.”
Courtney Francisco brings a bit of University of Kentucky blue to Georgia.
Hard News, Soft Touch
WSB’s Courtney Francisco wins awards while easing pain STORY: Michael Jacobs
Courtney Francisco brings empathy with her microphone and a camera operator as she chases breaking news from Athens to West Point for WSB-TV.
“I’m not there to just get your story; I’m there to check on you,”
Francisco says. “I’m not one of those reporters that shows up with a camera and says, ‘Will you talk to us about your pain?’”
Her approach to Troup County tornado coverage in January 2023, her second month in Atlanta, helped WSB win a pair of Southeast Emmys
“We’re making change, and (reporting) is what I turned out to be good at,” Francisco says. “It’s such a fragile, important job.”
A native of eastern Tennessee, Francisco followed a professor’s advice to launch her career in the starter markets of Texas in 2010. After three months of being told her voice was “too country” or “too flat,” she caught a break when a pool-side stranger in Houston offered to connect her to a reporter friend in Tyler, Texas. Francisco was hired to cover Waco as a “one-man band”— working alone with the camera.
She then moved to Beaumont, Texas, where she had to buy her own testing kit for an awardwinning investigation of a toxic waste disposal site.
After Oklahoma City, Francisco spent five years in Charlotte, where she enjoyed her first taste of regular weekend anchoring.
Then she did something different: She moved to El Salvador, where her brother was in the Peace Corps, to investigate the migrant crisis. If nothing else, she knew she would learn Spanish, which helps now in covering stories such as the abduction of 12-year-old Maria Gomez-Perez of Gainesville.
She left El Salvador when her money ran out after four months, but a Cincinnati station came calling. She loved the city and had no intention of leaving. “Then WSB called, and I can’t turn that down. It’s WSB,” Francisco says. “Every insider in this industry knows that if you work for WSB, you can do anything. It’s just an honor.”
in June. “That felt great, validating,” she says. “But I don’t want to overlook the fact that it’s because so many people lost so much.”
No one was killed in Troup, but 24 died in 2013 when a tornado ravaged Moore, Oklahoma. Three years out of the University of Kentucky, Francisco was there.
“There were dads digging their dead third-graders out, crying,” she says.
Such stories take an emotional toll. Francisco says the TV industry is getting better at helping reporters cope with such stress. From her own experience, she touts the benefits of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, or EMDR, therapy.
At 36, she’s settled personally as well as professionally. Her boyfriend made the move with her to Buckhead, and with no children, she has time to window-shop at Lucy’s Market and paddleboard and birdwatch at Lake Acworth.
She also gets to look out for younger reporters, especially oneman bands. She’s paying forward the mentorship veteran reporters provided in 2011 while covering the case of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009.
“It can be dangerous out there, and we have to watch out for each other,” Francisco says. “While we all want to scoop each other, we’re all in this together.” n wsbtv.com • @cfran_tv
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Experience Buckhead’s culinary best at Taste of Buckhead! Now in its 19th year, this premier event brings food lovers from across Georgia to enjoy top dishes, drinks, and vendors at the stunning Stave Room. The event also features a philanthropic Spirit Wall, where $25 tickets offer the chance to win a bottle of wine or spirits, with proceeds benefiting Bert’s Big Adventure, a nonprofit that provides Disney trips for children with chronic illnesses. Don’t miss this unforgettable night of food, fun, and community!
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LESSONS FROM A LONELY LOBSTER
Family lore leads to kids’ book on inclusion STORY: H.M. Cauley
Though she grew up in South Florida, Allison Hill had parents who regularly took her back to their roots in New England. It was there she first heard her dad tell a story about a lobster lost in the woods. On a family vacation to Maine last year, the tale got Hill thinking.
What if a lobster did live in the woods? How did it get there? Would it have friends? How would it get home? Did it miss its family? The answers spilled out in rhyme, and in just a day, Hill had the basis for the children’s book Lolly the Left Out Lobster that published in May.
“After that first draft, I refined it, and then I was brave enough to read it out loud to my kids,” says the Buckhead resident who has two young adult daughters. “They advised me to keep it really simple.”
Lolly’s story is more than a simple kids’ book; it has a direct message about themes Hill encounters daily as an executive at a private equity firm where she collaborates with nonprofits, employees and other audiences on diversity and inclusion initiatives. Those ideas are also central to the nonprofit Eat Laugh Give that she launched in 2022 to support families experiencing food shortages. Proceeds from the book support those efforts.
“People have very different views of what diversity and inclusion mean,” Hill says. “For me, it starts with having an open heart and open mind, and especially having that message for kids as you’re raising them.”
With Lolly, Hill had the chance to share that message and fulfill a dream. “I’ve wanted to write a kids’
book for years, and I tried for years,” she says. “I’ve always loved creativity, be it cooking, writing or decorating. Those things are soothing and relaxing to me. But my husband, who has always tried to be supportive, gave my writing some of the worst feedback I ever heard.”
That changed with Lolly and the book’s simple message: Approach others with kindness and without judgment. The story, along with the rhymes and colorful illustrations, have resonated with readers, too, especially kids from 3 to 6, and even older. For adults, the book also includes several tips on how to talk to kids about feeling left out and helping others who might feel excluded.
“I’ve done book readings at schools and summer camps, and I always ask who’s felt left out,” Hill says. “We talk about being open to new friends,
new experiences. And I point out that even though Lolly is a scary little lobster, she’s very kind. By the end of the reading, they’re all making lobster claws with their hands.”
Occasionally, a kid will provide an unexpected surprise, Hill says. A reading she gave at an Atlanta charter school ended with one little girl whispering that—shock!—her sister eats lobsters.
“I didn’t know what to say, so I just gave her a little hug,” Hill says with a laugh. “But it was still a big confidence booster.” n eatlaughgive.com • @eatlaughgive
Comeback Kid
Atlanta Fashion Week has been a fall highlight since it launched in 2006. And this year’s event will keep that trend going while also marking a major occasion: the U.S. return of FUBU, the contemporary, hip-hop clothing brand started in 1992 that has been doing business primarily overseas for the last decade. Here, AFW founder Angela Watts and FUBU’s founder and president, Carlton Brown, offer a sneak peek at the week.
Give us a quick background on FUBU. CB: We began in New York in 1992 but have really been out of the U.S. market for the last 10 years due to oversaturation. We had a huge distribution but saw a lot of counterfeiting, so we decided it was time to pull back.
What is FUBU known for?
CB: We have a full line of suits for business and casual occasions, and football and baseball jerseys. We find through social media that kids are really looking for vintage products and are constantly contacting us about bringing pieces back. And that’s what they’ll see at Fashion Week: a lot of vintage remakes of styles we did in suits, sportswear and casual wear. They’ll also see new items that aren’t as logo driven.
Why pick AFW to reenter the U.S. market?
CB: Outside of New York where we started, Atlanta has been our biggest market, so it made sense to have a major launch here.
AW: Carl expressed how he admired Atlanta and its growth, and as we had more conversations about it, he decided he wanted to do something here. He was prepared to come back
stateside, even though the brand has been doing extremely well in Europe and Asia.
What is the FUBU exhibit about?
CB: Starting Oct. 7, Buckhead Art & Company will exhibit items from our archives. We have a lot of oneof-a-kind pieces made in the ’90s and early 2000s, along with items that highlight the company: awards, pictures and visuals that haven’t been seen before.
What else will fashionistas see at this year’s event?
AW: Last year, we deviated from runway shows, but this year, we’re moving to a new location and bringing them back with shows for two days featuring 12 designers, including Frame Up and Alani Taylor from Atlanta. Along with some pop up experiences, we’ll have designers such as
Sylvia Mollie and others selling their products throughout Bloomingdale’s at Lenox in trunk-show style. And there will be panel discussions that focus on fashion influences in culture, how fashion and technology merge and the state of the fashion.
Where will events be staged?
AW: The week starts on opening night, Oct. 2, at Prime on Peachtree in Midtown where the FUBU founders will be honored. Then there are days of fashion presentations and runway shows at Interlock Tower, a beautiful space on Northside Drive that’s not a traditional event space, but we can build it out. And then there are trunk-style shows at Bloomingdale’s.
If someone has never attended AFW, why should they?
AW: You get the chance to meet the designers, touch the brand and really connect. That’s what people love about it. Often the creative directors behind brands don’t interact, but just as musicians go on tour to engage with fans, designers have to do the same thing, too. n atlantafashionweek.co • @atlfw
FUBU founders Carl Brown, Keith Perrin, Daymond John and J. Alexander Martin.
Courtesy of FUBU
Glen Moodie
BY Nicole Letts
CUPS RUNNETH OVER
SANDY SPRINGS WINE FESTIVAL RETURNS THIS MONTH
Savor the flavors at the Sandy Springs Wine Festival, an annual wine-tasting event for up to 400 people. It takes place at Heritage Green Sandy Springs on Oct. 6 from 2 to 5 p.m. and is composed of two main events: the Reserve and the General tastings. The Reserve kicks off the event and will serve more than 30 exclusive wines curated from local enthusiasts' private collections. This part is limited to 90 tickets, and a portion of the sales will be donated to Solidarity Sandy Springs, a nonprofit providing essential assistance to local families in need. Once the Reserve Tasting is complete at 3 p.m., the General gets underway, showcasing approximately 175 wines from renowned wineries and local Georgia distributors. Expect to savor sips from returning vendors such as Venge Vineyards, Hess Persson, Prisoner and Orin Swift. Live music from local acts and delectable dishes from neighborhood restaurants complete the affair. Plus, enjoy a compli mentary souvenir wine glass. Tickets for the Reserve Tasting are $150, which includes the General Tasting. Tickets for the General are $85. Ride-sharing is highly encouraged, but onsite parking will be available at the City Springs parking deck and the South lot. n
Fill your souvenir wine glass at the Sandy Springs Wine Festival.
EVENTS BY Nicole Letts
A Visionary Event
Prevent Blindness Georgia, the state’s leading advocate for vision health, will host its eighth annual Night for Sight Gala at the Whitley Hotel in Buckhead on Oct. 26. The event promises an elegant evening as guests come together to support PBGA's mission of preserving sight and preventing blindness. All proceeds will be dedicated to expanding PBGA’s
Above: Tickets include a seated dinner and live entertainment.
Left: Proceeds support PBGA’s vision services and honor a Person of Vision.
The Prevent Blindness Georgia gala takes Buckhead in October
vision services for adults and children, including essential screenings, comprehensive eye exams and access to prescription eyewear. Attendees will enjoy passed hors d'oeuvres and a seated dinner of filet mignon and Chilean sea bass with a side of vegetables and risotto, premium spirits and live music by pianist Phillip Arrington. A highlight of the evening
will be honoring Sandy Springs retina specialist Dr. Stephanie Vanderveldt as PBGA's 2024 Person of Vision. This award recognizes individuals who exemplify extraordinary dedication and achievements in the field of eye care. n
The culinary celebration Taste of Buckhead returns for its 19th year on Oct. 17. Presented by the Buckhead Business Association, the annual ticketed food festival will tantalize taste buds while benefiting Bert's Big Adventure, a nonprofit that provides magical Disney World vacations for children facing chronic or terminal illnesses and their families. Guests can indulge in a diverse array of delectable dishes including tasting tables prepared by Buckhead's finest restaurant chefs while enjoying live music and entertainment. The event’s spirit wall is back, offering attendees the chance to win bottles of
wine or spirits. General admission tickets ($75) grant access to the festival, while VIP tickets ($125) unlock exclusive perks including a private ASW
Enjoy a weekly unwind during yoga at Donaldson-Bannister Farm. Sponsored by the Dunwoody Preservation Trust, the Hatha Basics class is suitable for all levels. Bring your own mat. Admission is $16 payable via cash or Venmo.
WESTSIDE STRIDE
Oct. 6
westsidestride.org
@upperwestsideatl
Howell Mill Road will be closed to cars between Trabert Avenue and 8th Street for an epic afternoon street party. Join neighbors and visitors for food, live music, vendors and more as small businesses on the Upper Westside are highlighted.
Cars & ’Q for the Cause Oct. 19
carsnq.com • @carsnq Rev your engines and join Choate Construction for the 15th annual car show and block party supporting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. You won’t want to miss unique cars, BBQ, drinks, music and a silent auction. Tickets start at $20. Kids under 8 are free.
SPOOKY SPRINGS
Oct. 22
visitsandysprings.org/spookysprings • @visitsandysprings Calling all ghouls and goblins! It’s time for Spooky Springs at Abernathy Greenway Playable Art Park. There will be candy stations, face painting, food trucks and more fun for the entire family. Show off your costume a few days early in Sandy Springs.
Distillery tour, a VIP lounge featuring premium tastings and a gift bag. n
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MEET THE ARTISTS, COLLECTORS, CURATORS AND EXPERTS ELEVATING OUR AREA’S CREATIVE APPEAL
PHOTOS: Erik Meadows
Spanish painter, sculptor and ceramicist Pablo Picasso once said, “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” He should know: He was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century who brought joy with his colorful, thought-provoking works. Art is all around us, and our hometown is brimming with places to see world-class pieces, engage with history-making artists, build a personal collection and observe large-scale masterpieces in public. Here’s to the art, artists and collectors making our neighborhood a more beautiful place.
Artist Steve Penley sketches a colorful Coca-Cola bottle in his Buckhead studio and gallery.
COKE BOTTLES, UGA AND RONALD REAGAN
STEVE PENLEY BUILT A CAREER CREATING HIS VERSIONS OF ICONIC IMAGES
STORY: H.M. Cauley PHOTO: Erik Meadows
Rather than throwing himself with passion and determination into the art world, Buckhead resident Steve Penley says his career has been more about art coming after him.
“Somebody—probably my mom —told me I was a great artist, and I believed it,” says Penley, who grew up in Macon. “But looking back, I don’t know if I was that good.”
Becoming an art major at the University of Georgia in the 1980s was a bit unexpected, he says. “I couldn’t even believe they had painting and drawing as a major; I thought it was so easy,” he says. “In my first class, I got the coldest stares. I walked in dressed like a little preppy kid from Macon and found all these grunge, hippie people. I quickly learned the most ruthless social hierarchy was the art department; it was a very competitive environment.”
After UGA, Penley headed to New York, but painting wasn’t a priority.
“I was selling women’s shoes because I thought it was a great way to meet girls—it wasn’t,” he says. “And it
was exhausting, getting to work, go ing out at night, starting over again. I lived in such a small space that there wasn’t a lot of room to paint. But I was just too lazy; I think I got one painting done the whole time I was there.”
After running out of money, Pen ley headed to Atlanta in 1992 with what he describes as “no market able skills.” But a college buddy who was opening an Italian restaurant in Midtown got him back to the easel.
“He wanted 10 to 15 paintings of historical icons super-fast, and he gave me the money to buy the supplies,” Penley says. “After that, a lawyer at King & Spald ing wanted me to paint the firm’s founders. That was my first real painting commission in Atlanta, and it snowballed from there.”
Those opportunities fed Penley’s penchant for painting iconic faces and objects in acrylics: the Ameri can flag, Winston Churchill, Marilyn Monroe, the Statue of Liberty. He also ventures into landscapes and florals, but his contemporary take on readily-identifiable images has solidified his reputation.
for subjects that are bigger than themselves. The perfect example is George Washington. We all have this idea of who he is from seeing his
Reagan. Regardless of politics, they encompassed ideals bigger than themselves, and they became mega-icons, bigger than life. I try
oversized canvases, some as large as 40-by-40 feet. His biggest was for the Beijing Olympics that soared 8 feet high and stretched
smaller works, including posters and reproductions on paper or canvas, priced from $125 to more than $5,000. Penley credits
happened in a lot of other places; this is the perfect environment for me,” he says. “And frankly, if it were easier to make money
RIDING HIGH
MEET THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART’S CHIEF CURATOR STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin
With a seven-decade career, modernist painter Georgia O’Keeffe is one of the preeminent artists of the 20th century. While most know her for Southwestern landscapes and dramatic floral motifs, she spent five years early in her career exploring the urban landscape of New York. That time is the subject of a major exhibition coming to the High Museum of Art Oct. 25 through Feb. 16. The High’s chief curator, Kevin W. Tucker, worked for several years to bring this exploration of O’Keeffe’s paintings, drawings and pastels to Atlanta. Here, Tucker shares more about Georgia O’Keeffe: “My New Yorks” and other ways to engage with Atlanta’s top museum.
Having the High host the upcoming Georgia O'Keefe exhibit is big. Why should Atlantans make plans to see it? No matter how familiar one might be with O’Keeffe, this exhibition is a special opportunity, a revealing of an extended body of work that has not been seen in such a comprehensive way since it was painted in
the 1920s and ’30s. “My New Yorks” presents an important perspective on the scope of her work while living there in the years before moving to New Mexico. Importantly, these urban scenes produced in Manhattan proved to have a life-long influence upon her career, informing her sensibilities around composition, abstraction and her approach to landscapes and nature. From skyscrapers to flowers, the exhibition illuminates her ability to infuse her subjects with quiet drama, power and incredible visual impact, allowing one to better understand the artist she came to be.
The exhibition was organized by the Art Institute of Chicago; the High is the only other venue and opportunity to see the exhibition at this time.
Outside of major new exhibits, how often is there something new for High Museum visitors to see? There is always something new to see at the High! The museum hosts multiple changing exhibitions at once, so as one exhibition leaves,
another has already opened else where in the building. Like most art museums, the High rotates portions of its collection galleries as curators develop new ideas and acquire works, or art is lent to and borrowed from museums around the country and world. This is a constant for the High, so chances are you will always find something new among your favorites.
For people who may be intimidated by fine art, how do you recommend they plug in?
Between our regular schedule of late-night music and other events, the High also offers free admission through our UPS Second Sunday and Access for All programs. These are all great ways to take a peek at what we offer. We will always appreciate those first steps and continue to encourage our visitors’ curiosity.
You've been at the High since 2017. What made you want to call Atlanta home?
Atlanta is such a fantastic city, and I had some idea of that greatness
“I love the spirit of creativity and curiosity that artists bring to the world," Tucker says.
from visiting friends and colleagues over the decades. When the opportunity arose, I could not resist; I felt communities here were, and are, incredibly vibrant, and the High was well-poised to grow with them. I am deeply committed to and passionate about being a part of the dialogue that helps shape the future of the visual arts in the Southeast. n
Georgia O'Keeffe's East River from the 30th Story of the Shelton Hotel is one of the artist's works on display at her upcoming exhibition at the High Museum of Art.
Ted Pio Roda Photography
I“t’s wonderful to see how accessible original artwork has become,” says Muriel Foster Schelke, partner/ director of the Atlanta Artist Collective that represents 85-plus artists from across the Southeast. From her Buckhead office in The Galleries of Peachtree Hills, Schelke helps art lovers find works to fill out their collections or simply get them started on their artistic journey.
“Art is really just about an emotion,” Schelke says. “It’s endless the ways your art can be an expression of you, your family, your values, travels and emotions. It’s part of your story that can be interpreted in different ways on different days.”
How do you go about curating an art collection that brings joy and brightens the home? Here are some tips.
It’s Personal
The first rule of art curation is that there are no rules. “Art is totally personal,” Schelke says, “so the single most important thing is that you love it and respond to it. There should be a feeling when you look at the piece.”
And don’t worry about mixing styles. Go ahead and hang an abstract next to a landscape next to a geometric. You can group things by color, theme or some other connecting thread, but focus more on how the art feels in the room and what you want it to say. “Your art collection becomes a journey. It tells a story,” Schelke says. Feel free to color outside the lines and take some artistic license with it.
Location, Location, Location
Art doesn’t just have to be on the wall. It can be on a bookshelf, in a display case or even tacked to the front of the fridge. But what looks good in one place might not look good in another, so experiment and move things around. “Think about where you’ll get the most joy from a piece, and then work out from there,” Schelke says. Think practically, too: Don’t put an oil painting above the stove where it could catch fire or place a fragile sculpture on a coffee table where the cat could easily knock it over.
PICTURE THIS
PRO TIPS TO CURATE A KILLER ART COLLECTION STORY: Jill Becker
You Don’t Have to Break the Bank
Yes, art can often be expensive, but that doesn’t mean you have to pay an arm and a leg to curate a collection. “A budget is important because that’s the reality of things,” Schelke says. But if, for example, you love a 36-by-36 painting that’s out of your price range, see if the artist has similar works that are smaller and less expensive. Keep in mind, too, that a frame adds to the cost, so focus on the work itself because
you can always search for a cheaper frame on sites like Framebridge, which has a storefront on the Westside. If something really speaks to you but you’re concerned about the cost, see if the artist or gallery will let you take it out on loan and live with it for a bit before you bite the bullet.
Consult a Pro Professional curators like Schelke can be sounding boards and guides as you curate your collection. They know the questions to ask and can
help you discover new artists, consult on the budget and advise on grouping pieces together. “We want our clients to absolutely love their art and feel totally comfortable with their purchases,” Schelke says.
The bottom line is that your home is your canvas and you’re the artist, so have fun and make it your masterpiece. n ATLANTA ARTIST COLLECTIVE 404.414.5399 • atlanta.artistcollectives.org @atlantaartistcollective
Curator Muriel Foster Schelke
NAILED IT
EXPERTS OFFER TIPS ON HOW TO HANG WORKS OF ART STORY: H.M. Cauley
For HangMasters operations manager Rick Figueroa, it's not unusual to get urgent phone calls about art that has literally dropped off the wall.
“They’ll tell us something that’s been up for five or 10 years one night just came down,” he says. “You never really know what will cause that.”
But Figueroa and his colleague, Way O’Malley, have strong suspicions that the culprit was inappropriate hardware. When it comes to putting up that painting brought home from Prague or the collage the twins made in kindergarten, getting the right hardware is one of the first steps. Here, they offer other points to consider before hammering away.
Weigh in First
Which nail, screw or bolt works best is determined by weight. A lightweight poster that comes with hardware should be easy to handle.
But when it comes to larger and heavier pieces, the heft is the breaking point, Figueroa says. Once the weight has been determined, select a nail that can carry it, keeping in mind that bigger isn’t necessarily better. “There are hooks that leave small holes but are still strong and heavy duty,” he says. “You don’t want to make big holes with a nail that’s too big for the job.”
A heavy piece might require more than one nail. “I’d double up on something that’s 100 pounds,” Figueroa says. “But chances are most people aren’t hanging anything that requires that sort of heavy duty support.”
Hang to be Seen
Buyers are often drawn to an artwork because it grabs them in one glance. That’s intentional, says Figueroa. “It’s spatial: You see something and think it’s really nice
because it’s been strategically placed to catch your eye. But then you get it home, and it doesn’t look the same. The lighting, the height, where it’s placed in a room all play a role. Think about putting it where you want it to be seen or how it hits you when you walk in the room. And different rooms call for different items. Take time to scale things out.”
Lighten Up
Both natural and artificial light can make a piece a focal point. Whether to use a single bulb above the frame, a spotlight or a sunlit wall is personal preference. “In a dimly lit room, you could accent every piece, but some people like going big and bright like a gallery,” Figueroa says. Of course, sunlight might have detrimental effects, and while glass might provide some level of protection, art isn’t usually covered up. “There’s no such thing as ‘museum quality glass’ because most museums don’t put paintings behind glass,” he says. “Some people rotate their art to a less sunny part of the house to protect it. But if you want to highlight something that’s truly precious, it’s better under artificial light.”
Drywall Dilemma
Drywall is mounted between studs that support a room’s structure. Hanging artwork doesn’t always mean the nail must be driven in the stud—unless it’s heavy. “Again, it depends on the weight,” O'Malley says. “For most items, weight or size isn’t a problem. And often, the placement of the studs isn’t ideal.”
Help!
Calling in experts such as Figueroa and O’Malley might be a better bet than trying to tackle a project on your own. “Think about it this way: If it took three guys to put the piece in your car, you might need some help hanging it at home,” O’Malley says. “Sometimes it’s harder to hang it than to acquire it in the first place.”
Hang Masters experts have tackled everything from a T.J. Maxx poster to a hand-carved Pegasus sculpture suspended from a 28-foot ceiling. “There’s nothing we won’t handle,” Figueroa says. “But whatever it is, we treat everything the same.” n
John Wieland emerges from the “Staff Only” door at The Warehouse wearing a broad smile. His eyes sparkle as he extends his hand. The founder and former chairman of John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods is a legend in Atlanta and beyond and has built more than 30,000 homes in his career. In addition to amassing a respected portfolio of residential architecture, Wieland has acquired an impressive collection of over 400 pieces of art by nearly 300 national and international artists. Works range from sculptures and ceramics to video and photography as well as fabric and paint. The collection is housed in The Warehouse, a 39,000-square-foot building on the Westside, now open to the public for free by reservation on the second Saturday of each month. Walking through the space, Wieland describes each piece with incredible precision. When asked how he remembers such detail, he chuckles. “Someone once told me it’s because I make space in my mind for what’s important to me.”
Do you remember the first piece that you bought?
The first piece we bought is no longer with us, but one of the early pieces is called Bad Dream House #2 by Vito Acconci. It was fabricated for a one man show at MoMA in 1988. We bought it from the show. It sat outside of our office for about 30 years.
What are you most proud of with this space?
My main focus is how do I leave a legacy? I think the 30,000 homes that we've built over 50 years counts a bit, but this is something that we can endow financially, in perpetuity, and hopefully, it will stay here. We actually have more contemporary art on permanent view than the High Museum of Art. We have some major pieces and some minor pieces, but we’re creating something that's going to live on, and that's very special.
What is the most unusual piece in the collection?
We have [an entire] home that belonged to a gentleman named Ferdinand Cooper. He served in
the Second World War, and when he came back, he had what we now call traumatic stress disorder and wasn't able to hold a job. He built this home on his parents' property in Sanford, Florida and lived in it for 30 years. He had no electricity and no water, but he knew what a home ought to have, so he carved it or fabricated it. For example, he knew that a home should have a television, but he didn't have electricity. He made a television antenna out of scrap materials, so anybody coming to see him would know that he had a television. It is really one of the
BUILDING A LEGACY
JOHN WIELAND SHARES HIS PASSION FOR FINE ART AND HIS PLANS FOR HIS COLLECTION’S FUTURE
STORY: Nicole Letts
most important self-taught art pieces in America because of the size and uniqueness of it.
What advice would you give someone who wants to start collecting art? Buy what you can afford and what you love. Anybody who buys because they are going to make money is on a fool’s errand. Hang around galleries and museums and familiarize yourself with artists and prices. There are wonderful stories of people who ended up with great collections just because they spent time at it. They were
discerning, and they bought pieces that fit with what they were doing. That's what I think we've done.
What do you want people to know about The Warehouse?
We'd like to have people know that we're here, and we're available, and we hope you will come see us. The more you live with art, the more you understand it and appreciate it. We want people to come and enjoy it. n
Courtesy of The Wilbert Group
PUBLIC PAINTINGS
CREATIVE EXPRESSIONS ARE ON VIEW IN UNEXPECTED PLACES STORY: H.M. Cauley
Atlanta is fortunate to boast a wealth of art, be it in museums, galleries or shops. But our love of artistic expression isn’t only indoors. Stroll through community parks, commercial districts and main thoroughfares, and something colorful is likely to catch your eye. Even some of our parking decks provide the perfect concrete canvas where artists have brought visual excitement to what is often an otherwise drab interior. Here’s a small selection of outdoor artworks to explore.
4600 Roswell Road, Sandy Springs
This work of art in the Chastain Market shopping center is the brainchild of Westside’s Lenia Castro. Two years ago, she launched Upper Westside Murals and has been busy painting the town, be it buildings or houses, ever since. This Welcome to Sandy Springs design on brick was inspired by the city’s struggle for independence, she says. “I was told that some people said it would become a city when pigs fly, and that stuck in my brain,” she says. “And I thought it was funny!” @upperwestsidemurals
3372 Peachtree Road, Buckhead
Milton artist Deanna Sirlin has been working on large-scale public art projects since 1999; one of her firsts covered the front of the High Museum in Midtown. Pre-pandemic, she was contracted by the company constructing the Icon apartments next to Maggiano’s to produce a piece of art for the building’s exterior. The vision was specific, she says: “They wanted it to be about connections and repurposing, and I named it The Distance Between Now it represents more of an urban grid.” The rectangle of rainbow colors began as a small-scale collage and transformed into a 50-by-30 foot-piece printed on digital vinyl by mixing software and technology. @deannasirlin
5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Sandy Springs
Alison Hamil’s work covers the gamut from graphic design and chalk art to watercolor and acrylic paintings. She’s noted for using bold colors, elements of nature and a signature sunburst in many of her works. Employees at Emory St. Joseph’s Hospital get a boost from
the five murals she created inside the parking decks, including Hands of the Healer that showcases her style while giving a nod to the hard work the staff performs. Hamil also created the We Are All Together mural for the city of Brookhaven. Look for it on Peachtree Road north of the Brookhaven MARTA station.
@alisonhamilart
3699 Lenox Road, Buckhead
Yes, the tacos, dips and skillet dishes at CT Reforma Taqueria are worth a visit, and so are the steps leading up to the restaurant. The colorful entrance was created by Colombia native and SCAD grad Diego Peñuela, who touts himself as an illustrator, background painter and muralist
who’s happy to step outside the box on occasion. In the case of the painted steps, he worked with the client to come up with a range of shapes and colors that link to the idea of technology, communication, connection, community and multiculturalism. The result is a burst of inspiration— all done with spray paint.
@diegoillustration n
Above: Diego Peñuela used spray paint to add color to a stairway.
Right: Artist Deanna Sirlin designed a rectangular rainbow for the Icon apartments in Buckhead.
Above: Artist Lenia Castro added a humorous flying pig to her design for this Sandy Springs mural.
Left: Alison Hamil's uplifting work is inside a parking deck at Emory St. Joseph's.
DELICIOUS
FOAXACA BRINGS MEXICO’S RENOWNED GASTRONOMIC REGION TO CHAMBLEE Triplavor
Photo-ready dishes consistently pop out of the open kitchen at Oaxaca (wah-hah-kah) in Chamblee, often with vibrant colors and abundant garnishes. The artful presentations advertise the robust layers of aromas and flavors packed into each creation. Oaxaca uses familiar ingredients in its dishes that are rooted in the indigenous culinary traditions of Oaxaca, Mexico, one of its country’s top foodie destinations.
A variety of moles and salsas dot the food menu while mezcal reigns over the cocktail list. Though it’s located on the ground level of an apartment complex, Oaxaca’s sleek, modern decor has a bohemian atmosphere with its wood tables, green plants, woven chairs and wicker light fixtures. Bottles sparkle over the bar on shelves suspended from the high ceiling. High-volume music pumps up the vibe, even during off-peak hours. The aesthetic flows from the main dining room onto a large, covered patio. ➥
STORY: Hope S. Philbrick
PHOTOS: Erik Meadows
Artful presentations advertise robust layers of aromas and flavors.
Green mole pipian smothers braised wagyu short rib with an herby sauce. Pair it with a refreshing Agave Rising Sun cocktail.
Servers offer recommendations and answers to any questions about the menu with a smile and are attentive without hovering. A bottle of chilled water is delivered to the table shortly after arrival, so you can easily keep your water glass full.
Drinks push fresh flavors forward, whether made with or without alcohol. Horchata, a sweet and creamy rice-based drink with a cinnamon kick, is liquid comfort that satisfies as a standalone treat, alongside food or in place of dessert. Hibiscus agua fresca refreshes with a tart zing reminiscent of cranberries. Agave Rising Sun, one of the restaurant’s most popular cocktails, is available by the glass, though after a few sips I was craving a pitcher. Crisp cucumber juice is enhanced by sweet-tart notes of pineapple and lime juice with a soft undercurrent of tequila. A stylish arc of red spices coats one side of the glass, adding the option of pungent heat.
Spicy-sweet with a snap of vinegar, ceviche de camaron piles pink shrimp, green and orange peppers, pale avocados, iridescent onions and red tomatoes into a big beige bowl for a visual akin to dabs of paint on an artist’s palette. Other starters include the pale green sphere of guacamole that arrives studded with herbs, flowers, nuts and radishes for a tantalizing mix of colors, textures and flavors to shovel into your mouth with warm house-made tortilla chips. Don’t miss the tetela de pato that stuffs duck confit, black beans and Oaxaca cheese into a traditional triangular masa casing wrapped with leaves of hoja santa, a peppery herb. It’s plated on a base of tamarind mole with sweet, tart and sour notes. A star among the main dishes, enchiladas divorciadas smother its chicken-stuffed tortillas in green and red sauces divided by a stripe of sour cream topped with thin, shiny onion slices and perky microgreens. Packed with tolerable heat, each forkful is a winner. Looking like a Mexican pizza and packed with umami, steak tlayuda, a popular street food in the Oaxaca region, covers a crispy tortilla with bite-sized slices of marinated skirt steak, black beans, Oaxaca cheese, avocado, strips of pipicha (a Mexican herb with a coriander/ anise taste) and salsa macha, a
Don't miss the scrumptious , stuffed with duck confit.
Left: The burrito de langostinos is a hand-held meal where every bite is balanced.
Right: Carne asada tacos are packed with flavor.
Below: Enchiladas divorciadas is a treat for the eyes and palate.
spicy/nutty/garlicky accompani ment. Green mole pipian impresses with fork-tender, braised wagyu short rib smothered in a browntinged green sauce made with herbs and nuts. Its version of mole was new to me; with no spicy heat, its earthy flavors were too good not to scoop up every drop with the warm tortillas served alongside. Burrito de langostinos packs a soft, warm tortilla with sweet juicy jumbo shrimp, tender avocado, hearty black beans and a hefty serving of rice. A piquant red sauce delivers sweetness in each mouthful.
The carne asada taco exceeds the expectations of its simple menu description: marinated skirt steak, cilantro, onions. Turns out three ingredients tucked into a warm corn tortilla can deliver superb flavor. The pescado al sarten fish taco tops sauteed flounder with pickled onions, cabbage and aioli. Tasty, though the fish is overcooked to a crispy bacon-like texture. Since the
large corn tortilla isn’t griddled, the steak quesadilla comes across as a larger version of the carne asada taco, with grilled onions and the addition of Oaxaca cheese.
Desserts take regional cooking traditions in creative new directions. The café de olla tres leches adds coffee flavor to the famed milk-soaked cake. Though arguably a great idea, the cake disappointed with its dense texture and bitter note. A cousin to strawberry shortcake, strawberry tamal proved the better choice. A traditional corn tamale transforms from savory to sweet with juicy strawberries and creamy vanilla ice cream.
Chamblee’s Oaxaca may inspire you to verify that your passport is up-to-date. One meal at this restaurant can whet your appetite to learn more about Mexico’s, coastal state. Until you travel to our southern neighbor, Oaxaca presents so many temptations on its menu that you’ll need multiple visits to try them all. n
Recommended: Hibiscus agua fresca, Agave Rising Sun cocktail, tetela de pato, herb guacamole, ceviche de camaron, carne asada taco, green mole pipian, enchiladas
Bottom line: This modern Mexican restaurant with a high-volume energy serves traditional and creative Oaxacan fare alongside top-notch drinks.
Oaxaca
divorciadas
Oaxaca gives strawberry shortcake a Mexican spin.
MAKE MINE A MANHATTAN
This cocktail can be tailored to your tastebuds STORY: Angela Hansberger
The Manhattan cocktail is iconic for a reason. It has maintained its popularity for more than 150 years as a bar menu staple. Spirit-forward and boozy, it’s reliable, simple to construct and as cozy as wrapping up in a sweater. It’s also easily tailored to varying tastes with riffs on the original formula that have become classics themselves.
Named for the island on which it was created, the cocktail, like most, has a fuzzy origin story. It arose in the late 1800s at New York’s The Manhattan Club. The standard recipe—two parts rye whiskey and one part sweet vermouth—is a 2:1:2 ratio that is coincidentally the area code originally assigned to all of New York City. It required the fewest turns on a rotary phone, so it of course went to the biggest city. A few slugs of rye, an ounce of vermouth and dashes of bitters, the drink veered from the usual concoction of spirit, sugar and bitters with
the inclusion of fortified, aromatized wine. Vermouth, essentially wine with sugar and botanicals, added varying levels of bitter and herbaceous qualities to cocktails.
Arnette’s Chop Shop in Brookhaven had a private barrel of Knob Creek Rye specifically made for the Manhattan experience. It sips wonderfully over a large cube. While the traditional recipe calls for rye, the easiest swap is rye’s cousin, bourbon, for a fitting base. This version is less spicy, slightly sweeter and more mellow.
High proof takes a Manhattan to its most peerless state, allowing the rye to assertively punch through, giving it a little edge. At Buckhead’s Atlas, a Legendary Manhattan features Widow Jane 10-year-old straight bourbon whiskey, a couple of dashes of Angostura bitters and Cocchi Barolo Chinato, an aromatized wine with quinine bark, rhubarb, ginger and gentian. Being such a stalwart of cocktail
culture as well as a structure that lends itself to malleability, the Manhattan has inspired endless riffs. Substitute Scotch whisky for rye, and you’ve got a Rob Roy. This combination creates a completely different—albeit still impeccably balanced—drink. The recipe puts emphasis on the whisky, letting it rise to the front. Blended Scotch is the usual choice for marrying sweet vermouth, since overly peated expressions often overtake the vermouth kicking things off balance.
Local ASW Tire Fire Whiskey in a Manhattan makes a smoky sipper that works, especially in the fall. To craft a Manhattan that is broody, bold and wonderfully complex, opt for a Black Manhattan, a twist that replaces sweet vermouth with amaro, typically Averna. The dark herbal liqueur flavors the cocktail with spice, floral and root essence that is even more sophisticated than the original.
In a Greenpoint cocktail, named for a New York neighborhood, rye whiskey, sweet vermouth and yellow chartreuse are stirred with a dash of Angostura and orange bitters. Created by Carthusian monks, yellow chartreuse swirls with honey, chamomile and anise flavors, making a more playful and intriguing version of a Manhattan.
A Brooklyn cocktail is a little more complex than a standard Manhattan. Dry vermouth replaces sweet with the addition of Italian Maraschino liqueur made from Marasca cherries. The original recipe called for French aperitif Amer Picon, but due to limited availability, bartenders often use Bigallet China-China instead.
Much like sitting along the banks of the Chattahoochee while enjoying dinner, Canoe’s Manhattan is a cherry-on-top situation. Served in a martini glass, it includes Whistle Pig 10-year rye, sweet vermouth, Cherry Heering and dashes of Angostura and Old Fashioned bitters. Skilled barkeeps can easily mix up any of these versions and dozens more. Bonus: It’s a boon for encouraging conversation. n
canoeatl.com • @canoeatl
FOODIE JOURNAL
News & Notes
Community Center
A conversation with John Haggai, CEO of Burtons Grill & Bar
American restaurant Burtons Grill & Bar’s first Atlanta location debuts in Buckhead Landing on Piedmont Road, formerly home to the “Disco Kroger.” CEO John Haggai shares what led him to open in Atlanta and how he plans the restaurant to serve as a neighborhood staple.
What made you decide to open in Buckhead?
We have 20 locations on the East Coast. Georgia, Atlanta in particular, has always been on the radar. Buckhead is everything that I admire in a city and a neighborhood. It has great people, great energy, diversity, a business community
Bon Appétit
Dish up a decadent dessert with this recipe from family-ownedand-operated French
Petite Violette, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024.
New Orleans Bread Pudding Serves 12
INGREDIENTS:
8-10 rolls
½ quart half-and-half
7 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup raisins
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 pounds butter, melted
Whiskey sauce:
1 pound butter
2 cups sugar
½ cup whiskey ¼ cup simple syrup
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the rolls into quarters or slices. In a bowl, mix the eggs, half-and-half, sugar and vanilla extract. Use a little of the melted butter to grease a baking pan (recommended: stainless steel 8-by-10 and 2 ½ inches deep). Coat the greased pan with a thin layer of sugar. Place the cut rolls into the pan, and pour the remainder of the melted
BY Claire Ruhlin
Burtons Grill & Bar's CEO John Haggai.
and phenomenal restaurants. We've been patient for a number of years, and we found the right spot.
What are you excited to bring to Atlanta?
There are no cookie-cutter Burtons We’re a New England-based company, so we do seafood really well. We're famous for our lobster roll. You'll see great clam chowder. One of our signature dishes is the crab-crusted haddock. But we’re serious about our steaks, too. We do brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. We also encourage our chefs to pay tribute to the area and add things to the menu that are seasonally inspired.
How do you see Burtons fitting into the Buckhead neighborhood? We’re not just here to open a restaurant; we’re here to be part of this amazing community. We want to be the everyday place for the community, whether someone wants a bite at the bar or has a special occasion, a business gathering or brunch. We want to be flexible for our customers so it’s not just a one type of experience.
butter over the top of the rolls. Place raisins throughout the bread. Pour the egg mixture over the rolls, careful not to overflow. Cover the pan with foil and place in a water bath. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes. To check if the pudding is done, press on the foil and make sure it is firm. Let the bread pudding sit for at least 30 minutes. Serve with whisky sauce.
For the whiskey sauce: Melt butter in a thick-bottom pot until melted and just starting to boil. Slowly add sugar, while stirring constantly with a hard whisk. Once sugar is incorporated, add the whiskey and simple syrup.
FOOD NEWS
n Tea house Boba Craze is now open in The Veranda at Buckhead Village. Guests are invited to sample a menu of milk and fruit teas, as well as punches and lemonades. @bobacrazeatl
n PERC Coffee is now open on Wieuca Road in Chastain Park, featuring a full kitchen and a menu of classic coffee drinks and signature concoctions. perccoffee.com
In August, South African restaurant Nando’s PERi-PERi debuted its flagship Atlanta location in Dunwoody’s High Street development. Nando’s signature chicken is marinated for 24 hours and flame-grilled to order. nandosperiperi.com
What makes Burtons unique?
One thing we're known for—outside of our great food, hospitality and beautiful spaces—is that we are seriously allergy-friendly. Our guests with dietary restrictions and allergies really trust us to serve them safely. We pride ourselves on that, and we put really strong protocols in place to do that. n
BURTONS GRILL & BAR burtonsgrill.com • @burtons.grill
PETITE VIOLETTE petitevioletterestaurant.com • @petiteviolette74
bistro
Petite Violette Chef Anthony Gropp’s New Orleans bread pudding
Crab-crusted haddock, a signature dish from Burtons Grill & Bar.
Lunch, Brunch & Dinner
Your Special Event Catering
Buckhead ‘s best Mediterranean
Aformer first-grade teacher, Roxana Aguirre started learning about agave-based spirits when her husband opened Patria Cocina Mexican restaurant in Grant Park in 2018. Fast-forward six years and the mezcal sommeli er recently returned from Jalisco, Mexico, where she planted agave and pine trees with master distillers and learned about raicilla, another agave-based spirit yet to achieve widespread fame in the United States. Now she’s using these details at Ancestral Bottle Shop + Market that she recently opened on the Upper Westside.
“Ancestral is a place for microbatch, additive-free, producerand distillery-owned products that aren’t as mainstream. A lot of education goes on in the shop,” she says. “We were doing spirit-based events at Patria, and people wanted to find out where to buy them. I thought, ‘Why not create a place where we can give these smaller brands space on the shelf?’”
About 90% of the spirits at Ancestral are agave-based. The other 10% are gin, whiskey and rum, all Mexican made. A handful of wines and non-alcoholic options are available as well. In addition, Ancestral features a small market selling hand-crafted Mexican goods. “I’m Mexican and want to highlight my culture,” Aguirre says.
How did you learn so much about agave-based spirits?
In 2014, part of my job at the restaurant was tasting agave spirits and seeing what was available. I would do research and listen to podcasts, and then I did the Agave Spirits Institute course in Oaxaca to become a certified mezcal sommelier. Drinking is part of the job. I do tastings once a week or every other week. I do them in the morning because I have to pick up my kids from school around 3:30. I make sure I have a really good breakfast— potatoes, eggs and bread—and stay hydrated. Sparkling water helps cleanse the palate between tastes.
Ms. Mezcal
Roxana Aguirre runs the city’s first agave-based bottle shop STORY: Carly Cooper
What else do you sell in the shop? I meet amazing people in my travels who make glassware, ceramics and
art. These are perfect for gifts. If you’re gifting someone tequila, we have glasses to go along with it. We have traditional Mexican cookies, agave syrup, chocolates from Mexico City that pair well with tequilas, and coffee from Little Waves in North Carolina. Coffee is rooted deep in Latin America. We have books about agave and cookbooks, too.
What do you do for fun?
I like to cook and bake. When I was younger, I thought I was going to be a baker. I like making brownies, chocolate chip cookies and banana or zucchini bread with my kids. I go back to California at least once a year to visit my mom, sisters, nieces and nephews, and I travel to Mexico twice a year for work.
Anything else should we know? I’m very proud of my heritage. When I was younger, I was taught to assimilate. I was ashamed of being Mexican for a good portion of my childhood. As I grew older, I started respecting it and appreciating it more. I’m teaching my kids to be proud of speaking Spanish and eating our food. Having this bottle shop is another way of expressing my gratitude and love for my culture and traditions. n
Courtesy of Chil & Co.
FEATURED RESTAURANTS
A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead
Little Alley has an ever-rotating selection of fresh, raw oysters that come with a dramatic presentation over dry ice.
The Woodall's globally inspired menu has something for every taste.
Finish the meal with a pavlova at Le Bon Nosh.
BY: Wendell Brock, Rebecca Cha, Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Angela Hansberger, Hope S. Philbrick
BISTRO NIKO
Inspired by The City of Light, Bistro Niko brings a taste of France to Buckhead with a bustling vibe, eye-catching design, upscale fare and attentive service. Part of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, the menu presents authentic modern Parisian dishes for Atlantan palates. The refreshing Spécialité Le St. Germain cocktail is food-friendly with floral and yeasty notes. Burgundy escargot en croûte tops garlicky snails with crisp rounds of pastry. Chef Gary Donlick’s traditional country pâté is firm and hearty with salty umami. Coq au vin is a perennial best-seller for good reason: This French classic of braised chicken in red wine with mushrooms and pearl onions yields tender meat in a sauce packed with fruity and earthy flavors. Steak au poivre is a spicier option with pepper-crusted twin beef tenderloins, addictive brandied cream mushrooms and sauteed spinach. The elegant île flottante dessert floats fluffy soft meringue in a pool of crème anglaise.
For more than 20 years, Blue Ridge Grill has been a mecca for Buckhead power lunchers and chill evening diners alike. Whether for business or romance, BRG is a paragon of hospitality, and each guest is embraced like a VIP. Standard crowd-pleasers on the EuroAmerican menu include grilled Georgia trout, French-boned chicken with wild mushrooms and filet mignon with Vidalia onions. Small plates and sides of iron skillet mussels, Caesar salad with crisp Beeler bacon, custard-like corn soufflé and (off-menu item) fried pickles with buttermilk dipping sauce are absolute must-tries. If cost is an issue, call ahead, as menu prices are not advertised online.
An unassuming strip mall cover belies the cozy sophistication awaiting inside this popular Sandy Springs trattoria. Chef Linda Harrell’s menu is punctuated with exquisite, simple fare such as Tuscan kale and bean soup and braised short rib ragu with spinach ravioli, and is anchored by classics such as wood-fired pizzas and chicken parmigiana. Don’t bypass the Italian wine list with top-notch selections both familiar (Santa Margherita Vermentino) and obscure (Morgante Nero d’Avola). On Monday evenings, select bottles are half price. Weekends are especially busy, so plan your visit accordingly.
Appetizers, soups and salads: $5-$16
Pasta, pizza and sandwiches: $13-$32
Mains: $23-$36 • Desserts: $4-$8 ciboatlanta.com
DAS BBQ
In 2016, Stephen Franklin had a dream to make Georgia the most “inclusive, creative barbecue experience in the country,” and that’s just what he did at DAS BBQ. Whether it’s the rosy, smoke-ringed brisket, equally pink and juicy St. Louis-style ribs or the spicy, smoked chicken wings, every bony bite is a testament to Franklin’s focus on the art and science of smoked meats. Bring the whole family and don’t pass up house-made sides of decadent cream corn, mac ’n’ cheese and stick-to-your-ribs Brunswick stew. Dig into white chocolate banana pudding after if you’re willing and able.
Meats (whole, half and sandwich): $7-$28, sausages $5/link Wings: $9/$18 for half dozen/dozen Side dishes (in regular, pint or quart): $3-$23 Desserts: $3-$5 • dasbbq.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
JALISCO
After nearly three decades, Jalisco remains a giddy, guilty pleasure trip through a tunnel of cheese. This Tex-Mex institution at Peachtree Battle is better than an El Paso taco kit, but not exactly a showcase of the sophisticated techniques and ingredients of the Mexican larder. Without apology, Jalisco is what it is, a place with consistently good, standardissue burritos, enchiladas, fajitas and even a Hamburguesa Mexicana. (It’s topped with nacho cheese.) This is not a place where the kitchen thrives on change and creativity. For the most part, the menu is the same as it has been since Jalisco opened in 1978.
Dinner feels like a discovery in Le Bon Nosh’s beautifully appointed dining room. Take a seat and gape at the stunning bar, lamp-lit tables and two-story tall saffron curtains. The French-influenced menu consists of scratchmade dishes with local and globally sourced ingredients, fitting as chef/owner Forough Vakili was born in Iran, trained in France and now calls Atlanta home. Start with standouts such as the light-as-air gougères and the elegant caviar and chips before moving on to a pasta course of spaghetti dressed in bright green pesto or hearty pappardelle Bolognese. Don’t-miss mains include duck confit served over delicate puy lentils scented with lemongrass, a 16-ounce, grass-fed Châtel Farms ribeye (enough for two) or the fallapart tender, braised short rib accented with chèvre ranch. The extensive list of French wines, organized by region, ensures that wine nuts and Francophiles will find something to delight them.
A meal at Little Alley is an escape, an immersive experience no matter where you find yourself seated. Settle in and indulge in the daily rotating selection of ultra-fresh raw oysters served with a trio of housemade sauces and an appetizer of brûléed bone marrow that’s so rich it could double as butter for grilled bread. The main event is an array of prime Angus cuts, both wet- and dry-aged from 28 to 60 days, so guests can choose their steak’s flavor intensity, cut and tenderness. If you’re really going for broke, make it a surf-and-turf with the addition of a flash-fried Maine lobster tail with drawn butter. Whether you’re out for a special occasion, a business meeting to close a big deal or a “just because” meal, this is a carnivore’s paradise, with aged prime beef, ultra-fresh seafood and hearty sides served with gracious, professional service in a luxe atmosphere.
Treat your tastebuds to as many dishes as possible at Rumi’s Kitchen Sandy Springs, whether you sit in the spacious dining room with its bubbling water feature or order to-go. The menu is packed with powerful culinary rhythms and rhymes. Falafel stuns with crisp-tender chickpea balls, pickled veggies, tangy tabbouleh and savory tahini sauce. Mirza ghasemi (smoked eggplant with tomato and garlic) presents strong notes without hiding the scrumptious plant flavors.
Chicken barg infuses a juicy wedge with exotic flavors thanks to the saffron marinade. Pair it with Shirin polo, fluffy rice dotted with orange zest, red barberry, pistachio, almond and rosewater—a divine mix of flavors and textures. Lamb hummusiya tops hummus with lamb sausage for a pleasing contrast of spicy heat and cool umami. Dukkah roasted carrots play nutty-spicy notes against tangy-sweet yogurt cheese. Good luck choosing a favorite.
Starters: $8-15 • Salads: $8-12
Mains: $18-45 • Sides: $4-10
Desserts: $10 • rumiskitchen.com
SOUTHBOUND
A “welcome to the neighborhood” vibe lingers throughout Southbound in Chamblee, whether you sit at the bar stocked with artisan spirits, on a comfortable chair in the main dining room or under an umbrellaed picnic table on the patio. Weathered wood, exposed bricks and dangling light bulbs give the space casual elegance. The menu presents Southern comfort food with some creative international flavors and influences. Variety means there’s something for just about any preference, diet, budget and hunger level. The menu changes about three times a year, but popular favorites remain, including the double-stack burger, Southern ramen, smoked short rib, Chamblee hot chicken and wild Georgia Shrimp.
Small plates: $4-$18 • Mains: $14-$33
Sides: $4-$6 • Desserts: $6-$9 southboundatl.com
THE WOODALL
With its friendly, relaxed vibe, it’s easy to feel among friends at The Woodall in Westside Village, whether you prefer the comfortable dining room or outdoor patio. Whitewashed brick, shiny metal, warm woods, brown leather and modern light fixtures cozy up the converted warehouse while a mural of eagle talons clasping a silver spoon adds personality. The dinner and brunch menus present globally inspired dishes and drinks featuring local ingredients. The menu changes seasonally, with options such as lump crab beignets, open-faced tenderloin sandwich, Sicilian calamari and rock shrimp and fried chicken tucked into a feather-light biscuit. The restaurant’s website confidently asserts, “You’ll be back!” There are plenty of reasons to do just that.
Note: Prices and menu items may have changed since original publication.
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Visit simplybuckhead.com to read all of our restaurant reviews!
AMERICANA
Buckhead-based artist Steve Penley loves to paint patriotic themes, from United States presidents to American flags to the Statue of Liberty. PHOTO: Erik Meadows
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