Simply Buckhead May/June 2011

FREE MAY/JUNE 2011 Issue #04

Eat Fresh Where to find country produce in the city

Summer Guide 7 vacations within 7 hours of Buckhead

*Plus:

The best local festivals!

Whiz Kids Babies can read at the Buckhead Library

MAY 14-15 2011

C H A S TA I N P A R K

BUCKHEAD

The event will be held in Chastain Park on Park Drive. Please check our website regularly for updates and parking information.

w w w. b u c k h e a d a r t s f e s t i v a l . c o m The festival will help support the Chastain Dog Park Campaign.

Call today for a free consultation

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S I M P LY BUC K H E A D | M A Y / J U N E 2 0 1 1

Escape with your family to the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, page 44. Mark Wieland

Contents /// COVER STORY

/// DEPARTMENTS

44

ROAD TRIP 2011

9 LETTERS

We’ve crisscrossed the region to find the most exciting destinations within an easy drive of Atlanta. Your only job? Pack your bags.

23 SIMPLY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

11 SIMPLY NOW 17 SIMPLY STYLISH

33 SIMPLY DELICIOUS 51 SIMPLY HAPPENING

/// FEATURES

18

28

35

43

Cover photo by iStockphoto.com/ STEVECOLEccs

STYLISH SETTLEMENT A Buckhead townhome combines the differing styles—and opinions— of a dynamic bipartisan couple

BIRD IS THE WORD A look at Café at Pharr’s new Peachtree perch

THE ART OF INSTRUCTION For more than 30 years, Chastain Arts Center’s Philip Carpenter has fostered creativity in students

VIVE LA FRANCE An interview with Bordeaux and Burgundy wine enthusiast Mark Taylor

From artsy neighborhood shindigs to events boasting gourmet food and top-notch entertainment, there is something for every Buckhead resident to enjoy.

— “Festival Fever,” page 50

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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Simply Buckhead

ON L I N E MAY/JUNE 2011 | ISSUE #04 P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355 www.simplybuckhead.com For advertising rates call: 404-538-9895

/// CONTRIBUTOR

Publisher Joanne Hayes Editor Allison Weiss Entrekin Creative Director Omar Vega Account Executive Jessica Ferguson

Read Simply Buckhead online at www.SimplyBuckhead.com/tour.html with click-through capability

Elsa K. Simcik Contributing writer

Facebook facebook.com “Like” or “Friend” us at Simply Buckhead Magazine

Twitter twitter.com/SimplyBuckhead Follow us @simplybuckhead

Issuu issuu.com/simplybuckhead Read an onine digital version of the magazine.

Elsa K. Simcik started her writing career as a relationship columnist about 10 years ago, covering love, breakups and the world of online dating. But after marrying her husband Frank in 2003, she realized that the old saying, “Write what you know,” was true. Since dating was no longer her expertise, she segued into other lifestyle topics like health and fitness, travel and human-interest stories. Originally from Texas, her work has appeared in The Dallas Morning News and Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine.

After moving to Atlanta four years ago, Elsa started contributing to local publications like The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now Simply Buckhead (“Take Another Look at Asheville,” page 45).

She loves living in the Southeast and was thrilled to visit Asheville to write about its laid-back, fun and delicious finds in this issue of Simply Buckhead.

Contributing Writers Jennifer Bradley Wendell Brock H.M. Cauley Bret Love Gregory D. McCluney Kirsten Ott Palladino Elsa K. Simcik Giannina Smith Margaret Watters Contributing Photographers Renee Brock T.J. Hart Alli Royce Soble Sara Speert Graphic Designers Ellen R. Harden/El Design Grayce E. Clark Copy Editor Ellen Glass Editorial Assistants Olivia Batty Aileen Peachman

///Proud sponsor of: 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.

Copyright © 2011 by Simply Buckhead. All rights reserved. Printed by Walton Press, Inc. Distributed by Distributech, Network Communications, Inc., and Distribution Services Group.

Simply Buckhead is a member of the Buckhead Business Association and the Georgia Restaurant Association.

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

a

T a s t eo f

B UCK H EAD B USI N E S S 2011 Platinum Sponsors

Featuring 50+ Buckhead businesses and 20 top Buckhead restaurants!

Presented by the Buckhead Business Association Our mission is to promote and develop business in Buckhead, and to facilitate participation in charitable and community service projects within the community.

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TIME 5:30pm-8:30pm

5:30-6:00 Registration and Cash Bar EXPO doors open at 6:00 PM

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Purchase advance tickets online at

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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/// EDITOR’S LETTER

R

oad trips are one of my top-10 joys in life. I love piling suitcases into the car (somehow my husband always makes them fit), popping in a good CD, opening the sunroof and hitting the highway. My mood is especially light if my entire family—including my toddler and dog—are coming too. Yes, it means more stops (have to find gas stations with large patches of grass for our pooch) and more noise (Baby Einstein isn’t exactly a mellow vacation soundtrack), but it also means we’re all headed in the same direction instead of a million different ones. And really, isn’t that the whole point?

In this issue of Simply Buckhead, we’ve packed our pages with drivable destinations you and your family will love. North Georgia wineries, Asheville bed and breakfasts, Amelia Island escapes … and many more. We hope these stories will inspire you to hit the road with your favorite people and return with fantastic tales and tips of your own.

If you take an especially memorable trip, send me an email—we may share your experience in an upcoming issue.

Also in these pages, we break down the top Atlanta festivals of the summer, explore the coolest Buckhead consignment shops, introduce you to Chastain Art Center’s living legend and much more.

Happy reading, and enjoy your summer. I’ll see you on the road!

Allison Weiss Entrekin

/// CORRECTIONS ///

770.735.1210

Owned by: Ron & Jody Rathgeb

110 Rathgeb Trail, Jasper, GA 30143 sharpmountainvineyards.com

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

In our March/April issue, photography of Always Saturday should have been credited to Michele Reed Photography (www.michelereedphotography.com).

Also in that issue, the photos from the Pets and the Sit-y fundraiser at Nancy G’s should have been credited to Sherry Conklin Photography.

We regret the errors.

S I M P LY BUC K H E A D | M A Y / J U N E 2 0 1 1

Letters As the owner of two Vizslas, I very much enjoyed the last issue of Simply Buckhead. But I enjoyed it even more because of the feature on Buckhead Heritage. I am glad to see a publication on the scene that puts a highlight on Buckhead’s charitable organizations.

So many publications put emphasis on the parties but give short shrift to the underlying mission of the organizations.

Your magazine is a welcome change.

Keep up the good work!

—Wright Mitchell, Buckhead Heritage Society Kudos on great articles and a hot new publication.

—Paige Dohoney, Woof Gang Bakery You do a great job with this publication. I find it very visually appealing.

—Dr. Gedaliah Genin, Gedaliah Healing Arts What a great March/April 2011 issue. I am an avid “hold-it-and-readit reader.” Keep up the valuable work you and your team do. The community loves their own local newspapers and periodicals.

—Toni Moceri Knopf, Moceri Management Thank you again for the feature [on me]. I got a few more calls. One woman is now coming for polarity sessions and joined my yoga class. Turned out she works in the building next door to me and never knew I was there! How crazy is that…

—Eleanora Lipton, Atlanta Polarity Center I love the look and feel of your magazine! Here is a funny thing—last week my wife and I got a new 12-week-old

FREE MARCH/APRIL 2011 Issue #03

Local bloggers share the city’s best for your two- and four-legged babies. Page 42

the

p e t s & k i d s issue

Plus Frugal fitness:

4 places to get healthy

free

Raise your glass to Buckhead’s

top wine shops

Labradoodle puppy, and last night we were looking for pet-friendly places to eat and bring him. Sadly, our options were Chipotle and … I think that is really all we found. Then, I am thumbing through your magazine to find petfriendly places in Buckhead! You saved the day! Now the wife is happy and the puppy is happy and I doubt we will ever eat anywhere else for the first year of this little dog’s life. Ha! —Eric Rader, Mighty 8th Media Hi Joanne, I look forward to meeting you! I met with Jessica recently and she is fabulous! Looking forward to meeting you soon and promoting Simply Buckhead; it’s a great publication. You should be very proud of all your efforts!

Great team!

—Patricia McGoldrick, Millionaires Concierge So exciting to hear that the magazine is doing well and continuing to expand, especially in this day and age! … I am really looking forward to reading

FROM OUR “TWEET”HEARTS! Follow us @SimplyBuckhead Just checked out the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead & I love the layout and articles. So chic and fresh.

Thanks for sharing.

—katiefarnan Congrats on the new issue. It is awesome! Keep up the great work.

—TreyWill959 Via @BlayneBeacham: The @SimplyBuckhead article looks great! I love our neighborhood!

—sstreettcook I love Allison’s interview with her pooch, Dexter!

—dwellensteinart Where I shop is in here! CityDog Market!

—BigManLittleBoy I was disappointed that you left Peachtree Hills Wine Merchant out of pets/kids issue @SimplyBuckhead.

Would’ve fit in your wine feature!

—TARAMICHELLE We are so excited for our director of marketing @BlayneBeacham. Her home is featured in this month’s @SimplyBuckhead.

—BeachamREALTORS through hard copies of the magazine (especially after glancing through the current issue digitally!) and sharing with the rest of our office.

—Tim Monaghan, Alice Marshall Public Relations

/// LETTER BOX ///

Tell us what you think! Send your comments, compliments and criticisms to editor@simplybuckhead.com. All letters will be considered for publication and may be edited for length and clarity.

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

EVENTS | LOCAL MUSIC | LOCAL SALUTE

Simply Now Culture close to home Now in its second year, the Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival May 14 and 15 showcases the works of mostly local artists.

Page 13

The Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival takes place in Chastain Park. Chieu Lee Photography May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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a l t n t A a ’ s y l B e p st Place to PLAY! m i S Feature Exhibits From Here to Timbuktu: A Journey Through West Africa Open for Play through May 30 TEAM Up! Explore Science & Sports June 11 – September 11, 2011 Once Upon a Time...

Exploring the World of Fairy Tales Coming October 2, 2011

Explorer Camp – June & July Party Celebrations – All Year Long!

www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org 12

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY N OW E VE NTS

/// FREE EVENT ///

Escape to Bennett Street Because some good gallery hopping can cure any attitude

The Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival boasts local artists, live music, kids’ activities, and food and drink vendors.

Chieu Lee Photography

/// FEATURED EVENT /// BUCKHEAD SPRING ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL AT CHASTAIN PARK May 14-15 4469 Stella Drive NW Atlanta 30327 404.845.0793 www.buckheadartsfestival.com

Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival

Local artists bring new flavor to Atlanta’s summer sene Patrick Dennis’ experiences as both a festival attendee and an artist have taught him that sometimes the best thing to do is keep it simple. May 14 and 15, the Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival promises just that—a summer weekend full of eye-catching, thought-provoking art but ix-nay on a circus-sized event. Now in its second year, this free festival boasts fine arts and crafts from 150 vendors, helpful volunteers (they’re artists too!) and activities for the kiddos, including inflatable fun.

Dennis, the founder and director of the festival and an artist and gallery owner himself, brings a fresh perspective to organizing an arts festival in Atlanta.

“There are so many festivals where local artists can’t get in,” he says. “There’s nothing more disturbing

We all have them—the slow drum days when you stare at the blank wall…and need an escape. Maybe you Google flights or pledge to do more out-of-the-box exploring in town. Start with an art escape at the Bennett Street galleries. One of these galleries, Anne Irwin Fine Art, opens “Tale of Two Cities” June 17 at 6 p.m. The show will explore both Paris and Atlanta from the canvases of artists like Danny McCaw, Barbara Flowers and Brian Blood, among others.

Sybil Wornall of Anne Irwin says the idea for the show was rooted in practicality—their clients love Paris and Atlanta. And really now, what’s not to love? Make a night of it and continue down Bennett Street for an expanded view of the city; many galleries keep extended hours during the summer.

— Margaret Watters “TALE OF TWO CITIES” June 17-July 6 Anne Irwin Fine Art 25-D Bennett Street NW Atlanta 30309 404.352.1855 www.anneirwinfineart.com

to me. …We have extraordinary Georgia artists to show.” Dennis says last year more than 50 percent of their artists were local, but this year they’re expecting to hit 80 or 90 percent. Other changes from last year include live acoustic music from Atlanta strummers and drummers and an iPhone app that boasts a searchable artist index (because honestly, who can keep track of all those cards?). This year’s proceeds will benefit the Chastain Dog Park campaign, which raises funds to establish a leash-free area within Chastain Park.

Look for the festival at Chastain Park, near the amphitheatre, horse barn and golf course. The festival encourages attendees to park in the red and blue lots. — Margaret Watters

Detail from Barbara Flowers, “Paris Colors on a Cold Day.” Anne Irwin Fine Art

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY N OW E VE NTS

/// LOCAL MUSIC ///

Members of the band Modern Skirt. Jacquelyne Pierson

Modern Skirts & Of Montreal Two of Athens’ best bands bound for Buckhead

By Bret Love

When R.E.M. released its 15th studio album in March, nationwide attention was drawn to the musical mecca that is Athens, Ga. Now, two of the Classic City’s brightest young bands are descending on the Buckhead Theatre, reminding Atlanta fans of the eclectic artistry that makes Ath-

/// FAMILY-FRIENDLY ///

ens unique.

The Modern Skirts have been earning critical accolades since 2005, gaining praise from outlets like Paste and NPR. After R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills cited them as his favorite Athens band, he went on to produce their second album, 2008’s All Of Us In Our Night.

Now, in support of their new CD, Gramahawk, the band is touring with Of Montreal, the Athens indie-rock icons known for incorporating everything from Vaudeville influences to Afrobeat into their sound. Modern

Skirts pianist/guitarist/vocalist JoJo Glidewell says he couldn’t be happier.

“My roommate plays in Of Montreal, so I’ve gotten to know them, and it’s inspiring to see the way they work together,” he says. “It’s a bunch of really talented, creative people pouring everything into making something really remarkable.”

The same could be said of Athens itself, and Glidewell is obviously proud to call the city home. “I believe that, per capita, it’s the most vibrant and fertile creative community in the world,” he says. “There are just an unimaginable

MODERN SKIRTS & OF MONTREAL May 20, 2011; 8 p.m.

The Buckhead Theatre 3110 Roswell Road Atlanta 30305 404.843.2825 www.thebuckheadtheatre.com

number of brilliant, bizarre, original, inspired ideas happening all around you. There are many more truly great bands still to come out of Athens.”

Your little wordsmith Hone your kid’s creative writing skills at the Margaret Mitchell House

This year is Gone with the Wind’s 75th year in print; what classics could be mulling in your little one’s head? Photos courtesy of Margaret Mitchell House

If your preteen loves scribbling tall tales about the strict math teacher’s demise by vampire attack, you may have a creative writer on your hands. Cultivate your tween’s talent and drop off your budding author (ages 10 to 14) at the Atlanta History Center’s Margaret Mitchell House Summer Camp, where he or she will receive individualized creative writing coaching with 10 to 15 like-minded students. For one week (from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday), kids will learn techniques like stream-

MARGARET MITCHELL HOUSE CREATIVE WRITING SUMMER CAMPS One-week camps run from June 6 - July 29 990 Peachtree Street Atlanta 30309 404.249.7015 www.margaretmitchellhouse.com

of-consciousness, journaling and freeverse poetry in a fun atmosphere that’s less desk, more explore. Camp season kicks off June 6 with the “Mystery in the

City: On the Case” camp, where kids are given clues to a case that takes them on morning field trips to spark inspiration for their tales of intrigue. Other session themes include character development, playwriting, art criticism and sci-fi. Each session wraps with a writer’s showcase on the last day of camp—be sure to have them autograph their work. (It might be worth something one day!) Camp is $325 per week for Atlanta History Center members, $375 for nonmembers.

— Margaret Watters

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY N OW

///LOCAL SALUTE///

From real estate to the real world Local businessman helps sustain and promote innovative inner-city program

Craig Viergever

Buckhead businessman Craig Viergever has long volunteered with a number of Atlanta charities, but nothing ever really stuck until he encountered Bright Futures. “I met [Bright Futures founder] Philip Ross, and we just clicked,” says Viergever, a founding partner with Lee & Associates commercial real estate firm. “All you have to do is meet him and see the facility, and the kids sell themselves.”

Bright Futures is a nonprofit in Atlanta’s Westside. Graduation rates in the area lag at 43.5 percent, and as a result of the continuing poverty cycle, many kids struggle both academically and socially. Ross and his wife, Gail, started the organization in 2005 after seeing the lack of resources available to these youth. The Christian-based afterschool program continues throughout the weekend and on holiday breaks with field trips and getaways. The center offers tutoring, mentorship, college counseling and SAT prep and recently expanded to include a school, Bright Futures Academy.

Viergever acts as a volunteer Chairman of the Board. In the job, he works to raise both awareness of the organization and money to support its efforts. With the addition of Bright Futures Academy, he is now putting his 23 years of commercial real estate expertise into practice as he scouts locations for the school. For Viergever, who has a daughter the same age as many of the kids, the academy is a very real necessity. “I can tell you, from her public school to theirs, these kids are at least two grades behind,” he says. He acts with a business brain for the organization, helping it grow but with calculated choices that allow the Rosses to continue doing what they do best—taking care of the Bright Futures family. “The effect Craig has had is incredible,” Ross says. For more information, visit www.bfatl.org.

— Margaret Watters

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

The greening of Buckhead “Are you familiar with the area where Mountain Way goes under 400?” Livable Buckhead Executive Director Denise Starling asks.

“Well, that’s owned by the Georgia Department of Transportation, and that’s going to be a park.” Sterling’s organization has the teeth to make it happen—Livable Buckhead is a five-month-old organization commissioned by the Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association to find unused land and make it useful. Its mission is to integrate community with sustainability while tackling two major issues for Buckhead—creating a unified recycling program and fulfilling the 166-acre green space initiative.

To understand the need for Livable Buckhead, one must understand the area’s past. Thirty years ago, Buckhead was a suburb, but it has since exploded into an urban community. The change happened so quickly, Starling says, that a lot of

urban infrastructure and planning got left behind in the building race.

In fact, the entire Buckhead population shares less greenspace than one city of Atlanta resident has (when you divide the city’s greenspace by its number of residents).

“We’re looking to make the community a better place to live and work,” Starling says. “That’s all rooted in sustainability.” And she’s not just talking about environmental sustainability—she’s talking about economic sustainability, too. Things like parks (and the festivals and concert series that come with them) aren’t just good for the earth; they’re good for business. “These are things that make the community sustainable but turn into dollars,” Starling says. “They’ll turn Buckhead into something that’s attractive to the next generation, the 20-somethings, when they look for a place to live.” For more information, visit www.livablebuckhead.com.

Livable Buckhead works to make the neighborhood a better place to live, work and play

— Margaret Watters

Nourishing disaster zones In 2006, Buckhead resident Lara Hodgson was at Hartsfield, juggling her bags and a hungry, shrieking baby up launches boy. While begging him for silence, mom-friendly she balanced his baby bottle in her arm and struggled to open a water product bottle while tearing open a packet of and doesn’t baby formula with her teeth. Hearing her retell the story, perhaps all too wait to start familiar to many mothers, is enough to make your own chest tense with giving back stress. “When babies get hungry, it’s not like, ‘Hey mom, I’m going to be hungry in about 15 minutes, you should probably start the assembly process,’” Hodgson laughs.

“No, no. It’s fast and it’s loud.”

An idea sparked and four years later, Nourish was Buckhead resident Lara Hodgson says her company, Nourish, isn’t just selling water; it’s born. Hodgson selling peace of mind. Its tagline? “Nourish and her business your most precious resources—your chilpartner Stacey dren, time, health and our world.”

Abrams began Courtesy of Nourish distributing their formula-ready (exactly 8-ounce) filtered baby-water bottles in airports and small boutiques across the counLocal start-

try. The Buckhead-based company filled a void in the market and later expanded to include a line of toddler-size, spill-proof, dirt-blocking water bottles. From day one, the company was based on giving back.

“We weren’t just going to wait until we were profitable,” Hodgson says.

They started by giving locally, distributing water to Genesis Shelter downtown and to flood victims in Cobb County. But then the earthquake shook Haiti and the world that watched. The idea to send the bottles to Haiti came from a customer who wanted to buy a few cases and send them along. Nourish found a partner, Childspring International, and has sent more than 5,000 bottles of clean, filtered water to Haiti since.

“We were thinking little; our customers started to think bigger,” Hodgson says. “We’ve said our dream would be to send a million bottles. Not necessarily all to Haiti; there are disasters everywhere and children that lack access to clean water. It may take us 10 years to do it, but we’ll do it.” For more information, visit www.nourish-inc.com.

— Margaret Watters

H O M E | FA S H I O N | W E L L N E S S

Simply Stylish

“We enjoy each other so much, just being around each other, that there are things you can give in on.”

— Republican Molly Dye on her home and life with Democrat George Franklin, story on page 18

An antique footstool and chair from Ernest Gaspard & Associates decorate Molly Dye and George Franklin’s den.. Photos by TJ Hart/hartografie.com May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

17

S IMP LY STY LIS H HOM E

Painted in powder blue, the dining room features two Eva Gordon ceramic fruit plates and an antique silver tea service given to Molly Dye’s parents as a wedding gift.

Photos by TJ Hart/hartografie.com

Stylish settlement A Buckhead townhome combines the differing styles— and opinions— of a dynamic bipartisan couple

By Giannina Smith

18

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

M

olly Dye and George Franklin are a great example of how opposites attract. Dye, a loyal Republican with a Southern accent, and Franklin, a dedicated Democrat who grew up in both Chicago and Tampa, overlooked their dueling political allegiances when they got married. And when it came to renovating their Buckhead townhome, they also found a happy medium between Franklin’s more casual, whimsical style and Dye’s traditional Southern tastes. For example, although Franklin “detests” the tradition of hanging plates on the wall for decoration, he gave Dye the green light to decorate the dining room with two Eva Gordon ceramic fruit plates from her collection.

This kind of compromise continued throughout the renovation process and resulted in a home that combines family antiques and contemporary décor with fanciful touches that hint at the couple’s happy-go-lucky attitudes and respect for one another. Whether they are deciding what to hang on the walls or discussing the state of the union, this rare pair finds a way to voice their differing opinions without letting it affect their happy home. “It’s not some huge peace treaty with us,” Dye says.

“We enjoy each other so much, just being around each other, that there are things you can give in on.”

Dye, 52, and Franklin, 59, met for the first time in 1997 in Washington, D.C., while Franklin was a lobbyist with the Kellogg Co. and Dye served as chief of staff to Georgia’s late Sen. Paul Coverdell. Franklin says he noticed Dye’s Southern drawl—much like his mother’s—and they connected on the fact that both their families were from Augusta. “We had this very animated conversation about family— I’d been to high school with his first cousins and knew his family,” says Dye, now a self-employed government-relations consultant. “George was happily married and there was no follow-up at the time.”

After Franklin’s wife passed away unexpectedly in 2002, he reconnected with Dye in April 2004 while passing through Atlanta. Less than two years after their first date, they were married and currently split their time between Atlanta and Michigan, where Franklin runs a public-affairs company and has a radio show called “Ask the Lobbyist” on 95.3 WBCK-FM. When setting up their Atlanta home, they decided to stay in Howell Mill Plantation, a townhome community in Buckhead where Dye had lived for many years, and move into a larger unit across the street. “We wanted something bigger and we thought, let’s start over instead of living in her past or living in my past,” Franklin says.

Upon closing on the three-bedroom, three-bath home in August 2008, they hired Esther McMaster Andrew of Esther Ashe Designs, whose home they had seen on the Cathedral of St. Philips Tour of Homes in 2007. They admired Andrew’s ability to combine sophisticated antiques with fun, trendy accents and wanted her to translate that into their own home. “When I went into their home, the house was dated and it was dark,” Andrew recalls.

“They wanted something fresh and a little more transitional.”

In November 2008, the renovation team began by completely gutting the home. Dye and Franklin replaced the yellowish oak floors with a dark chocolate wood and converted the downstairs bedroom into an open den. They also transformed the downstairs bathroom into a quaint powder room by concealing the tub with a seat cushion and throw pillows and adding an antique sink from J. Tribble and antique sconces from Jerry Pair Antiques. The most notable aspect of the powder room, however, is the wall of old, black-and-white family photos in antique frames. “Both of them really have a strong affection for the legacy of their families,” Andrew says. “That was a nice thing to give it a touch of who they are.”

Dye and Franklin (with Andrew’s help) also completely redid the kitchen, exchanging the 1970s-style, dark cabinets with prefabricated ones painted in Farrow and Ball’s Hardwick White. To make the best use of light, they also broke out a wall and added stylish double arches leading to the dining room, as well as a coffered ceiling above the breakfast table. The table itself was brought down from Franklin’s lake house in Michigan—much to Dye’s chagrin. In the end, the couple leaned on their designer for the final word in many decorating decisions. “[The breakfast table] was the one thing she didn’t want brought in from the lake house,” Franklin says with a smirk. “There was room for it and it was the first thing that came off the moving truck. Esther said, unprompted, ‘That table will work.’”

The dining room was also an important aspect of the redesign. Painted in a fanciful Farrow and Ball Powder Blue, the room contains traditional furniture pieces—Dye’s mother’s table and chairs—to create an ideal space for entertaining. Other adornments include a silver tea service and candelabras that were given to Dye’s parents as a wedding gift. “I am of the era and the ilk where you save all your antiques and you pass your antiques down, so I really wanted to use my mother’s and grandmother’s things,” Dye says.

Although Andrew and Dye influenced many of the decorating decisions, Franklin had complete veto power over the décor of the converted front den, which was designated as his “man cave.” “George got to choose and approve anything that went into the den,” Dye says. “My grandmother Continued >>

George Franklin and Molly Dye cook in their kitchen, which was redone in cabinets painted in Farrow and Ball’s Hardwick White. TJ Hart/hartografie.com

A desk in the living room showcases crystal candlesticks and a sculpture called “The Passion,” which George gave Molly as a Christmas present. TJ Hart/hartografie.com

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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taught me that every man needs his own room and space in any home.”

Furnished in a plush chair from Ernest Gaspard & Associates and an antique footstool that was a wedding present to Dye’s grandmother in 1931, the den is adorned with Franklin’s family memorabilia. A 1949 photo of the Augusta National Golf Club’s Jamboree features Franklin’s Uncle Jerome, one of the original founders of the Augusta National Golf Club, and famous golfer Bobby Jones.

The overhaul wasn’t all fun and games, however. Dye describes the experience of working with her chosen contractor—who is now out of business—as “frustrating” after the remodel took almost a year to complete. “We did not know contractors in this area.

We asked for bids from two and took the low bid and got the low bid,” Dye says.

After working through all the trials and tribulations, Dye and Franklin finally moved into their home in July 2008. Today, they love hosting dinner parties and spend most of their time in Franklin’s den, the breakfast room or the kitchen. Avid readers, they also enjoy sitting by the living room fireplace during the winter months with a book or the newspaper—many times discussing the actions of their respective political parties. But in both politics and home décor, Dye and Franklin are able to find a happy medium.

While most of Dye’s beloved decorative plates are still hidden in the cabinet, two remain on the wall—and the couple’s renovated home stands as a place where they both feel they have a presence and an opinion.

Molly Dye and George Franklin give their top tips for home renovations •

•

•

“Check out the experience of a contractor,” Dye says. “Talk to people who’ve worked with them and make sure they’ve worked at the caliber you’re expecting them to work at.”

“When choosing a decorator, consider their people skills and what they are like to work with,” Franklin says. “They may be wonderful decorators, but if they are difficult to work with, it takes all the fun out of it. That is what we enjoyed so much with Esther—because we all got along so well it made the job fun.”

“Paint big poster boards or foam boards with your possible paint colors and put them up on the wall,” Dye says. “Don’t just do a small sample. See how the painted poster paper looks in different lighting throughout the day … this is something Esther taught us.”

S IMP LY STY LIS H W E L L N E SS

Fresh from the farm

Community Supported Agriculture brings locally produced food to your table

By Jennifer Bradley

after relationships found in natural ecologies) and biodynamics (which focuses on developing healthy soil to eliminate the need for chemical additives). Heirloom varieties of fruits, vegetables, mushFARMER JEFF’S rooms, herbs and HEIRLOOM flowers are his PRODUCE specialty, and the Drop-off on result is often a Wednesdays product that looks from 1-7 p.m. different from Cacao what you might 2817 Peachtree find on the superRoad NE market shelves.

Atlanta 30305 “I grow eggplant, www.farmerjeff. but you won’t find com in your box some404.985.6422 thing big, purple and tasteless,” says Collins. “Expect a mix of great-tasting fruit or vegetables and a few with unusual shapes or color.” The cost is $18.50 per week for the 20-week season, and members receive a box of five to six items of the freshest produce available from the farm, ideal for a family of two or three.

I

t’s no secret that most of the produce found at the grocery store hails from thousands of miles away—which means you’ll never know who grew it or what kind of farming practices they use. But if finding locally grown items on supermarket shelves feels like a wild-goose chase, it’s time to develop a relationship with a local farmer. Enter Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs, which allow you to invest in a nearby farm; in return, you’ll receive a share of food each week in a mutually beneficial relationship. By receiving funds up front to invest in the land, the farmer is able to implement labor-intensive organic farming practices, and you can rest in the knowledge that your food is fresh, seasonal and environmentally sustainable. Simply Buckhead rounded up just a few of the farms bringing produce to town: Riverview Farms Riverview Farms in Ranger, Ga., (an hour northeast of Buckhead) grows certified organic vegetables like corn, cucumbers, peas, peppers, tomatoes, melons and blueRIVERVIEW berries. It also FARMS offers Berkshire Drop-off on pork and grassSaturdays 8-11:30 fed beef; grass-fed a.m. cows have 75 perMorningside cent more healthy Farmers Market omega-3 fatty 1393 North Highacids than their land Avenue NE grain-fed counAtlanta 30306 terparts. Farmer www.grassfedCharlotte Swancy cow.com says that being a part of a CSA can help you live spontaneously. “There is an element of surprise each week, and fun in the kitchen experimenting with new veggies you won’t find in a typical grocery store,” she explains, citing pattypan summer squash, garlic scapes and kohlrabi as examples. Meat shares starting at 10 pounds per month (sixmonth minimum) are available for $68 per month; produce shares are $25$30 a week.

Serenbe Farms sells a variety of fruits and vegetables through its CSA program, with a pickup location in Morningside. Photos courtesy of Serenbe

Serenbe Just south of Atlanta, tucked into an idyllic community in Palmetto, Serenbe offers an upscale getaway from the city. A lesser-known fact is that this inn and residential community operates a thriving farm and a CSA program, now in its sixth year. Farm manager Paige Witherington extols the benefits of eating locally, saying, “Aside from supSERENBE porting the local economy and beDrop-off on Tuesdays 3-6:30 p.m. ing environmentally conscious, 675 Greystone Park NE there’s a notice(Morningside) able difference Atlanta 30324 in the flavor and www.serenbevariety of produce farms.com that you just can’t get at the super-

market.” Full shares with weekly pickups ($25.50 per week) are perfect for families who cook regularly, and half shares with pickups every other week ($30 per pickup), are recommended for families on the go or who travel frequently. Share boxes can be up to 22 pounds per week (filled with peppers, okra, radishes, herbs, lettuce, greens, squash, blueberries and more), with a minimum five-week commitment, and CSA members have access to fresh weekly recipes on the Serenbe blog.

Farmer Jeff’s Heirloom Produce Nestled on three acres of land in Orchard Hill, Ga. (50 miles south of Atlanta), farmer Jeff Collins’ farm combines the practices of organics, permaculture (which models farming

Did you know? n According to a recent report by the USDA, less than 20 cents of every dollar spent on food goes to the farm that grew it. n In the United States, produce in the average supermarket travels at least 1,500 miles. n The transportation of food is one of the biggest drains of fossil fuel in the United States.

Eating food that’s in season near your home alleviates the need for food to travel far to reach your table. n Local Harvest (www. localharvest.org) is an organization that connects communities with their local farmers.

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

21

S IMP LY STY LIS H FAS HION

Reduce, reuse and refashion Exploring Buckhead’s consignment boutiques

I

high-end bridal and special-occasion wear. The staff takes pride in handling dresses with care, giving each one the white-glove treatment. Rivini, Monique Lhuillier, Anne Barge, Casablanca, Melissa Sweet, Priscilla of Boston and Lazaro are among the popular brands available at Le Dress, some of them overstock and others shipped directly from the designers.

Owner Linda Morado also accepts “once-loved” dresses (worn one time), as long as they’re in pristine condition. She recently had a stunning once-loved $10,000 Carolina Herrera lace gown available for $3,000. As a general rule, brand-new gowns tend to be about 40 percent off retail and once-loved dresses up to 70 percent off, which is nothing to sneeze at for a bride on a budget.

By Jennifer Bradley

f bargain hunting is your sport of choice, Buckhead’s array of terrific consignment shops offers the ideal playing field. Whether you’re looking to score a new wardrobe on a budget or bag a vintage trophy piece, here are Simply Buckhead’s consignment store picks, brimming with good-as-new finds to fill the gaps in your closet.

For Bargain Hunters When Nancy Scalera left a lucrative corporate marketing job to open B Chic Atlanta in 2007, she wanted to offer women an opportunity to dress well on a budget. “I chose consignment because I learned early on that you can buy designer clothing at very affordable prices,” she says. “And I have a good eye for a well-made piece.” Tucked in a tiny shopping center on Roswell Road, the store regularly carries clothes and accessories from brands like Theory, Diane Von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Prada and more, all carefully curated by Scalera.

Recently found: a St. John jacket on B. Chic’s racks selling for $299, with an original retail price of $1,200.

B Chic Atlanta 3277 Roswell Road NE, Suite A Atlanta 30305 404.844.2442 www.bchicatlanta.com For Pint-Sized Fashion Plates If your little ones seem to outgrow their clothes as soon as you buy them, consignment shopping might be just the ticket. Gap, Carter’s, Tommy Hilfiger and The Children’s Place are just a few of the brands represented at Sweet Repeats in Miami Circle, and savvy moms can pick up deals at roughly half the retail price. The store carries everything from newborn sizes to size 16 for girls and 20 for boys, with many pieces barely worn or even

22

Left: Le Dress Boutique offers “once-loved” wedding dresses for as much as 70 percent off the original price; right: Nancy Scalera, owner of B Chic Atlanta.

Quick-Start Guide to Turning Your Discards into Cash •

• • •

Plan ahead: Call to find out when a local consignment shop is accepting pieces for an upcoming season. Many stores have set times to take clothes that will be weather-appropriate.

Call ahead to make an appointment, if required.

Have clothes on hangers and in “sale-ready” condition.

Know the policy on items that have not sold. Some shops require you to pick up unsold items, while others are happy to donate them to a local thrift shop.

with tags still on. Lilly Pulitzer items are some of the most in-demand and can be purchased for as low as $25 apiece at Sweet Repeats.

Sweet Repeats 800 Miami Circle NE #120

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Atlanta 30324 404.261.7519 www.sweetrepeatsatlanta.com For the Bride Le Dress, on Piedmont at the intersection of Peachtree, specializes in

Le Dress Boutique 3255 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 6 Atlanta 30305 404.842.1955 www.ledressboutique.com For the Designer Junkie Backstreet Boutique is tucked away in a cozy old home on a quaint side street in Buckhead. Proprietress Joey McCraw only accepts highend designer women’s wear, with the lion’s share of her stock Chanel and St. John clothing. McCraw also sells Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin heels, as well as Gucci and Louis Vuitton handbags. Most items are offered for about 10 percent of the original retail price, so an Armani suit that retailed for $3,000 at a department store will likely set you back only $300.

Backstreet 3140 East Shadowlawn Avenue Atlanta 30305 404.262.7783

A RT V I E W | O N S TA G E | L I T E R A RY

Simply Arts&Entertainment

Art View

“His classes are always the first to fill up, and then there’s usually a waiting list.”

— Chastain Arts Center Director Karen Comer Lowe, speaking about oil-painting instructor Philip Carpenter. Page 28

Philip Carpenter, an oil-painting instructor at Chastain Arts Center, assists student Carolyn Wade. Photo by Alli Royce Soble May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

23

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S IMP LY A & E L IT E RA RY

Bookhead babies Storytime at the Buckhead Library delights children and parents alike

By Kirsten Ott Palladino

BUCKHEAD LIBRARY (Ida Williams Branch)

B

right-eyed babies and curious tots soak in the tales told during storytimes at the Children’s Center in the Buckhead Library.

Held four times a week for different age groups, these reading sessions are the highlights of Children’s Librarian Eileen Slough’s job. “Moms, dads and nannies bring the babies in,” says Slough, who has been a children’s librarian for more than 20 years and has spent the last three at the Buckhead Library. “We do simple stories with very colorful illustration, so even if they don’t understand the story, they’re seeing the bright colors and getting used to reading.”

This concept is called “reading readiness,” Slough explains. “We think [children] should start very early; we’ve had [children] as young as 3 months come to our storytime. My theory is that fostering reading readiness promotes a quicker maturity in

*

269 Buckhead Avenue Atlanta 30305 404.814.3500 Storytime Schedule: n Babies 3 months to 1 year: Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. n 1-year-olds: Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. n 2-year-olds: Tuesdays at 11 a.m. n 3- to 5-year-olds: Tuesdays at 11:45 a.m.

Eileen Slough, children’s librarian at the Buckhead Library, reads to toddlers.

Sara Speert Photography/www.saraphotography.com

the child—it helps in their ability to listen and absorb information.” Apparently, parents agree; an average of

70 children attend the sessions each week.

Storytime isn’t just about reading,

though. Slough utilizes songs, scarves, plastic letters and puppets to illustrate the books she’s introducing to her young guests. Each storytime is followed by about half an hour of socializing. All the storytime programs are free, but, of course, the library encourages caregivers to get a free library card, and children can have their own, too.

Reading Recommendations Worth Noting

names in the A few Atlantabook scene: children’s sey, author N Calvin A. Ram reen Book.

G of Ruth and the dy, author of N Carmen Dee gon and The The Library Dra b.

Secret of Old Ze trator us ill , te hi N Michael P. W Dragon and of The Library ld Zeb. The Secret of O

from Eileen Slough, children’s librarian at the Buckhead Library Up to 2 years old: • Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle. “It has great illustrations that grab the attention of the very young children – the restless ones.”

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.

“This is a classic with great illustrations.”

• Spot the Dog series by Eric Hill. “They’re what we call toy books. It invites participation, and I add my own repetition by asking, ‘Where is Spot?’”

Ages 2 to 3: • Planting a Rainbow

by Lois Ehlert. “They learn about gardening in a very simple but wonderful story.”

• Five Little Chicks by Nancy Tafuri. “All of her books, and this one especially, have big, beautiful illustrations and very simple text for the very young children.”

• Have You Seen My Duckling? by Nancy Tafuri. “Even though the illustrations are big and beautiful, they are realistic.”

Ages 3 to 5: • My Chincoteague Pony

by Susan Jeffers. “It’s wonderful and touching and based on a true story.”

Kindergarteners beginning to read on their own: • Biscuit Storybook Collection by Alyssa Satin Capucilli and Pat Schories. “This has an engaging character with simple text—good for the beginning reader.”

• Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant.

“The storylines are excellent: touching and cute.”

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY A & E A RT VIE W

Philip Carpenter, a longtime painting instructor at Chastain Arts Center, works with student Leigh Slingluff. Photo by Alli Royce Soble

The art of instruction For more than 30 years, Chastain Arts Center’s Philip Carpenter has fostered creativity in students

By H.M. Cauley

P

hilip Carpenter’s love affair with art goes back to his childhood, when his mother first took him to an artist’s studio every Saturday morning for lessons. From those genteel beginnings, Carpenter’s fondness for art grew into a passion that he’s shared with students at the Chastain Arts Center in Buckhead for more than 30 years.

28

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

“I remembering clearly going to these classes in the artist’s backyard, and she started us with pastels,” recalls Carpenter, 61, who grew up in Alabama. “By the time I got to college, I knew that art was what I did best.”

Carpenter graduated in 1972 from Auburn with an art degree, and went on to grad school at the University of Alabama.

But instead of embarking on an artist’s

life, Carpenter taught college art classes for several years. He didn’t give it up until 1978, when he and his partner headed to Atlanta without jobs or prospects but with an undeniable passion for art.

“I burned my bridge to college teaching,” says Carpenter with a laugh, “yet I’ve taught ever since.”

Most of that instruction has taken place at the city’s arts center next to Chastain

Park, where Carpenter has been on the Carpenter pencil drawing in her office. staff since 1980. “I didn’t know anyone “The students love that they can learn when I first went over there and just so much from him and really see their asked if I could teach,” he says. “And work progressing. His classes are alI’ve been there ever since. I even have ways the first to fill up, and then there’s one student with me now who was in usually a waiting list.” my first class—and that was more than Yet Carpenter is modest about his 30 years ago.” abilities. “Frankly, I don’t Carpenter works with CHASTAIN ARTS think I’m a great, inspiring more than 70 students in CENTER teacher,” he says. “I’ve had the seven classes he leads 135 W. Wieuca Road some of those and I’m not each week. The age and skill Atlanta 30342 one of them. But I am very levels of his pupils vary, from 404.252.2927 accommodating; when I’m those in their early 20s who with a student, I’m with www.ocaatlanta.com/ have never held a brush to chastain-arts-center that person. My interaction seniors in their 90s who is one-on-one, and people have been painting for years. really appreciate that.”

Among some of his former students Outside the classroom, Carpenter’s are names art lovers may recognize, in- own work revolves around painting cluding Virginia Parker, Gary Bodner “ordinary” objects—flowers, tools and and portrait painter Leah Henry. most recently, toys. “I’ve even done a “I’ve grown to like it as much as art,” series of paintings of people holdsays Carpenter of instructing. “When ing paintings,” he says. “I like putting they’re young, many artists resent the things together like that. I love copytime they have to spend teaching, but ing and always want to include other as you get older, you realize that’s what works in my own. I think I have a you really like. I like being with people knack for mimicking other artists.” and being appreciated; I’d be lost withA sampling of Carpenter’s works is out that.” on display at Marcia Wood Gallery in Carpenter’s eye for detail and ex- Atlanta’s Castleberry Hill neighborecution, coupled with an approachable hood. But don’t look for a vast collecstyle, makes him one of the center’s tion. “As a result of teaching painting,” most sought-after instructors. “He’s Carpenter says, “you don’t really want extremely talented,” says center direc- to paint!” tor Karen Comer Lowe, who has a Philip Carpenter poses with one of his oils, a portrait of Savannah artist Betsy Cain, which he painted in 1986.

Alli Royce Soble

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S IMP LY A & E ON STAGE

Summer enchantment A sneak peek at Georgia Shakespeare’s summer lineup, featuring plenty of plum female roles

By Wendell Brock

I

n 1997, Georgia Shakespeare moved from a tent on the grounds of Oglethorpe University to the newly constructed Conant Performing Arts Center. The inaugural production, “The Tempest,” was a celebration of new beginnings and the transformative power of art. In a bit of inspired casting, Atlanta actress Janice Akers played Prospero, the exiled—and male—Duke of Milan.

Fast forward to this summer. When Producing Artistic Director Richard Garner decided to open the theater’s 26th season with the Bard’s stormtossed romance, he had no plans to repeat his Prospero trick.

Until Atlanta actor Carolyn Cook came to audition, that is.

Cook—a veteran actress who speaks French, founded Théâtre du Rêve and looks a little like the Francophone British film star Kristen Scott Thomas—caught the attention of guest director Sharon Ott, who is staging “The Tempest.” Ott, a prominent West Coast director who now teaches at the Savannah College of Art and Design, was so smitten with Cook’s emotion-

GEORGIA SHAKESPEARE 4484 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30319 404.264.0020 www.gashakespeare.org

ally devastating Prospero that she persuaded Garner to change his mind.

Now Georgia Shakespeare’s summer repertoire is shaping up to be a big year for women.

Tess Malis Kincaid—who recently appeared in the Alliance Theatre production of Tracy Lett’s “August: Osage County” along with Cook—will play the doomed Egyptian queen in Shakespeare’s “Antony and Cleopatra.”

And Cook will return as Dotty Otley, the doofus, sardine-slinging British housekeeper who wreaks havoc in the Michael Frayn farce “Noises Off !”

Over breakfast one recent morning, Garner walked Simply Buckhead through his female-powered summer line-up: n “The Tempest.” June 8-July 23 “We launched the building with Continued >>

Sharon Bailey (left) and Alice Murray (right), longtime Georgia Shakespeare subscribers, enjoy the outdoor revelry before a summer show. Donna Weber

In a nifty feat of casting, Atlanta actress Carolyn Cook plays the role of Prospero in “The Tempest,” which opens Georgia Shakespeare’s summer season June 8. (Cook is shown here as Beatrice in the theater’s 2007 production of “The Servant of Two Masters.”)

Bill DeLoach

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

31

SI MPLY A& E O N STAG E

Drive 2 Survive

Atlanta’s Jim Ellis Dealerships Launch “Drive 2 Survive” Jim Ellis Buick GMC Atlanta and Jim Ellis Buick GMC Mall of Georgia, along with Jason Pullman of 94-9 The Bull, have teamed together to support It’s The Journey, Inc., a charitable organization serving Georgia's breast cancer community by raising money and awareness for education, early detection and support services. The “Drive 2 Survive” promotion will culminate in the presentation of a “PINK” 2011 GMC Terrain to the winning raffle ticket holder next January.

Links to the raffle can also be found at www.2daywalk.org or www.949thebull.com. Raffle tickets are five dollars or supporters can “Do the 2” and get five raffle tickets for twenty dollars.

The pink 2011 GMC Terrain will be on hand for country concerts with 94-9 The Bull, Jim Ellis Buick GMC promotions, training events for It’s The Journey, Inc. and the 2011 Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer on September 24 and 25, 2011 in Atlanta.

Continued from page 31 ‘The Tempest,’ and it sort of seems symbolically a show, a Shakespeare show, that’s about the power of art,” Garner says. Ott, who runs the directing program at SCAD’s Savannah campus, will bring in a scenic designer and lighting designer from the college.

Chris Kayser, known to Atlanta audiences as the Alliance’s Scrooge, will portray the fairy Ariel. n “Antony and Cleopatra.”

June 23-July 22 Garner always thought this juicy tale of the lusty queen who triggered the fall of Rome had some structural problems—what he calls “false endings.” Amlin Gray, a playwright and dramaturge, patched up the script to Garner’s liking and also suggested Kincaid. “He said, ‘You’ve got the best Cleopatra on the planet right here in your company,’” Garner recalls. Kin-

caid, a company regular known for her fierce dramatic chops and biting comedic zing, plays opposite Kayser’s Antony. n “The Jungle Book.” July 5-22 Created by Orlando Shakespeare Theater, this musical version of the Kipling classic will feature some interns and members of Georgia Shakes’ touring group, the Will Power Ensemble. “They all did ‘Shrew: The Musical’ last year, so some of them are really good singers,” Garner says. “It will be great for a family gig.” n “Noises Off!” July 28-Aug. 14 Garner directs this mad, door-slamming Valentine to thespian vanity and backstage drama. After weathering a financially tough 2010, he knew he wanted to program one piece that “is nothing but just silly fun.” But don’t be fooled by the raucous comedy. Frayn is “brilliant,” Garner says.

The Georgia Shakespeare Experience

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

GEORGIA SHAKESPEARE USED TO BE the Georgia Shakespeare Festival. Though it shortened its name a few years ago in an effort to shed its seasonal status, the outdoor merriment continues each summer. In a tradition unique to Atlanta theaters, revelers picnic on the grounds before show time, often with elaborate table settings, themed menus and libations that riff on the plays. (How about hummus and stuffed grape leaves for “Antony and Cleopatra,” pasta and vino for “The Tempest?”)

“It’s a wonderful way to entertain friends, and the shows are reliably spectacular,” says Alice Murray, a longtime subscriber who attends with friend Sharon Bailey. “Decorating [our table] is one of our traditions.

Sharon often spends hours thinking of something appropriate to reflect the plot of the play.”

Grounds open 90 minutes before curtain, and tables are available under the theater’s covered terrace. If you don’t want to bother with a moveable feast in traffic, meals may be ordered in advance from Georgia Shakes’ catering partner, Carol Parks Catering, and picked up at the theater. (Go to www.cparkscatering.com/cuisines.html.) Tables are firstcome, first-served, though reservations are accepted for large groups.

You may buy soft drinks, coffee and freshly squeezed lemonade at the concession stand, but it’s BYOB on this college campus.

Thirty minutes before each show, you can tune in to “Terrace Talk,” a behind-the-scenes look at the performance led by an artistic staff member. And a few minutes before curtain, glide into your reserved seat and continue the party. Just remember: Drinks only and quiet, please.

Stacey Colosa Lucas, director of marketing and development, advises: “Don’t forget plastic cups for inside the theater.” Murray says she and her friends often return to the terrace for wine at intermission.

Still got questions? Call the box office at 404.264.0020. — WB

R E V I E W | F O O D I E J O U R NA L | W I N E | TA S T E M A K E R | R E S TAU R A N T S

Simply Delicious

Pharr out

A taste of Café at Pharr’s new Buckhead location Page 35

A Shrimp salad sandwich on white at Café at Pharr. Renee Brock May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS RE VIE W

Clockwise from left: A cup of Café at Pharr’s signature walnut chicken salad; a curry chicken salad sandwich on a croissant served with grapes; Café at Pharr owner Johnny Liu in his new Buckhead location. Photos by Renee Brock

Bird is the word A look at Café at Pharr’s new Peachtree perch

By Wendell Brock

N

ew Orleans owns the po’ boy. Philadelphia has its cheese steaks. Maine gave us the lobster roll. So … what about Buckhead? I’d have to say that the neighborhood’s defining dish is chicken salad, the classic bird-and-mayo spread that can be crammed in your mouth between slices of bread or eaten daintily with a fork. Nanny, my Southern grandmother, used to mound it atop an iceberg doily on her pink Depression glass plates every summer. To this day, the dish remains the star attraction at the Swan Coach House, where it’s plated with the restaurant’s “famous creamy frozen fruit salad” and cheese straws—an iconic repast for the ladies who lunch.

Me, I just zip over to Café at Pharr and ask for a $4 cup of the walnut variety and a plastic fork. Since my friend Anna got me hooked on this stuff, it’s

become a pleasure as giddy and guilty as ice cream. And thanks to the entrepreneurial zeal of 31-year-old Johnny Liu—whose Taiwanese immigrant

parents opened the original Pharr Road location in 1993—this comfort food has become a new fast food.

Though there are three locations and two others planned for Brookhaven and the West Side, for the first time since its inception, there is no Café at Pharr on Pharr. Instead, the old shoebox-size Mom and Pop with nonexistent parking has been swapped for a gleaming new establishment at 3145 Peachtree Road, in the shopping strip that houses Atlanta Beach. (The location opened in March.) The no-frills setting, paper napkins, soft drinks and iced tea don’t look all that different from a Quiznos. But the straightforward menu of mostly salads and sandwiches—featuring the Holy Trinity of walnut, celery and curry chicken Continued >>

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

35

S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS RE VIE W

A yogurt roll accompanies each of the salad and sandwich plates at Café at Pharr. Renee Brock

Continued from page 35 salad—has survived the journey deliciously intact.

Bird may be the word at Café at Pharr, but it takes good fixings to make it fly. As it happens, bread is part of the company legacy. When Johnny’s father, Mike, first opened shop, he planned to specialize in decadent pastries and cakes but soon discovered there was a greater need for lighter lunch options. Still, the baking goes on, beginning every day at 5 a.m., when white, wheat, multigrain, baguettes and croissants are prepared for sandwiches.

As for that storied chicken salad, the trick is in the consistency—no chunky bites, no unnecessary condiments, no fancy frills. The finely chopped white meat holds together without vats of mayo, so that the creamy, almost-buttery chicken flavor is never obscured.

The celery chicken salad is simplicity itself—just a touch of mayo and tiny bits of crunchy green. The curry is gently spicy and looks fab on a croissant. The walnut—my personal jones—is studded with golden raisins and crushed walnuts, a stellar balance of savory and sweet.

There’s also egg salad, which has the plainness of old-fashioned egg spread, except that a little boiled potato is stirred in, presumably for cho-

36

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

CAFÉ AT PHARR 3145 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30305 (Also at 4225 Roswell Road and 699 Miami Circle) 404.238.9288 www.cafeatpharr.com Entrée sandwiches and salads: $7.50$9.50.

Bottom line: Chicken salad to squawk about.

lesterol counters. For my money, this ovo/tater mash could use a little more seasoning, but I appreciate its honesty and integrity. A Southern boy, I adore the shrimp salad on white bread. (It’s better than the heavily dressed version that Scott Peacock used to serve at Watershed.) Plump, pristine crustaceans are tossed with mayo, salt and pepper, and that’s about it. Watch out, walnut!

These spreadable edibles can also be ordered Granny-style on a plate with chopped romaine, tomatoes, shredded carrots, seedless red grapes and a couple of soft baguette slices. The house dressing, a zingy-sweet ginger vinaigrette, is also mildly addictive. The only thing missing is a salad sampler — Johnny, say you will.

If mayo isn’t your thing, Café at Pharr offers a healthy teriyaki chicken doused in a sweet soy-and-mirinscented sauce. You can have the teriyaki on a sandwich, with salad greens or on a rice plate. The only other rice

plate is curry chicken—big chunks of breast meat, carrots and onions bathed in a rich Indian-style yellow curry sauce and paired with steamed white rice and baguette slices. It’s an appealing dish, but you don’t come to Café at Pharr for chicken curry. Or for a turkey, ham, roast beef or vegetarian sandwich, for that matter, though they are on the menu.

Finally, no visit is complete without Mike’s signature “yogurt rolls,” which he created in the café’s infancy from leftover croissant dough he didn’t want to toss. From the design of this snack, you can tell that Mike has a background in sushi. Looking like a cross between a sliced cream puff and a California roll made from flaky pastry instead of rice, the tangy-sweet, yogurtfilled discs come with every salad and sandwich. They are kind of weird and kind of irresistible—a good excuse to eat your dessert (if that’s what this is) before it melts.

You have to love the story of Café at Pharr. An enterprising Asian family comes up with a formula that charms and beguiles the locals: Fresh food served in an accessible and unfussy environment that never loses its friendly neighborhood feel. Johnny says he’s had franchise offers but would never sell out.

Let’s hope that’s true. In a city of chicken-salad connoisseurs, Café at Pharr has hatched a winner.

S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS

Foodie Journal | Culinary News & Notes

By Jennifer Bradley A different spin on fast food

At a recent gathering of Spice Route Supper Club, founder Asha Gomez served rice-and-coconut cake in a cardamom cream sauce. Bhavini Patel

Spice up your life Underground supper club brings flavors of India to Atlantans

T

he advent of secret culinary events like Atlanta Underground Market (www. atlantaundergroundmarket.com) and Blu Gorilla Supper Club (404.641.0453) on the Beltline has ushered in a burgeoning underground food scene in Atlanta.

One of the most successful and widely followed of these secretive gatherings—if chatter on Twitter is any indication—is Spice Route Supper Club, led by Asha Gomez and focusing on the flavors of India’s coastal Kerala region.

“At the Neem Tree Spa, which I ran on Atlanta’s Westside, I would frequently cook meals for clients after their ayurvedic treatments,” Gomez says. “Some eventually came just for the food!

After the spa closed [at the end of 2008], I found what I missed most was sharing the dishes I grew up cooking. The supper club seemed a personalized way for me to begin sharing these foods

with a wider audience.”

Gomez says she’s most excited about the sense of community the events create, with guests bonding over a shared love of food, wine and exotic culture. Meals are five courses with wine, beer and tea pairings and typically have a maximum of 20 guests (though Gomez’s largest event, held in February at the 200 Peachtree event space, served 180 hungry foodies).

At $75-$85 per person, Spice Route events aren’t cheap, but the fact that they transport guests to another land with flavors of ginger, garlic, chilies, mustard seeds and seafood curries almost makes them a bargain. (A recent search for a flight from Atlanta to the Kerala region turned up a minimum cost of $1,475.)

Locations are disclosed 48 hours before the event to confirmed guests, and can pop up anywhere around our fair city. Learn more at www.spiceroutesupperclub.com or request an invitation by emailing spiceroutesupperclub@ gmail.com.

Empire State South, the first Atlanta outpost for Athens-based (and James Beard Award-winning) chef Hugh Acheson, is quickly becoming a destination for upscale Southern comfort fare, particularly at lunch.

What if you can’t escape the clutches of the office for a midday meal? Acheson comes to the rescue, offering “Tiffins”—multi-course lunches stacked in reusable containers, imagined after Acheson read an article about popular lunch deliveries to workers in Mumbai, India.

Each tiffin (the name is derived from an English slang word meaning “to take a little sip,” but ironically, it doesn’t necessarily mean a small amount when it relates to food) contains a snack, first course, second course and a sweet treat. “A lot of people in the modern work sphere do not have time to eat in a healthy, balanced and interesting way; tiffins answer that,” says Acheson, who notes that he’s excited about incorporating locally-farmed ingredients such as Woodland Gardens tomatoes, pickled okra from Red Mule and Anson Mills grains. Place an order by phone (404.541.1105) no later than 10:30 a.m., pay the $15 charge by credit card and pick up at noon with no wait. Check out the daily offerings at www.empirestatesouth.com/lunch-boxes.

At Empire State South, four-course “tiffin” lunches like this one are the new in-and-out meal. Rinne Allen

Fresh and tasty Norcross-based AtlantaFresh Artisan Creamery is already a favorite of locavores for its unusual, bright and intense yogurt flavors. (“Tropical Sweet Heat,” featuring pineapple and habañero, anyone?) The company, which produces 100 percent of its offerings from milk sourced within a 40-mile radius of Atlanta, introduces a bold new taste—“Chocolate Rocket” with flavors of cinnamon, chocolate and chili blended into the fat-free yogurt base (though the addition of cocoa butter makes the final product 2%). With 12 grams of protein and just 200 calories per serving, it packs a healthy punch. Look for it at the Buckhead Whole Foods and Buckhead Kroger locations. For more information, visit www.atlantafresh.com.

At Spice Route Supper Club gatherings, attendees may sample dishes like Kerala shrimp stir fry with black coconut rice. Bhavini Patel

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS

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

By Kirsten Ott Palladino

n Antica Posta 519 East Paces Ferry Road NE Atlanta 30305 404.262.7112 www.anticaposta.com Hailing from Florence, the Betti brothers oversee this authentic Tuscan kitchen nestled on a tree-lined side street in Buckhead. The diverse menu features beloved, centuriesold dishes from their family archives, like la Coppa dei Betti (air-dried cured Italian salami) and cappesante con passata di ceci (seared sea scallops atop chickpea purée). An evening spent noshing at this cozy terracotta house is a treasured celebration of la famiglia. n Baroni Casual Italian 1745 Peachtree Street NE, Suite H Atlanta 30309 404.724.9100 www.baroniatl.com From the folks at Baraonda in Midtown comes Baroni, an easy-on-the-wallet Italian eatery in the space that once belonged to Wolfgang Puck Express. But just because it’s cheaper than its fine-dining cousin, don’t assume it skimps on service. The genuinely nice staff waits on its guests with the same graciousness that can be expected at its other property. Fun bites inspired by the boot-shaped country include a mozzarella bar, oh-so-creamy risotto with a variety of add-ins and woodfire pizza. n The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill 3279 Roswell Road Atlanta 30305 404.474.9508 www.thebigketch.com Steer your boat over to this relatively new eatery for either lunch or dinner. It’s easy to imagine a salty breeze hitting your face while you’re chowing down on a blackened scallop dipped in Georgia peach sauce. As a rule, the chefs opt for healthy ingredients like oil and wine instead of mayo or butter. The fresh-daily fish sandwiches are delicious (we like the hot buttered lobster rolls); the flavorful grouper

sandwich has the management team beaming with pride.

hushpuppies play second mate to any order.

n Bistro Niko 3344 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30326 404.261.6456 www.buckheadrestaurants. com/bistro-niko

n Corner Café 3070 Piedmont Road Atlanta 30305 404.240.1978 www.buckheadrestaurants. com/corner-cafe

Atlanta might not be hurting for French brasseries, but its latest hits the jackpot for us. From the marbled floors to the authentic fare (such as velvety rillette spreads, Gruyère cheese puffs, salmon croque-monsieur and steak frites), we’re transported to the Champs-Elysées without the outrageous airfare. Francophiles will delight in habitforming boeuf bourguignon and crisp duck confit.

A perfect spot to meet friends or business associates for breakfast, lunch or brunch, Corner Café caters to a myriad of cravings. From the hefty corned beef and hash over farm-poached eggs to the dainty low-fat flavored yogurt over mixed berries, every hungry Atlantan will find something on the menu to satisfy early-in-the-day stomach growls. The European-style Buckhead Bakery is nestled in the side of the dining room for those who just want to run in and grab a baked-on-site carb fix.

n Buckhead Pizza Co. 3324 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30326 404.869.0678 www.buckheadpizzaco.com/ buckhead This late-night dining destination stays open until 2 a.m. on the weekends, so any partygoers craving delicious pies post-raucousness will be amply rewarded here. Of course, that’s not all you’ll find at this nicely appointed joint featuring indoor and outdoor seating and flat-screen TVs. The offerings range from tender fried ravioli smothered in fresh tomato sauces and cheese to flatbread. n Coast Seafood & Raw Bar 111 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.869.0777 www.h2sr.com/coast Deep-sea devotees set sail often for Coast’s signature oversized dishes. Although you’ll find the usual suspects of shrimp and grits and lobster tail, this restaurant boasts some original creations like shrimp-and-bacon mac ’n’ cheese. Be sure to hook either the seafood boil or the seafood tower. More casual captains should try the fried baskets overflowing with battered shrimp, scallops or oysters. Let crab-and-corn

n EVOS 5590 Roswell Road, Suite 140 Atlanta 30342 404.252.4022 www.evos.com Unlike most burger joints,

EVOS breaks the mold with healthy options—and we’re not just talking about the option of ordering a salad. You really can feel good about chowing down here. The steak burger (430 calories) is hormone- and antibiotic-free. Fries (230 calories) are air-baked, not fried.

Nothing comes off a greasy grill in this tasty burger joint.

Vegetarians will feel the love with items like a reduced-fat soy taco wrap with long-grain rice and organic field greens.

Finish it all off with a creamy shake made from hormonefree milk and ice cream. n Holeman & Finch Public House 2277 Peachtree Road, Suite B Atlanta 30309 404.948.1175 www.holeman-finch.com Linton Hopkins is one dedicated chef, and the James Beard-recognized culinary artist and restaurateur is a whiz when it comes to meat. Witness his ground, stuffed, cured, fermented and tied versions of duck, lamb, beef and pork.

The burger steals the show, though. Every night at 9:30,

SPOTLIGHT 10 Degrees South 4183 Roswell Road NE Atlanta 30342 404.705.8870 www.10degreessouth.com Atlanta gets a taste of the exotic with the only fine-dining South African restaurant in the country. Situated in a swanky building, this established dining destination is a family affair, run by husband-and-wife team Derek and Diane Anthony Lollipop lamb chops at 10 Degrees and their son, Justin.

South African cuisine is a South. Sara Hanna fusion of a number of different cultures, ranging from French, Dutch, Portuguese and German to Malaysian, Mediterranean and Indian, so a meal here is your portal to multiple countries—sans the airport frisking. Best-bet menu items include Bobotie spring rolls (sweet ground beef curry) and crab pastries (stuffed with peri-peri crab meat). To really amp up your experience, visit Wednesday through Saturday, when live acoustic music is played in the bar area.

the mad rush for it begins when the bullhorn announces, “It’s burger time!” There are only 24 patties. That’s it. No more, no less. They usually go in under a minute. Put this burger on your bucket list. n Pizzeria Venti 2770 Lenox Road Atlanta 30324 404.228.2013 www.pizzeriaventi-atlanta.com Most of us love Italian cuisine, but not the waistline that comes with it. Luckily, the 300 Calorie Club at Pizzeria Venti makes it easy to indulge in this tasty fare without going for bust. Club rules are simple: Just show up and know that you have three full lunch choices for less than 300 calories, plus a drink. Choose from Pasta e’ Fagioli soup with a contorno of apple slices and bleu cheese crumbles; or a large apple salad with Vidalia onion dressing over field greens; or a generous slice of cheese pizza with tomato slices, lemon and fresh basil. n Ruth’s Chris Steak House Embassy Suites 3285 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30305 404.365.0660 www.ruthschris.com Red-meat lovers converge at Ruth’s Chris Steak House Buckhead, where USDA Prime steaks shine as the superstars that they are. They can be heard as the server approaches with them; they sizzle in their own hot juices and butter after being seared to perfection at 1800 degrees.

Family-sized sharable sides like the shrimp sautéed New Orleans-style in reduced white wine, butter, garlic and spices will have you coming back to sample more. n Seasons 52 3050 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.846.1552 www.seasons52.com At Seasons 52, every plate gets a seasonal reworking when the calendar page turns.

Continued >> May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

39

SI MPLY DELI CI OUS F EAT U RED RESTAU RANT Continued from page 39

®

Comi ng up at the

Ages 4+

By All Hands Productions of Atlanta, GA

But no matter the month or weather outside, every item remains under 475 calories all year long. Begin with one of their savory flatbreads and close with a Mini Indulgence (single-serving dessert) and you can’t go amiss. n Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft 1745 Peachtree Street Atlanta 30309 678.539.6181 www.tuktukatl.com

Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft brings inventive Eastern street food to the heart of the city, as evidenced by the “tuk tuk” (street food cart) on display in the foyer. The second-level restaurant is owned by Executive Chef Nanthavadee “Deedee” Niyomkul (daughter of the woman who launched the esteemed Nan Thai Fine Dining in Midtown) and her husband, Thaddeus Keefe. The young duo serves eclectic Thai selections in a space that combines American modernity with Asian elements.

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S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS TAST E MA KER

Chocolate revolutionary This pastry chef refuses to be boxed in

By Wendell Brock

P

astry chef Taria Camerino doesn’t handle authority gently and doesn’t care to repeat herself in her work. This means executing tray after tray of identical baked goods can be a problem. Still, the Gainesville, Fla., native has managed to build an impressive résumé at some of Atlanta’s top restaurants, starting as a mixer at Alon’s in the early ’90s, then kneading her way around the kitchens of Holeman & Finch, Top Flr, Highland Bakery and the short-lived Sweet Revolution in Little Five Points, where she acquired a cult following with her decadent, hand-crafted confections.

But for the gypsy-like sweet-monger with the quirky personal style and progressive politics, it was go independent or go mad. So last December, she hung out her own shingle as a chocolatier.

At Sugar-Coated Radical, a small ragamuffin shop on a dead-end Virginia-Highland street, Camerino has clever and ambitious plans for her extensive, ever-evolving palette of exotic flavor profiles. Like some trippy alchemist in stiletto pumps, harlequin socks and brightly colored jumpers, Camerino pairs pure chocolate from Africa, Asia and South America with exotic massaman curry and coconut, Tasmanian leatherwood honey or infusions of blood orange and wasabi, topping them with a perfect sugar-coated basil leaf or a sprinkle of Hawaiian black-lava salt. “There is no box,” she says of her esoteric approach, “and if there is, I guarantee you I am going to smash it up. And what’s wonderful is I can, because I make delicious chocolates and when people eat them, their hearts soften.

They become open to possibility.”

With creative partner Joshua

Meiseman (late of Highland Bakery), Camerino recently started exclusive weekend dessert seatings. They want to experiment with tobacco and wood notes; they dream of creating dishes based on their “urban foraging” for things like crabapples. Already, Camerino has introduced “Bakery Sundays,” a weekly event in which she lays out a dazzling array of pastries and invites her coffee-geek buddies from Rattletrap ATL Street Coffee to park their truck outside. Over a steaming mug at Emory Village’s Steady Hand Pour House one recent morning, she talked about her confectionary career.

SUGAR-COATED RADICAL 680 Drewry Street Atlanta 30306 404.587.4912 www.sugarcoatedradical.org

How did you get into food?

When I was in about the sixth grade, my mom got a job in the African and Asian languages department at the University of Florida. She was an administrator. We met people from all over Africa and Asia, China, Japan, the Congo, Palestine, Saudi Arabia. … The first time I had couscous, I was 12. I had never experienced anything so beautiful. There was a big mound of couscous, and on one side there was a stew. And on the other side, there was yogurt, honey, raisins and nuts. I said, ‘You mean you can eat this for dinner and dessert?’ That was it! It just opened my eyes to the possibility of food.

Why did you want to specialize in sweets?

I wanted to make something that was this big [she makes the shape of a piece of candy with her hands] that could transform someone’s experience, even if just for a moment, that could just wake them up. … It’s like a Continued >>

Above: Sugar-Coated Radical Owner Taria Camerino outside her store; below: An assortment of Camerino’s chocolates.

Photos by Alli Royce Soble

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

41

SI MPLY DELI CI OUS TAST EMAK ER

Continued from page 41

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way to lure them to something new, to show them the potential that they have, that we all have, that life has, the potential for greatness, the potential for connection. I love chocolate. But I have to have an emotional and intellectual response to it. I’m not satisfied with just any chocolate. It has to be an amazing quality for me to enjoy it.

I love its capabilities. I love smelling it. I love the way it looks when I am tempering.

Tell us about “Bakery Sundays.”

Because I am classically Frenchtrained, I have been doing laminations, which is croissants, like layered dough. I have been doing that for 17 years. So we do croissants and brioches. This past week, we did goatcheese-and-beet tarte tatin. I did Irish

cheddar, apple and caramelized onion croissants; Gruyère croissants with Mirabelle plum preserves that I make.

I do a pan de coco, which is Mexican bread … I believe we had close to 25 different items. Fresh persimmon tarts and cookies. Once I get going, I run.

And the dessert nights?

On Fridays and Saturdays, we are doing dessert seatings. Two seatings a night, 12 people. That’s it. There’s no menu. It’s a course tasting. It’s where we do what we want. Joshua will be heading that up, and I will be his assistant. We won’t have a liquor license, so it’s BYOB, but we tell you what to bring. We make suggestions, based on the menu. …We have people chomping at the bit for the desserts. They are so ready. Because I think Atlanta needs something that’s pushing the boundaries.

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mon-Fri 9-8 SAt 10-7 SUn 11-6

www.bindersart.com Art Supplies Picture Frames Creative Gifts Custom Framing Art Classes Art Gallery B2B Sales School Sales 42

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

At Sugar-Coated Radical, life is like a groovy box of chocolates. Two of the specialty chocolates at Sugar-Coated Radical—each contains 70 percent Venezuelan ganache and anise. Photos by Alli Royce Soble

S IMP LY D EL IC IOUS W IN E FE ATURE

Vive la France An interview with Bordeaux and Burgundy wine enthusiast Mark Taylor

Do you usually bring some or all of your own wines? Yes. I always call ahead just to be sure. There are still a few places that don’t permit or encourage corkage. If a given wine is on their list, they may ask that you buy it from them, which I find perfectly reasonable.

By Gregory D. McCluney

M

ark Taylor’s Park Avenue condo is stocked with more than 2,000 bottles of fine wine—more than half of them French.

Taylor, a retired businessman, became interested in fine French wines in 1959 while tasting with the late Jim Sanders at his retail wine shop, Sanders’ Wines, in Buckhead. At the time, there were few outlets for French wines in the entire city. Taylor developed a French style and flavor preference, patiently waiting for his French bottles to age until they reached the perfect time for sipping.

Taylor is a longtime High Museum board member and member of the Commanderie de Bordeaux (French Wine Society). Wine and food are important to his whole family—his wife Judith is a Dame of the Chaine des Rotisseurs (a gourmet group), and his son Chuck is active in the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin (the Burgundy wine enthusiasts’ group in Atlanta).

We know you are part of the group that designed the Durand specialty corkscrew. Can you tell us how that came about? I invented, designed and patented the Durand. Before the Durand, there was no device or combination of devices that would reliably remove a really old and fragile wine cork whole.

The beauty of the Durand is both its simplicity and its efficacy. The web site, www.thedurand.com describes the Durand in detail and is the primary source for purchase.

Describe the area’s wine-club scene.

Atlanta has two main wine groups: La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin [the Burgundy group] and the Commanderie de Bordeaux [Bordeaux group]. There are also two chapters of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, whose interest is food and wine. There is a subgroup, the Société Mondiale du Vin, whose primary interest is wine. All of the above have numerous members in Buckhead and elsewhere around Atlanta.

How did you get started in wine collecting and tasting? My very good friends, Jim Sanders [deceased] and Yves Durand, with much help from Parks Redwine and all the other “winos” in town.

We know you enjoy French wines, but are there some New World areas or varieties you are interested in? The larger portion [of our cellar] is French, Bordeaux and Burgundy, with some California and the necessary champagnes, ports, etc. You may know a group of Atlanta guys, some from Buckhead, own an interest in the California winery Arcadian. The majority interest is owned by its winemaker Joe Davis, who is married to the sister of the manager of the Buckhead Club, Jeffrey Goldworn.

Wine enthusiast Mark Taylor is shown here in his Buckhead home with a few uniquely labeled bottles from his collection. Photo by Renee Brock

Do you have a favorite Buckhead retailer? I know you work with some of the wine auction houses. Yes, Cellar 13 ( John Passman) and, of course, Ansley Wines.

What are some of your favorite Buckhead restaurants? Aria, Kyma, Bone’s, La Fourchette and, for informal, BrickTops.

Approximately how many bottles are in your collection, and where are they stored? Two thousand, which is about the limit here in the wine cellar of our Park Avenue condominium. I do try to share with my three children in Atlanta, each of whom appreciates fine wine and has an excellent cellar.

Are you planning for additional storage? At my age, I will do well to share and drink what I have here.

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M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 1 | S I M P LY BU C K H E A D

Cover Story

Photo illustration by Omar Vega

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Road r e m Sum Trip {Guide 2011

Make this your best summer ever.

We’ve crisscrossed the region to find the most exciting destinations within an easy drive of Atlanta.

Your only job? Pack your bags.

Take another look at Asheville Go beyond the Biltmore to find the city’s hidden gems

By Elsa K. Simcik

It’s no secret that plenty of Atlantans head to Asheville, N.C., for weekend getaways. What is a secret, though, are some of Asheville’s most delicious restaurants, amazing outdoor experiences and quaint bed and breakfasts. The truth is, there’s more to this mountain town than the Biltmore.

Cucina24, for instance, is a downtown Italian restaurant with unexpected menu items like a pizza with spicy lamb sausage, rapini and aged pecorino. The ambiance is elegant without being pretentious, a lot like Asheville itself. For a real off-the-beaten-path food experience, head to Admiral in West Asheville. What the unassuming restaurant lacks in curb appeal, it makes up for in creative food offerings.

They cook as seasonally as possible so the menu may have fried dorade one day and wild mushroom bolognese the next.

n The Admiral www.theadmiralnc.com n Asheville Outdoor Center www.paddlewithus.com n Carolina Bed & Breakfast www.carolinabb.com n Cucina24 www.cucina24restaurant.com n Navitat Canopy Adventures www.navitat.com

On a hot summer day, you can tube down the French Broad River. Asheville Outdoor Center offers a onehour, one-mile trip that takes visitors right by the Biltmore. And adventureseekers, take note: Lots of tourists make the drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway, but for a more thrilling journey, you should try zip line canopy tours by Navitat.

The Montford Historic District has loads of B&Bs—but not all of them are created equal. For charm, hospital-

ity and comfort, you can’t beat Carolina Bed & Breakfast. It’s been under new ownership for about a year and a half and the innkeepers are eager to please. They not only serve a gourmet breakfast each morning, they also put out wine and appetizers each evening and a dessert in your room every night.

Carolina Bed & Breakfast offers a cheery place to stay in Asheville. Courtesy of Carolina Bed and Breakfast

Continued >>

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S IMP LY B UC K HE A D COVE R STO RY

Sittin’ in a Tree Exploring the Edisto River Refuge Canoe & Treehouse Getaway

By Jennifer Bradley

Do you dream of running away to someplace where the crush of Atlanta traffic and the web of mobile connectivity doesn’t reach? The 150-acre Edisto River Refuge, stewarded by Scott and Anne Kennedy, is the perfect answer. Just five hours from Atlanta and brimming with otherworldly rustic charm, the South Carolina refuge offers a chance to commune with nature from the comfort of your very own treehouse, towering above the Edisto River.

Upon arriving at the “put in” at Carolina Heritage Outfitters (owned by the Kennedys), you’ll be issued a canoe—the only way to reach your accommodations. From there, you’ll paddle four hours downriver on a 12-mile stretch of the sparkling Edisto River.

The carefully protected river is gentle enough for canoe novices to navigate, and the boats have ample space to tote your sleeping bag, food and towels— the only provisions not included in the $125 per person nightly fee (canoe rental included; Saturdays are $25 more).

The Kennedys have spent 18 years

A sight to see The Edisto River is an ecosystem teeming with wildlife, ranging from the familiar (raccoons) to the exotic (great blue herons and egrets, both water birds). For added entertainment and educational value, pick up a Lowcountry wildlife book and spy turtles, otters, wild turkeys, alligators, deer, bobcats and frogs along the willow- and cypress-lined waters of the Edisto.

Getting there The location of Carolina Heritage Outfitters is rural enough that it’s not tied to a specific address, so upon booking you’ll be given directions (and for the truly hard-core, GPS coordinates) to their location in Canadys, S.C. Call 843.563.5051 for reservations and visit www.canoesc.com for more information.

Above: A treehouse lodge in Edisto River; below: Each treehouse comes equipped with a nearby outdoor hammock. Courtesy Carolina Heritage Outfitters for all

serving guests and contributing to the eco-conservation of the Edisto and the wildlife that calls it home. They searched for a way to allow guests to stay in nature with a few comforts and almost no impact on the natural ecosystems of the river. “We were inspired to build these treehouses through a love of camping and outdoor adven-

ture, which took us all over the world seeking eco-adventures,” Anne says.

“Our emphasis is on privacy and quality.” They certainly hit the mark on the bulls-eye of rustic luxury, as the houses

are outfitted with an outdoor dining deck, gas stove, outdoor hammocks, pristine drinking water from the refuge’s deep well, tiki torches, candles, rechargeable lanterns and a sleeping loft with comfy futons. Each treehouse can sleep up to six or eight guests, depending on which one you choose.

So paddle on. A charming mix of adventure and relaxation awaits.

Master Augusta There’s more to this north Georgia town than golf’s most prestigious tournament

By Allison Weiss Entrekin

The Partridge Inn in Augusta offers a combination of history and charm. Randall Perry Photography

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Each April, the eyes of the world turn to Augusta, Ga., home of the Masters Golf Tournament. But all year long, this charming riverside city is alive with art, history and the soulful tunes of its late resident, James Brown. Drive two hours east of Buckhead and you’ll arrive at The Partridge Inn, Augusta’s century-old hotel and an excellent lodging choice because of its modern amenities and convenient location to downtown. If you’re a Civil War buff, you’ll want to head straight

from the inn to check out the boyhood home of Woodrow Wilson, where the budding president witnessed wounded soldiers seeking refuge in his father’s church across the street. Art lovers may opt to see the Morris Museum of Art, the first museum in the country devoted entirely to the art and artists of the South. And everyone should experience the James Brown exhibit at the Augusta Museum of History—the Godfather of Soul’s hometown pays worthy homage to his life and musical legacy with interactive kiosks and rare memorabilia.

n For more information, visit www.augustaga. org.

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New and Improved Opryland The 2010 floods didn’t dampen this Nashville resort’s spirit

Puttin’ on the Ritz The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island boasts a spa-tacular experience

By Allison Weiss Entrekin

Gaylord Opryland Resort recently underwent a multimillion dollar renovation.

By Allison Weiss Entrekin

It closed for seven months after May 2010’s unprecedented floods, but Nashville’s iconic Gaylord Opryland Resort is back and better than ever. The sprawling hotel and entertainment venue managed to turn rain into rainbows, undergoing a massive restoration that gave its lobbies, restaurants and guestrooms a dramatic facelift. But it still maintains the elements that have kept it on the map since 1977—lavish gardens and incredible live entertainment. This holiday season, don’t miss A Country Christmas, when the resort will glow beneath 2 million sparkling lights and glisten with dozens of ice sculptures. It’s an easy getaway (just four hours from Buckhead) for the whole family.

n For more information, visit www. gaylordopryland.com.

There are spas, and then there are spaaahs. The RitzCarlton Amelia Island (located six hours from Buckhead) n For more information, visit definitely has the latter. Its $16.4 million spa spans nearly www.ritzcarlton.

33,000 square feet and includes everything from private re- com/ameliaisland. laxation lounges to an adults-only outdoor pool with underwater music. Spa butlers are on hand to serve refreshments or provide cool washcloths topped with cucumbers.

After a day spent vegging out, enjoy a feast for the ages with a dinner at the chef ’s table at Salt, the hotel’s acclaimed restaurant. You’ll have 10 courses served to your own private “box seat” in the gleaming kitchen. The curious can even get up from their table and observe the action from the kitchen line.

The pool at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, which is situated next to the Atlantic.

Mark Wieland

Tee off Get into the swing of Orlando at the Villas of Grand Cypress

By Allison Weiss Entrekin

Dusk at the Villas of Grand Cypress.

In a city well known for its excellent courses, it’s difficult to top The Villas of Grand Cypress, part of the Grand Cypress Hotel in Orlando (eight hours from Buckhead). Experience 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature designed golf, including the New Course, which echoes the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Enjoy dinner at Nine18, which features premium steaks and a 500-bottle wine list, and snooze in style in the Mediterranean-style villas flanking the course.

n For more information, visit www.grandcypress.com

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S IMP LY B UC K HE A D COVE R STO RY

A tangle of vines A journey through North Georgia’s vineyards

W

By Joanne Hayes

ho knew that there are rich grapes producing quality wines just an hour away from Buckhead? After many years of enjoying pinot noir, shiraz, cabernet, tempranillo, carmenere, malbec, champagne, prosecco, and Chianti (to name a few favorites), my husband and I weren’t sure what to expect from north Georgia, but we were eager to learn when we set out on a two-day tour of the Georgia Wine Trail.

Day 1 With a goal of visiting five wineries on the first day, our start was Clayton, Ga., at Persimmon on the Square.

Owners Mary Ann and “Sonny” Hardman’s 110-acre, solar-powered winery set along Persimmon Creek is open by appointment and boasts three guest cottages and a flock of East Friesian dairy sheep. In their wonderful shop, which also features artisanal cheeses, unique culinary items, glassware and ceramics, manager Claudia Penland had us sample three of their wines, including a Riesling, cabernet

franc and merlot. We left with a bottle of the aromatic 2006 Cabernet Franc.

We ventured next to Tiger Mountain Vineyards, where owners Martha and John Ezzard (partnered with John and Marilyn McMullan) pride themselves on saving the five-generation-old Ezzard dairy farm, planting the first grapes in 1995. They have 10 wines in their arsenal, varieties like Portuguese Touriga Nacional, the French tannat, viognier and cabernet franc—all of which are cultivated by other north Georgia vineyards as well because they are well-suited for this climate and soil, our Appalachian ter-

Habersham Winery

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

roir. Tiger Mountain has netted 130 awards since 2001 and is the only Georgia winery producing a malbec and a rare petit manseng. Not leaving empty-handed, we purchased their cabernet franc and Rabun Red! Our plan was to get to Helen and visit all three local vineyards before the tasting rooms closed that day. Habersham, Sautee Nacoochee and Yonah Mountain Vineyards are within a couple of miles of one another. Easy, right? But Habersham’s beautiful tasting room made me want to linger and peruse their selection of wine accessories and gifts. I couldn’t live without the Georgia Wine Snob T-shirt!

Manager Steve Gibson gave us a tour, and the casks were impressive, to say the least—Habersham is one of Georgia’s oldest and largest wineries, with annual production of 15,000 cases. We left with both Habersham Scarlett and Creekstone Cabernet—with 20 wines under three labels, it was very hard to choose!

At Sautee Nacoochee, we discovered the delightful Nacoochee Red 2007, a blend of cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Owners Hue and Jane Rainey are committed to making complex yet uncomplicated wines, and much like

Yonah Mountain Vineyards

small European family wineries, they prune and harvest all their grapes by hand. We sipped with the Rainey’s friend Pixie, who graciously shared the history of the winery in the recently opened tasting room, while appreciating the presence of some of our favorite Bella Cucina products in the shop.

Just before closing, we arrived at Yonah Mountain Vineyards, where winemaker Joe Smith is debuting several new wines this season. Smith is relatively new to Georgia, having moved to the mountains in 2005 with his wife to begin producing wine instead of music, after 16 years in the industry. Ted in the tasting room introduced us to the “Grand Challenge”-winning Genesis 2006 wine; this wine was put up against the $250 Napa Cabernet Ghost Horse and No. 1-rated restaurant wine Jordan Cabernet, and took the prize. I couldn’t leave without it or the Serenity Cellars 2009 Tranquility, and would have carried away a delicious bottle of Ghirardelli-infused dessert wine, but someone had to talk some sense into me, as there were many more to visit the next day.

Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards

Day 2 Our early start the second day brought us to Blackstock Vineyards, named a No. 1 “Up and Coming” winery in the 2008 Wine Report. The tasting room wasn’t open yet, but we certainly admired the setting, with its mountain vistas and rolling vineyards, perfect for weddings and corporate retreats. It is the first and largest vineyard of the Dahlonega mountains, and a must-stop for our next trip. Within just a short distance was Three Sisters Vineyards, Dahlonega’s first family farm winery, where we were excited to taste and converse with owners Doug and Sharon Paul. At this vineyard, called “Best Winery in the South” by Turner South, we discovered not only the wines, but also a unique collection of Georgia and Southern folk art.

Sharon graciously gave us her time at the busy cherrywood tasting bar, also opening a bottle of wine not on the tasting menu, but reserved for special guests (you can imagine that came home with us too!). Here we bought 2005 Cabernet Franc, 2006 Cynthiana and Fat Boy Red, which was enjoyed several nights after this whirlwind tour. Three Sisters hosts the 10th Anniversary of the Georgia Wine Country Festival this June, with events held each of the first three weekends. (www. threesistersvineyards.com) Frogtown Cellars was next, home to more than 22,000 grapevines with 25 grape varieties, both red and white, sitting on 42 acres, with a beautiful cypress and timber-frame wine-tasting and event facility. It boasts a massive deck and sweeping views, and on this

Tiger Mountain Vineyards

I couldn’t live without the Georgia Wine Snob T-shirt! very busy Saturday, we did not get to enjoy the wines, which are some of the most awarded in U.S. competitions.

(The hands-on owners were serving lunch guests and tourists, but we’ll be back for sure!) Just down the road a bit, we stumbled onto Dahlonega Spa Resort, high on a hill just a stone’s throw from Three Sisters, Blackstock and Frogtown. I’ve already decided I’m checking in for a two-night wellness getaway package this summer, while my family goes camping. Yoga, massage, gourmet healthy cuisine, wine tasting and beautiful views—these are my idea of a girlfriends’ retreat. There are even pet-friendly cottage rooms; however, the dog will be on his own retreat at the vet for this one.

Our last Dahlonega stop was Wolf Mountain Vineyards, boasting more than 100 medals for their handcrafted estate wines in major U.S. competitions, and credited with introducing North Georgia’s first traditional Mé-

r e m Sum Guide

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thode Champenoise sparkling wines.

Focusing on blending French varieties to create complex and unique wine styles, the vineyard’s award-winning wines can be enjoyed at their café, during vineyard weddings, or at their well-known themed Sunday brunches (reservations recommended).

Unfortunately, due to the distance and lateness of the first day, we weren’t able to make it to Crane Creek Vineyards in Young Harris or Sharp Mountain Vineyards in Jasper. And on the second day we couldn’t get to Montaluce Estates or Cavender Creek Vineyards (just opened in March), so we plan to get to all four of these on our next trip this summer. On our drive home to Atlanta, we stopped in at the magnificent Château Élan, but missed the tasting room here due to the hour of the day, so we added it to our list for the second round. We took the time to enjoy the breathtaking grounds, 3,500 acres that include a championship golf course, full production winery, European health spa, conference facilities, seven restaurants, and The Culinary Studio, for cooking classes and demos.

So many wines, so little time…well, not really, as there’s always time for a leisurely glass of wine while preparing a meal for my most appreciative audience at home.

MORE INFO n Blackstock Vineyards www.bsvw.com n Cavender Creek Vineyards home.windstream.net/ccvw n Château Élan www.chateauelan.com n Crane Creek Vineyards www.cranecreekvineyards.com n Dahlonega Spa Resort www.rrresorts.com/f.html#/ dahlonega/spa n Frogtown Cellars www.frogtownwine.com n Habersham Winery www.habershamwinery.com n Montaluce Winery and Estates www.montaluce.com n Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards www.sauteenacoocheevineyards.com n Sharp Mountain Vineyards www.sharpmountainvineyards.net n Three Sisters Vineyards www.threesistersvineyards.com n Tiger Mountain Vineyards www.tigerwine.com n Wolf Mountain Vineyards www.wolfmountainvineyards.com n Yonah Mountain Vineyards www.yonahmountainvineyards.com

Wolf Mountain Vineyards

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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r Summe Guide

{

Festival fever

By Giannina Smith

B

udding flowers and blue skies can only mean one thing—it’s time to don some shorts and head for one of Atlanta’s outdoor festivals. From artsy neighborhood shindigs to events boasting gourmet food and topnotch entertainment, there is something for every Buckhead resident to enjoy.

Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival (May 14-15) Attracting more than 25,000 visitors in 2010—its debut year—the Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival will once again be held in the heart of Buckhead at Chastain Park. Enjoy the crisp spring air while strolling through Buckhead’s popular green space and perusing the creations of artists and craftsmen—more than 90 percent of them from Georgia. Along with nearly 200 artists, the 2011 event will feature an “antiques alley,” children’s play area, live acoustic music and regional foods and beverages. For more information, visit www.buckheadartsfestival.com.

Atlanta Food and Wine Festival (May 19-22) The ultimate gastronomic weekend experience, the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival makes its debut in Midtown in 2011 with three days of cooking, eating and learning about Southern food and drink from some of the region’s best chefs. Based on the three themes of

Summer Shade Festival. Jerry Burns

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May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Virginia Highland Summerfest. Ben Rose Photography

“Old Traditions,” “New Traditions” and “Imports & Inspirations,” the epicurean event brings together food gurus from around the South to share their crafts.

Barbecue pitmasters, award-winning chefs and mixologists, master sommeliers, fry cooks and local growers will all take part in this homage to Southern culture. For more information, visit www.atlfoodandwinefestival.com.

Decatur Arts Festival (May 28-29) In its 23rd year, the Decatur Arts Festival is a month-long celebration culminating in a market highlighting the masterpieces of 160 artists from around the nation as they descend on the neighborhood’s downtown square. Live blues, funk and gypsy jazz will provide an upbeat soundtrack for the artsy event, and storytellers and improvisational comedy acts will keep festival-goers amused throughout the day. A Kids and Teens Arts Festival will also take place on May 28 and feature hands-on art projects, a rock climbing wall and a children’s parade led by the city fire department. For more information, visit www.decaturartsfestival.com.

Virginia-Highland Summerfest (June 4-5) One of Atlanta’s liveliest outdoor events, Virginia-Highland Summerfest attracts a crowd as colorful as the original art displayed in the tents on tree-lined Virginia Avenue. Kicking off with a 5K race on Saturday morning, Summerfest continues throughout the day and well into the summer night with live musical performances from celebrated local musicians and tunes played by radio station 92.9 Dave FM. A KidFest area in John Howell Park keeps the little tykes busy, while the

adults can take in the wide array of artistic creations—from painting and photography to printmaking and mixed media—of more than 220 artists. For more information, visit www.vahi.org/ summerfest.html.

Fourth of July at Lenox Square (July 4) Watch fireworks light up the Buckhead sky at the historic Fourth of July celebration at Lenox Square. Celebrating its 52nd year, the family-friendly event includes musical entertainment on the mall’s outdoor stage and a Kids Zone with slides, games and obstacle courses. The fun and games conclude with more than 4,000 fireworks bursting in the air, accompanied by patriotic tunes.

Drawing close to 300,000 people each year, this true-blue American event touts itself as the largest fireworks display in the Southeast. For map and location information, visit www.lenoxsquare.com.

Summer Shade Festival, Grant Park (Aug. 27-28) Taking over Atlanta’s oldest public park, the Ninth Annual Summer Shade Festival in Grant Park combines art, music and a children’s fun center with the gourmet Corks & Forks—A Fine Food & Wine Event. Boasting dishes prepared by some of Atlanta’s top chefs, Corks & Forks features wines and craft beers with sit-down workshops on tasting and selection. Although the Summer Shade Festival is free, Corks & Forks requires a ticket purchase ($35 in advance and $45 at the door if tickets are still available). Proceeds benefit the Grant Park Conservancy. For more information, visit www.gpconservancy. org.

S I M P LY BU Z Z | S I M P LY C H A R I TA B L E | S I M P LY S C E N E

Simply Happening

Spotlight Monday Night Rides with Peachtree Bikes Peachtree Bikes 2825 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30305 404.262.9853 www.peachtreebikes.com

Explore the neighborhood with a fun and challenging ride organized by Peachtree Bikes. Patrick Marcigliano

If you’ve been inside all day under the fluorescent glow, you may be anxious to shake off those after-work blues and get moving. Join Peachtree Bikes in Buckhead for their free Monday night ride through the Buckhead hills.

This 13-mile trek drives by beautiful Buckhead mansions while winding along roads like Peachtree Battle, Powers Ferry, Valley Road and Habersham. Owner Mike Wagaman

suggests this ride for beginners to intermediate riders because of the slow pace.

“It may be difficult at first for new riders, but you’ll be able to keep up,” he says. It’s a good ride for the summer months—the neighborhood’s tree-lined streets keep you cool and help protect from sunburn. Meet in the shop’s parking lot at 6 p.m. every Monday to start spinning.

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Simply Buzz | Events, exhibits, galas and more

By Margaret Watters

The Ladies of the Lake Garden Club’s Annual Garden Party May 1 The Duck Pond, Peachtree Hills Located at the corner of Parkside Drive and Demorest Avenue www.ladiesofthelake.org

Join the Ladies of the Lake, a Peachtree Heights East women’s group focused on gardening and horticulture, for their annual garden party benefiting the Duck Pond on the corner of Parkside Drive and Demorest Avenue. From 4 to 7 p.m., enjoy cocktails, live music and shopping the silent auction. Don’t forget to don your best hat with your garden party attire for the May Day hat contest. Advance tickets are $35/person, $40 on event day.

The American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb May 14 The Equitable Building 100 Peachtree Street NW Atlanta 30303 770.544.0532 www.lungusa.org

The American Lung Association’s Fight for Air Climb challenges participants to huff it and puff it up The Equitable Building’s 35 stories to raise awareness about maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Get climbing at 10 a.m. and if you need some entertainment after you’re through, stick around—the event also challenges local firemen and women to compete against each other while toting more than 40 pounds of gear. Registration fees are $25- $35 with a $100 fundraising minimum.

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The Metropolitan Opera Live in HD May 14 AMC Fork and Screen Buckhead 3340 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30326 404.467.9619 www.amctheatres.com

Go see the Metropolitan Opera without hailing a NYC cab at AMC Buckhead Fork and Screen. The Met: Live in HD series presents Robert Lepage’s new production Die Walküre, conducted by James Levine. The event starts at noon and lasts five and a half hours (thank God they serve food!). Tickets are $9.

A Taste of Buckhead Business Expo May 23 Marriott Atlanta Buckhead Hotel & Conference Center 3405 Lenox Road NE Atlanta 30326 404.233.4888 www.buckheadbusiness.org

From 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., rub shoulders with some of Buckhead’s latest and greatest businesses and restaurants at the Seventh Annual A Taste of Buckhead Business Expo.

The event, hosted by the

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Buckhead Business Association, will boast 50-plus local businesses and 20 of the best restaurants in Buckhead.

Tickets are $10 for general admission.

34th Annual Atlanta Jazz Festival May 28-30 Piedmont Park Gates at the intersection of Piedmont Avenue and 12th Street 404.546.6820 www.atlantafestivals.com

For jazz lovers and newbies alike, the Atlanta Jazz Festival promises a great time in Piedmont Park. Be sure to check out free shows from established artists like Audrey Shakir and the Warren Wolf Quintet and promising new sounds from the JC Young Middle School Jazz Ensemble. Take a look at the schedule for the festival’s other 29 days of activities, education and celebration.

Premiere of Margaret Georgia Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” June 8-July 23 Georgia Shakespeare at Oglethorpe University

4484 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30319 404.264.0020 www.gashakespeare.org

Join Georgia Shakespeare for their first play of the summer. Kicking off with a preview June 8 at 8 p.m., “The Tempest” is led by nationally acclaimed director Sharon Ott and will feature Atlanta actors Carolyn Cook and Chris Kayser. The show is held at Oglethorpe University’s Conant Performing Arts Center and is appropriate for ages 8 and up. Tickets start at $15.

Premiere of Margaret Mitchell: American Rebel June 9 Georgian Terrace Hotel 659 Peachtree Street NE Atlanta 30308 404.897.1991 www.gpb.org/margaret-mitchell

Be sure to catch the premiere of Georgia Public Broadcasting’s (GPB) documentary film on Atlanta’s most famous author, Margaret Mitchell. The sneak peak will be held at The Georgian Terrace Hotel June 9 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $250 and include cocktails, dinner and entertainment

Sheri Castle’s new cookbook promotes healthy living through locally sourced, seasonal produce.

UNC Press

from the Atlanta Ballet and a local choir. All proceeds go to GPB. Can’t make the premiere? Catch the doc Thursday, June 30, at 8 p.m. on GPB. Atlanta Botanical Garden Summer Camp June 13-17, June 20-24 Atlanta Botanical Garden 1345 Piedmont Avenue NE Atlanta 30309 404.876.5859 www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org

Move past your child’s inexplicable distaste for greens with the Botanical Garden’s Sprouting Chefs summer camp at the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen. Kiddos will learn where their food comes from and how to cook freshly harvested produce. In addition to whipping up healthy snacks, campers create artwork with edible products and play games. Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for $259 per child ($239 per child for Botanical Garden members).

Sheri Castle book signing June 18 Peachtree Road Farmers Market Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.365.1078 www.sheri-inc.com

It may be early…but it’s worth it. At 8:30 a.m., join Southern food writer and cooking instructor Sheri Castle for a discussion and signing of her cookbook, The New Southern Garden Cookbook. Take your new knowledge shopping afterward—Castle will give tips on preparing Southern classics with seasonal, locally grown produce.

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Yappy Hour at East Andrews Terrace

B

uckhead’s most pampered pooches came out for a Yappy Hour at East Andrews Terrace.

The event, hosted by Pets and the Sit-y Owner January Fowler, raised funds for Daffy’s Pet Food Kitchen, which gives kibbles to pet owners during seasons of financial hardship so they can afford to keep their pets.

Photos by Renee Brock

Host dogs Dita and Dexter await their treats.

Maria Losito and Prada chat with Katy Colvin and Hoosier.

Cooper and Lucy play around.

Four-legged attendees enjoyed complimentary dog treats.

Alvin Owusu holds Tokin’ while Daniel Amodio holds Dita (owned by January Fowler).

Kyle Shiplett and Karen Dillon with their dog, Scheyer.

A posh dog named Prada.

Kara Koplan and Ruby with Alison Ratner and Ellis.

Yappy Hour Host January Fowler with her pugs, Dita and Dexter.

Stephanie Ivy brought her dog, Cleopatra, along for the fun.

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

53

S IMP LY HA PP E N ING S IM P LY SCENE

Let there be lunch Café at Pharr’s new Buckhead location offers food on the fly.

Photo by Renee Brock

54

May/June 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Mon-Fri: 12pm-6pm Sat: 11am-6pm Sun: 12:30pm-6pm

GeorgiaWine.com P.O Box 808 Helen • Georgia 30545 • 706-878-9463

100% Rabun County grown & produced wines

In the 1800s there were many vineyards and wineries thriving in Georgia in a golden age of little regulation and no taxation.

Records show that in 1900, Georgia ranked sixth among grape growing states.

In 1907 Georgia adopted full alcohol prohibition, 11 years ahead of national prohibition, destroying a generation of wine making traditions brought by many European immigrants to America.

Today a farm winery renaissance is taking place across America. Most states have passed farm bills and all 50 states can boast at least one bonded winery. Georgia’s bill was passed in the early 1980s, which laid the groundwork for Georgia’s wine industry.

The real explosion in vineyard development has been in recent years.

Over a dozen wineries have opened in the last decade in North Georgia, largely based on the success of the premium European varieties thriving in the area. The critical success of this developing wine region has prompted the launch of still a dozen more projects slated to open in the next couple of years.

We invite you to experience the beauty of our vineyards and taste the quality of our wines, many of which have won National and International competitions. With so many medals won by our wineries, North Georgia is emerging as a prominent wine growing region.

The Winegrowers Association of Georgia is a non-profit corporation organized to promote and market Georgia wines, to improve the market environment for Georgia wines, to increase public awareness of Georgia wines, and to facilitate research in Georgia viticultural and vinfication techniques to improve Georgia wines.

Annual members must qualify with a minimum of five acres in Georgia of vinifera or French-American grapes in production or with a minimum of 1,000 cases of wine produced annually from Georgia grown vinifera or French-American grapes.

Visit the historic Nacoochee and Sautee Valleys to sample our 100% Georgia wines Located at Nacoochee Crossing at the junction of Georgia Highways 17 & 255 98 Nacoochee Way Sautee-Nacoochee, GA

706-878-1056

info@sauteenacoocheevineyards.com www.sauteenacoocheevineyards.com

2. Cavender Creek Vineyards

7. Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards

Vineyards & Winery

Join members of the Winegrowers Association of Georgia for

WineFest at Habersham Winery Saturday, May 7th 12pm-5pm 7025 S. Main Street (GA Hwy. 75) Helen, GA

770-983-1973

www.habershamwinery.com

3. Frogtown Cellars

8. Tiger Mountain Vineyards

4. Blackstock Vineyards

9. Persimmon Creek Winery Clayton • 706.212.7380

10. Crane Creek Vineyards

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Traminette - Gold Medal winner Genesis - Silver Medal winner 2454-B Highway 17 Sautee-Nacoochee, GA

www.facebook.com/yonahmountainvineyards www.twitter.com/YMVineyards

706-878-5522

info@yonahmountainvineyards.com www.yonahmountainvineyards.com

Vineyard Luncheon Buffet: Sunday, 12:30pm & 2:30pm Reservations required

706-867-9682

Vineyard Cafe:

180 Wolf Mountain Trail Dahlonega, GA

Thu - Sat: 12pm-3pm

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WINE COMPETITION

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2010 Indy Int’l Wine Competition

Reservations required

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Judge’s Choice!

No reservation required

www.wolfmountainvineyards.com

Young Harris • 706.379.1236

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www.tigerwine.com

Saturday & Sunday, 2pm Georgia’s First Gold Medal in San Francisco & Los Angeles

Tiger • 706.782.4777

Helen • 706.878.9463

706-782-4777

Winemaker’s Tour:

Sautee • 706.878.1056

5. Habersham Winery

2592 Old Highway 441 Tiger, GA

Wine Tastings:

Sautee • 706.878.5522

Dahlonega • 706.219.2789

Tasting Room open 7 days a week Sun-Fri: 1pm-5pm | Sat: 11am-6pm

No reservation required

6. Yonah Mountain Vineyards

Dahlonega • 706.865.0687

2010 Silver Medal winner.

Thu - Sun: 12pm-5pm

1. Wolf Mountain Vineyards Dahlonega • 770.823.9255

2010 Gold Medal winner

San Francisco Int’l Wine Competition

Mon-Thu: 12pm-5pm Fri: 12pm-6pm Sat: 11am-6pm Sun: 12:30pm-6pm

Vineyards and Wineries Dahlonega • 706.867.9862

Try our Petit Manseng Jefferson Cup Invitational

441

115

Winner of 7 medals at the 2011 San Diego International Wine Competition!

Silver: NV Compulsionn Silver: 2008 Touché Gold: 2008 Bravado Gold: NV Disclosure Gold: 2009 Inclinationn Gold: 2009 Marsannee Gold: 2009 Vineaux Blanc

Winery tasting room hours: Mon-Fri: 12pm-5pm Sat: 12pm-6pm Sun: 12:30pm-5pm

Panini Lunches served Friday, Saturday & Sunday Check for Wine Taster Dinners & Brunches at www.frogtownwine.com 706-865-0687 700 Ridge Point Drive Dahlonega, GA

www.th evi l l agevets.com

Dr. Megan Stewart & Dr. Amy Mathews

404.844.4824 For vaccines and services. Does not include medications or other merchandise. Offer is good for one pet only in each household. Offer is transferable and need not be presented for discount. Terms subject to change at practice discretion. Contact our offices for additional details.

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:

3404 Northside Parkway NW Atlanta, GA 30327 Monday - Friday: 7am- 7pm Saturday: 8am- 2pm

Decatur 24 hour hospital at 217 North McDonough Street 404-371-0111 Stone Mountain at 1227 Rockbridge Road, Suite 300 770-717-1650