Simply Buckhead March/April 2011 by Simply Buckhead

FREE MARCH/APRIL 2011 Issue #03

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

the

Plus Frugal fitness: places to get healthy

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Raise your glass to Buckhead’s

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for reservations call 404.237.2060 or visit buckheadrestaurants.com The restaurant names above are all trademarks of Buckhead Life Restaurant Group.

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Founded in 1951, the Buckhead Business Association has become one of the most widely recognized organizations in the Buckhead business community. Our mission is to promote and develop business in Buckhead, and to facilitate participation in charitable and community service projects within the community. For more information, please contact Jenn Thomas at 404-467-7607 or info@BuckheadBusiness.org www.BuckheadBusiness.org 4

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S I M P LY BUC K H E A D | M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Yappy hour at Nancy G’s. Pets and the Sity

Contents /// COVER STORY

/// DEPARTMENTS

PETS & KIDS The city’s top bloggers share the very best ideas and events for kids and pooches

PASSAGE TO PERSIA Flame-kissed kabobs are the stars at Sufi’s

31 SIMPLY DELICIOUS

11 SIMPLY NOW

47 SIMPLY HAPPENING

17 SIMPLY STYLISH

/// FEATURES

BOHEMIAN BUNGALOW A thoughtfully decorated Buckhead home showcases the artistic passions of its resident

9 LETTERS

SMALL WORLD Buckhead’s 5 Continents features works by more than 30 international crafters

SKINNY DISHING Healthy recipes make this Atlanta-based chef a hit at The Viking Store and CNN

23 SIMPLY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The cover

Molly and Mary Parrish Green, shot on location at the home of Bonneau and Jennifer Ansley in Buckhead. Photo by Caroline Petters.

One of the main benefits of living in Buckhead is its proximity to many fun, family-friendly places around town. — Amy Querido, “Atlanta with Kid” blog

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Simply Buckhead

ON L I N E MARCH/APRIL 2011 | ISSUE #03 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 Executives Jessica Ferguson Jessica Geiger

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

Caroline Petters Cover photographer Caroline Petters was born and raised in Atlanta. Her dream to become a photographer took hold after she traveled solo through Asia for four months with her camera as her only companion. Petters delights in the discovery of new places, people, stories, moments, events and creations. She says her curiosity is her guide to finding interesting subjects and stories. Petters currently studies photography and video at the Portfolio Center in Atlanta. Although editorial and advertising work are her focus, she enjoys shooting portraits, weddings and short films. Petters will shoot her first feature documentary film in India this spring.

Contributing Writers Jennifer Bradley Wendell Brock H.M. Cauley Meghan Cooper Ashley Hesseltine Jessica Jones Gregory D. McCluney Amy Querido Betsy Rhame-Minor Damon Sgrignoli Diane Silver Giannina Smith Stephanie Davis Smith Margaret Watters Contributing Photographers Renee Brock T.J. Hart Caroline Petters Alli Royce Soble Graphic Designers Michael Bergman Sara M. Key Copy Editor Ellen Glass Editorial Assistant Brigitt Hauck

///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.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

/// EDITOR’S LETTER

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s the mother of a 5-year-old Boxer and a 1-year-old baby, I have personally loved putting together our Pets & Kids issue. It seems I’m constantly on the hunt for fun, affordable attractions I can check out with my daughter, or restaurant patios I can enjoy with my pooch. And while lots of locals blog about such things (I’ve found more than 50 Atlanta mommy bloggers alone), no publication of which I’m aware has ever invited the best ones to share their expertise in one place—until now.

Jessica Jones of Atlanta Mothers Guide; Meghan Cooper of Atlanta Moms on the Move; Amy Querido of Atlanta with Kid; Diane Silver of To Dog with Love; Ashley Hesseltine of Hesseltime—all of these bloggers came together to share the very best events and attractions for parents of two- and four-legged children. Flip to our cover feature to find their picks for the top places to throw a birthday party, the greatest pet boutiques, the coolest spring events for the whole family and more. Also in this issue, we get to know Jennifer Saadé, a world traveler who showcases arts, crafts and gifts from around the globe in her Buckhead shop, 5 Continents. We also talk with Megan Huntz, a local designerturned-fashion-phenom who has lived in Milan and Barcelona but still digs Buckhead’s style most of all. “I love the Southern energy, the creativity and rhythm that’s unique about this place,” she says. “It’s not fussy or trying to be something from somewhere else.” We couldn’t agree more. Enjoy this issue, and I’ll see you around town with my canine and kiddo. P.S.—If you love pets as much as I do, be sure to check out a copy of my

Decatur, GA 30030 404.377.0755

new book, For the Love of Dogs, with a foreword by It’s Me or the Dog’s Victoria Stilwell. It’s an A-Z primer for pooch lovers of all ages, and I think you’ll really love it! It’s available at major booksellers nationwide, or you can order a copy at www.triumphbooks.com/fortheloveofdogs. Makes a great gift, too! editor@simplybuckhead.com

featuring

local artists to see more visit explore404.com

/// 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.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S I M P LY BUC K H E A D | M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 1

Letters Congratulations on the major accomplishment of putting together Simply Buckhead. I read through it the other day at Whole Foods and felt very connected to it and that it is going to be a big part of the Buckhead community. There are a ton of magazines out there, but there are none like yours that bring Buckhead together. — Austin Cohen, Cohen Chiropractic Centre Just wanted you to know that I visited your online magazine. I was very impressed with its content and appearance. It definitely has an upscale appeal to it. — Aneshia Y. Smith, Women Who Barter I was thrilled to see Simply Buckhead a few weeks ago. What a fabulous idea for a magazine, as I was amazed at how Buckhead isn’t well represented in terms of information for folks. — Michelle Francis, Realtor I was very drawn to your first publication … I think you’re going to do well with Simply Buckhead. It stands out more than other local publications. I enjoyed reading the stories on local people. Keep up the good work. — Pamela Stanfield, Ashley’s Back to Nature Saw your great article on Café Sunflower—love the publication—muchneeded. Really appreciate the up-to-date news, features and information about what is going on in Buckhead, all in one user-friendly and visually appealing publication. — Elizabeth Colt Schrock We got the issues in the store today. Great little piece on EVOS … We really appreciate it! … The magazine looks great, you all are doing a fantastic job. — Saffold Barksdale, EVOS I just finished reading the article about LW in your magazine. I would

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like to thank you very much for it! — Leandro A. Wartelski, LW Chocolatier Thank you for the lovely article on our bus driver Lucius—the picture was fantastic! I would love to work with you to feature more of our efforts in Buckhead. We have some great things underway. — Denise Starling, BATMA, Livable Buckhead, Inc.

I’m glad to hear that you’ve received such a positive response—that is fantastic! In fact, I am volunteering with a local organization that I read about in the recent issue that listed various organizations where help is needed. It is truly a unique, entertaining publication and I know your partnership with Share Our Strength and It’s The Journey will only have a positive impact on the number of loyal readers. — Lara Roenitz, Pittypat’s Porch I love the issue! … Beautiful pictures, interesting articles and features on people who work and live in the area. Thanks for sharing! — Jocelyn Connell, CBS Atlanta FROM OUR “TWEET”HEARTS! Follow us @SimplyBuckhead Just finished looking at Simply Buckhead online! Looks great! Can you put me on your mailing list? — Valerie Hoff DeCarlo, 11Alive

Thanks Joanne! WE LOVE IT!!!! I did get a bundle—I put half of them on the bar and they are gone! — Sarah Harberts, Gigi’s Cupcakes Buckhead

The new layout for this month is great. The pics turned out nice! Thank you for representing Kris and me so nicely in the article. Cheers! — Alli Royce Soble, La Tavola

I looked through Simply Buckhead and found it to be a wealth of worthy information, and it’s well put together. — William Rossoto, Ross Art LLC

Thank you for the great article on our Buckhead location! — Café Sunflower

How lovely to discover your Simply wonderful magazine! The cover of your Winter 2010 issue is so beautifully attention-getting, too. — Alison Fussell, The Giving Tree I just saw the February issue of Simply Buckhead with the excellent write-up on Jon and The Body Detective. We truly appreciate you taking the time to speak with Jon and are so grateful for your support! — Mary Elizabeth Kidd, BRAVE Public Relations

Got a shipment of Simply Buckhead’’s magazines today! We absolutely love our article and pictures! Thanks! — Lynn M. Lilly, East Andrews Entertainment Complex Just received the latest issue of Simply Buckhead! Wow! Great features on local businesses and celebs! — Atlanta Activewear

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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Local band “Always Saturday” plays for pint-sized fans Page 15

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March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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Available at area bookstores and from the publisher ($5.00 + $3.00 s&h) Published by Buckhead Coalition, Inc. 3340 Peachtree Rd., NE, Suite 560 • Atlanta, Georgia 30326 (404) 233-2228 • (800) 935-2228 www.thebuckheadcoalition.org Text Buckhead to 99699 or visit https://mobilezen.com/Buckhead $5.00

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The Buckhead Guidebook is honored by Atlanta Planning Advisory Board, International Association of Business Communicators, Georgia Downtown Association, Communicator Awards, American Chamber of Commerce Executives, American Society of Association Executives, Communications Concepts, and International Downtown Association.

Partial List of Contents Annual Public Events Bookstores & Newsstands Business & Civic Associations Childcare and Preschools Decorator Districts Dining Educational Institutions Employers 12

Entertainment Furnished Temporary Quarters Galleries Health Care and Senior Citizens’ Facilities Historic Markers Household Income Houses of Worship

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Industrial Square Footage International Agencies Lodging Neighborhood Associations New and Proposed Real Estate Developments Office Leasing Parks

Population and Household Forecasts Public Meeting Facilities Residential Multi-Family Units Retail Centers Sculpture Service Club Meetings Sightseeing

Social Service Organizations Street Map Summer Day Camps Transportation Decoding apps available via your mobile server

S IMP LY N OW E VE NTS

yyy We have more than 55 streets with the word “Peachtree” in them.

/// FREE EVENT ///

What’s the Deal? Take a look around Governor Nathan Deal’s new digs What has 30 Doric columns, a signed first-edition copy of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, a painting of President George Washington commissioned by John Hancock, and the 1996 Olympic Torch? (Hint: Governor Deal moved into it Jan. 6, 2011.) Built in 1967, the Georgia Governor’s Mansion is a state gem filled with unexpected treasures. Take a peek around with a public tour each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10-11:30 a.m. The tour is a combination of selfguided and guided exploration. Consider it a perk of paying your state taxes—the tour is totally free. Mansion staff requests groups of 10 or more call for a reservation.

The Fifth Annual Fine Arts + Fashion benefit will take place at Neiman Marcus at Lenox Mall. Gudrun Stone

/// FEATURED EVENT ///

FINE ARTS + FASHION National Black Arts Festival at Neiman Marcus March 17 3393 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30326 404.730.7315 www.nbaf.org

Art, fashion, a comedian and cocktails

— Margaret Watters

GEORGIA GOVERNOR’S MANSION 391 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.261.1776

Fine Arts + Fashion combines Atlanta’s favorite things Art, designer duds, a cocktail in hand…what’s not to love? Join the Fifth Annual National Black Arts Festival (NBAF) for Fine Arts + Fashion, an evening that brings together Atlantans for a visual feast of arts and fashion. The purpose of the National Black Arts Festival is to discover, cultivate and celebrate the culture of people of African descent. “We have a synergy of designers and artists in one room—that combined with the Atlanta energy really helps connect the dots in our arts community,” says NBAF spokesperson Margot Kargbo. “Fine Art + Fashion is very important to Atlanta’s next generation of artists and designers.” Come laugh along with master of ceremonies co-

www.mansion.georgia.gov

median Steve Harvey and see 2011 honoree CD Greene’s sparkling collection. Greene’s couture creations were included in the movie Sex and the City and have been worn by stars like Oprah, Jessica Simpson and Tina Turner. Other honorees include Radcliffe Bailey, who has an exhibit opening at the High Museum in June; handbag designer Jada Loveless; and poet and visual artist Danny Simmons. Cocktails kick off at 6 p.m. at Neiman Marcus on Thursday, March 17. The fashion presentation begins at 7:15 p.m., followed by a post-show party. — Margaret Watters

The Governor’s Mansion holds 30 rooms and sits on 18 acres of manicured lawn and gardens. March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY N OW E VE NTS

The bark of Buckhead A famous local pooch shares his secrets Dexter Entrekin leads an enviable life. The Buckhead-based Boxer has long been the mascot of a national glossy, Doggie Aficionado, and he is now the inspiration for a new book, For the Love of Dogs (written by Simply Buckhead editor Allison Weiss Entrekin.) He also happens to eat better, sleep more and get greater amounts of attention than any other member of his family, but that’s another matter. From his reclined position on the family couch, Dexter shares his favorite local haunts, his love of all things bacon and how he keeps his ego in check (sort of ). Here are his thoughts, as told to Allison Weiss Entrekin. We’ve seen your face in magazines, and now in a book. Do you ever get tired of all the publicity? Are you kidding? My jowls are like jewels. People want to see them, and I like to give the people what they want.

What are your favorite Buckhead hotspots? I was a big fan of Dog Days until they kicked me out for bad behavior. I also loved the Brookhaven Park until they, too, kicked me out. My current favorite spot is this couch, where I am king. Understandable. Can you share with your adoring public what your favorite treats are? I like anything from Woof Gang Bakery, especially if it’s bacon-flavored. In fact, I’d prefer that anything I eat be bacon-flavored. I suggest someone invent bacon-flavored water, too. Excellent idea, Dexter. Any closing thoughts? Being famous isn’t easy, but I manage. Now either scratch my belly or leave me alone so I can snooze. To order Dexter’s (and his mom’s) book, visit www.triumphbooks.com/fortheloveofdogs.

That’s very generous of you. Are you at all concerned that other dogs in your neighborhood might be a wee bit jealous of all the attention you receive? Never thought about it. Don’t really care.

Dexter and Allison Weiss Entrekin. Photo by Shane Durrance

Atlanta Rocks! Thursday-night Family Nights began this fall. Atlanta Rocks

/// FAMILY-FRIENDLY ///

Families rock on Kids climbing the walls? Take ’em to Atlanta Rocks! Family Night Sick of your kids skydiving off the sofa and scaling the kitchen cabinets? Atlanta Rocks! can fulfill their belaying desires and encourage family bonding to boot. Every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m., load up the crew ATLANTA ROCKS! and head to the climb- 1019 Collier Road NW, Suite A Atlanta 30318 ing gym’s Collier Road 404.351.3009 location for a night of unlimited climbing for www.atlantarocks.com adults and kids. Children as young as 5 can scale the more than 12,000 square feet of professionally designed wall. Even if you don’t fancy stepping into a harness yourself, you can still be involved with the sport. Atlanta Rocks! will train you to belay your kids…all you have to do is stand there (and maybe yelp at your munchkin not to harass the other climbers). Never tried it? They also host a family climbing class from 7 to 9 p.m. that evening. One parent climbs free for each paying child. The first family member under 18 climbs for $20 and additional children are $15. — Margaret Watters

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

yyy Now in its 82nd year, the Atlanta Ballet is the oldest continuously operated ballet company in the country.

By Allison Weiss Entrekin

yyy Trees cover 36 percent of Atlanta—this is the highest percentage of tree coverage found in any American city.

/// LOCAL MUSIC ///

The kids are all right Local band “Always Saturday” caters to the kindergarten set By Damon Sgrignoli

Children these days are inundated with choices. They are savvy and smart, which makes them tough critics with eclectic palates for understanding and enjoying both music and PLAY 2 GROW culture. On a loHowell Mill Village cal level, there is 857 Collier Road, a band that has Suite 22 the potential to Atlanta 30318 appeal to their 404.350.9363 broad tastes with www.play-2-grow. rhythmic lyrics com and catchy songs. “Always Saturday” is a Buckhead-based band that creates bright music for families. Simply Buckhead recently had the chance to speak with Marc Castelo, the band’s co-lyricist and guitarist and a father of two who owns Play 2 Grow, a kid’s gym that helps facilitate productive play. How long have you been playing music? I began writing songs with Donny Todd for our Play 2 Grow program

Favorite Lyrics

five years ago. Three years ago, I began playing guitar and now I am happy to say that playing music is an everyday part of my life. I never imagined that opening a play center for kids would lead me to music, but that’s exactly what happened to me and I am grateful for it. You describe “Always Saturday” as family music. Tell us about that. The goal of “Always Saturday” is to connect family members through music. I love the fact that in my house we have a bunch of favorite songs that we enjoy listening to and singing together. I couldn’t imagine a car trip without them. The other great thing about “Always Saturday” is that the music will benefit a very special cause based here in Atlanta. We are honored to partner with Camp Sunshine in Decatur. We’ll be donating a portion of the proceeds from our record to them and we are planning a family concert with them this spring. Do you have a favorite place near your home where you like to meet with or

Marc Castelo shares the words to the song that’s closest to his heart “One of our band’s songs is called Snow Cones in the Sun. The song is about enjoying every moment with your kids because they fly by. These days of having fun together are like snow cones in the sun / I know the snow won’t last forever, but you will always be my sunshine.”

www.michellereedphotography.com

discover other creative minds? I don’t have to travel far to mingle with creative people. The two most creative minds I know are our two daughters Olivia (7) and Lulu (5). They give me endless ideas and inspiration to write new songs every day. They are both big music fans. What are some of the intricacies of play-

ing in the daytime to kids and parents? When we plan our concerts, we pay as much attention to the concert activities for kids as the playlist. The other key is to schedule the concert around nap times. What bands do your daughters like these days? Our girls love the Beatles, Jack Johnson, Lunch Money, The Baby Grands and Cathy Heller.

///LOCAL SALUTE///

Finding forgotten stories Local society works to uncover and preserve Buckhead’s collective history BUCKHEAD HERITAGE SOCIETY 3180 Mathieson Drive NE, Suite 200 Atlanta 30305 404.467.9447 www.buckheadheritage.com

Out for his morning run in 2006, local lawyer Wright Mitchell slowed his jog when he reached a seemingly vacant lot at the corner of Chatham and West Paces Ferry Roads. Mitchell wondered what an abandoned piece of land was doing in such a busy part of Buckhead. After months of research and digging through public records, Mitchell figured out that the land is Harmony Grove, an all-but-forgotten cemetery from the late 19th century. He fought to rehabilitate the property, and the Buckhead Heritage Society was born. The Buckhead Heritage Society works to identify, preserve, restore and promote the community’s historic resources through hands-on work, partnering with lawmakers and recording oral histories. “One of the most vital things we can do is educate our community about our history,” Executive Director Erica Danylchak says. “We need to make sure that people understand that we have stories and our stories are worth telling. We have historic resources that are worth preserving.” — Margaret Watters

Take a tour of Harmony Grove Cemetery this spring and learn about Buckhead’s forgotten history. Check the Society’s web site for dates and details. Tim Small March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Not for profit. For comebacks.

At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, we’re determined to help every child in our care get back to doing what they do best — just being a kid. But as strong and resilient as children are, their comebacks wouldn’t be possible without help from people like you. Please visit www.choa.org/give to donate.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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

Simply Stylish

Flying the coop A Buckhead bungalow breaks tradition Page 18

Blayne Beacham’s Buckhead home pays homage to her “pets”— eight chickens. T.J. Hart/hartogrofie March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY STY LIS H HOM E

Most of the art in Blayne Beacham’s home is her creation. “The Dress,” which hangs above the sofa in the living room, is a mixture of rope, wax and glue and was a joint effort between Beacham and her boyfriend, Matthew Godleski. T.J. Hart/hartogrofie

Bohemian bungalow A thoughtfully decorated Buckhead home showcases the artistic passions of its resident By Giannina Smith

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

s an artist and photographer, 27-year-old Blayne Beacham wants her Buckhead home to showcase her creativity and passion. She moved into the 1950s bungalow in 2007 when she was fresh out of college and brought in home stylist and family friend Anne Williams to help her furnish the three-bedroom, two-story abode. “I just wanted it to look like an artist lived here; that’s the only goal I’ve ever really had,” says Beacham, director of creative services at Beacham and Company, Realtors, a family company founded by her mother, Glennis Beacham.

Early home projects included installing hardwood floors and re-covering hand-me-down sofas and chairs with fabrics in chocolate browns and pale-blue pinstripes. Williams and Beacham combined statement furniture pieces from Scott’s Antique Market with affordable basics from IKEA and added a reclaimed mantel to the dining area for a touch of charm. “Blayne is a free spirit and had very strong feelings about what she liked and didn’t like, and a traditional home was out,” Williams says. “Blayne’s personality fit into the ‘bohemian-Buckhead-bungalow-meets-Soho-NewYork-art-gallery’ category—and all on a ‘you-have-to-be-kidding’ budget.” Over the last three years, Beacham’s interior-design style has continued to develop with her progression as an artist. After striking up a friendship with designer Laura Green Thome, founder of L. Green Studios LLC Interior Design, Beacham (with Thome’s help) began to transform her home from a simple artistic haven into a unique gem melding her colorful creativity with the simple, elegant style of her longtime boyfriend, financial planner Matthew Godleski, who has been her

best friend since she was 5. “I am artistic and loud and colorful and kind of over-the-top, and my boyfriend is very clean and simple and refined, so I really wanted to marry the two,” Beacham says. Case in point: Beacham combined traditional furniture pieces passed down from her mother with modern accents from IKEA and left the living room walls a clean bone white to provide a neutral backdrop to her colorful and moody art pieces. To complement this art collection, which features many of her own paintings and photographs, Beacham purchased one-of-a-kind pieces by local Georgia artists like Melissa Payne Baker. Inspired by these works, Thome and Beacham took brave approaches with the home’s accent colors, painting the stairwell a dark charcoal grey and the dining room mantel a bright orange. Together, the imaginative team also edited down Beacham’s art collection, framing and selecting pieces that worked best with the feel of the home’s interior. “All of the art I have Continued >>

Blayne Beacham makes a visit to her outdoor chicken coop. T.J. Hart/hartogrofie

“I’ve always wanted chickens,” she shrugs with a laugh. Blayne Beacham’s former studio now serves as an intimate sitting room ideal for relaxed entertaining. The room’s periwinkle blue palette, brought out by the rug and coffee table, are a tribute to Beacham and Company, Realtors (it’s their trademark color). T.J. Hart/hartogrofie

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

SI MPLY STYLI SH HOME

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Many of the items in the home are from Scott’s Antique Market, including the reclaimed mantelpiece and the wire-sculpture light fixture in the dining room. T.J. Hart/hartogrofie

Custom home with old world charm for a great price in an area of million dollar + homes located between W. Wesley Road and W. Paces Ferry Road near the Governor’s Mansion. Wooded setting on a large private lot. Wonderful rec room, 24-hour security. Morris Brandon School district. Owner/agent.

Continued from page 19 is from people I know and have some sort of relationship with and care about,” Beacham says. “Every artist I have, I really respect their vision and what they do, and it’s inspiring to me in my own art because it’s not just my perspective.” Although Beacham’s art collection highlights her talented friends, about 80 percent of the works in her home are her own creation. “The Dress,” one of her favorite pieces, was a joint effort between Beacham and Godleski. A mixture of rope, wax and glue, “The Dress” makes a statement as the largest piece hanging above the sofa in the living room. Beacham and Thome also transformed the studio space located off the living room into a casual sitting and television room. Once Beacham’s

anne morris, realtor® Silver Phoenix Award Recipient 678-296-8814/404-352-2010 annemorris@dorseyalston.com Spalding White, Broker . Above information believed accurate, but not warranted. Offer subject to prior sales, errors, omissions, changes and withdrawals without notice. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

11797 S52 Simply Buckhead.indd 1

art space, the studio has on occasion served as the winter home of eight chickens Beacham purchased in Cordele, Ga., while on a trip to her lake house. “I’ve always wanted chickens,” she shrugs with a laugh. Although the chickens now live in the outdoor “Hilton Chicken Coop,” as Beacham calls it, the converted studio’s décor pays homage to its former residents with little chicken figurines adorning the bookshelves and Beacham’s painting of a bird named Oliver hanging next to the television. Clucking chickens aside, the home’s biggest inspiration is the personality and life of a young woman who continues to grow and change. “I guess I’m an artist who has evolved, so my home has evolved too,” she says. “I don’t know if the house is necessarily everybody’s cup of tea, but most people come in and they say, ‘It’s so you,’ and that’s good for me.”

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3/2/11 9:49 AM

Most of my things came from Scott’s Antique Market. There are two huge warehouses full of antiques and new unique furniture and you can bargain with the vendors. I like to visit the tents outside the warehouses for the cheapest pieces. IKEA is great if you need something very specific and you need it quickly. For example, I needed a large dining room table, but could not wait until Scott’s was open the next month. I was able to get one at a very reasonable price that day. It probably won’t be the piece I keep forever, but it’s great for me right now. IKEA is also excellent for vases, bedding, shelving and plants. I got some very cool pieces, like the cabinet in the master bedroom, from Kudzu Antique Market. Greg Irby Fine Art is the best place to buy emerging artists. She has great work at an affordable price. Nancy Duffey from Scout for the Home has amazing taste and everything in there is very affordable. It’s a very cool shop.

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

Free fitness Work your body, rest your bank account

By Jennifer Bradley

guests navigate a healthy lifestyle with 15 to 20 complimentary classes each month. From demos to nutritionalvalue classes hosted by local doctors to wine tastings (after all, wine can be good for the heart!), it’s a terrific way to get an education in well-being.

y the time spring rolls around, we’re all (hopefully) still pursuing our fitness-related resolutions. But personal-training sessions and expensive meal plans can drain a bank account faster than you can say “bikini season.” Here are some of our favorite picks for getting—and staying—fit for free. Namaste! Sure, the newly opened Lululemon Athletica store deals luxe workout gear (their $98 women’s yoga pants have a cult following), but did you know they also offer free weekly yoga sessions? Each Sunday at 11 a.m., a guest instructor from a Atlanta local studio leads Activewear an hour-long class 996 Virginia in the store. “We Avenue NE find this to be a Atlanta 30306 way we can share 404.532.1975 all of the rock-star www.atlantaacinstructors in the tivewear.com community and provide a space for Lululemon health and comAthletica munity-building,” 3400 Around Lenox Road NE says Jacki Carr, regional community Atlanta 30326 guru (yes, that’s 404.816.7678 her real title) for www.lululemon. com the company. Atlanta Activewear (selling high-end workout wear brands such as Elisabetta Rogiani and RESE) in VirginiaHighland offers similar sessions at 9 a.m. every Saturday. The classes have gotten so popular that guests should arrive at least 15 minutes early to guarantee mat space. Feed Your Soul... and Stomach Whole Foods Market’s Buckhead outpost is a mecca Whole Foods for natural, orMarket, ganic and hardBuckhead to-find items to 77 West Paces fill your pantry Ferry Road NW and delight your Atlanta 30305 taste buds, but all 404.324.4100 of the variety can www.wholefoods. be overwhelming. com/stores/buckThe store helps head

Barre Body Do you want to work out, but yearn for something more interesting than a walk around the park and less stressful than a hardThe Atlanta core boot camp? Ballet’s Centre The Atlanta Balfor Dance let’s Centre for Education Dance EducaChastain Square tion offers just 4279 Roswell the ticket—ballet, Road modern dance, Atlanta 30342 Pilates, jazz and 404.303.1501 more. Better yet, www.atlantabalAdult Open Dilet.com vision classes are free the first day of every month. Sound intimidating? The center assures us that while some adult students have had dance training, novices are welcome.

Money Talks Yoga class at Lululemon. Price? $0.

If money is no object, here are two out-of-the-box options to jump-start your healthy routine. CAN’T TOUCH YOUR TOES? A cool Benjamin could help at Pinnacle Fitness. Resident physical therapist Stacy Hosp specializes in helping clients reach their flexibility goals—an important part of overall health. At $100 each, she promises your private sessions will improve your athletic performance, fast. 404.228.3705 www.pinnaclefitnessgym.com

A free dance class at the Atlanta Ballet’s Centre for Dance Education. Kim Kenney, Courtesy of Atlanta Ballet

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO CLEANSE and willing to empty your wallet to do it, the Lotus Cleanse at Decatur Yoga & Pilates could be just the ticket. $475 buys three days of organic raw foods, three days of freshly-pressed juices and organic teas, three intensive two-hour yoga classes, and the ingredients for three detox baths and instruction from cleansing expert Rutu Chaudhari. 404.377.4899 www.decaturhotyoga.com March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY STY LIS H FAS HION

Italian style meets Southern charm Designer Megan Huntz has global training and a heart for Atlanta

By Jennifer Bradley

hat happens when an Atlanta girl lives in Italy for five years, moves to Barcelona to launch a series of ethereal, body-skimming dresses, then returns to her hometown to merchandise her wares? She finds her international fashion sense welcomed with open arms. And that’s the story of Megan Huntz, 34, globetrotting artist and fashion designer. Growing up in Atlanta’s Morningside neighborhood, Huntz knew she was destined to do something creative. (“I started painting when I was about 16 and it was the first time that something clicked for me,” she explains.) After earning a degree from New York’s Pratt Institute and landing a great job in industrial design, Huntz constantly found herself drawn to the more fashionable side of the design world. She enrolled in Milan’s prestigious Domus Academy in 2003 to pursue her dream. One master’s in fashion design later, she found work at premium Ital-

Treasure Hunt(z)

With her international pedigree and keen fashion sense, Megan Huntz shares her Buckhead favorites for staying stylish.

Photos by Jamie Hopper

WHERE TO FIND IT www.meganhuntz.com Vetted Atlanta 516 E. Paces Ferry Road Atlanta 30305 404.228.4279 www.vettedatlanta.com

Above: Model poses in dresses from the Megan Huntz spring collection; Below: Megan Huntz.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

What are your favorite Buckhead shops, overall? Vetted (www.vettedatlanta.com) is my favorite because it’s the

ian denim designers Meltin’ Pot and Max Mara, then moved to Barcelona. (“Italy is great for big industry in the fashion world, whereas Barcelona is all about the young independents,” she says.) It was there she launched her eponymous line of beautifully dyed silk dresses. So entrenched are her artist’s sensibilities, each of her garments is unique and hand-numbered—as a painting in a series would be. Huntz says she always planned to return home eventually. “I love the Southern energy, the creativity and rhythm that’s unique about this place,” she says. “It’s not fussy or trying to be something from somewhere else.” Huntz’s line of party dresses ranges from $280 to $600, with custom items, including wedding gowns, starting at $1,000. Certainly not bargain-basement prices, but Huntz’s pieces are made to be items you’ll have in your closet for years to come. “The shapes and style are contemporary, yet it’s not trendy, and there’s a handcrafted element to it that makes it very special,” she says. “And they get more beautiful with age and distress.”

way I love to shop—to find something really special, curated actually, and just slightly out of the way. When you buy something from there, you know that you’re the only one who’s going to have it. I also love Jeffrey (www.jeffreynewyork. com) and Barney’s CoOp (www.barneys.com/ CO-OP). Do you have a favorite shoe shop?

For shoes, I love Pella (www.pellashoesatl. com)! It’s the closest I can get to Italy in Atlanta as far as shoes go. A great tailor can really make or break how a piece in your wardrobe works for you. Do you have one you’d recommend? The tailor that I have always used is El’Gant (404.873.6199) on Piedmont—it’s great.

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

Simply Arts&Entertainment

Art View

“I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to open a shop, and I’ve always loved Buckhead” — Jennifer Saadé, “Small world” Page 28

Jennifer Saadé at 5 Continents, her Buckhead shop featuring arts, crafts and gifts from around the globe. Alli Royce Soble March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY N OW L IT E RA RY

From real estate to writing Local author makes waves with his new book, Grayton Beach Affair By Betsy Rhame-Minor

irst-time author and Dawsonville resident James Harvey drew upon what was familiar for the writing of Grayton Beach Affair, published early this year. The novel is set in the Florida Panhandle, the place where Harvey visited his grandmother when he was growing up, as well as in Atlanta. Harvey, a native of southern Alabama, worked for IBM for 30 years in Boca Raton, Fla., and Atlanta. After an early retirement from his first career, he took up real estate development in Buckhead and Johns Creek. He also earned a law degree from Woodrow Wilson College of Law in Atlanta. In 2007, Harvey started writing Grayton Beach Affair, and in 2009, he began working on it full-time. “I reached a point [after retiring] where I had the time,” Harvey says. “The seed of the story began to germinate so I wanted to write the story and see where it went.” Harvey drew upon tales of blackout restrictions and Uboat activity in the Gulf of Mexico during World War II. “I’m a big fan of the World War II generation,” Harvey says. “I wanted to tell a story of action and danger … I also wanted to tell what life was like during the war.” The novel combines a military mission with a love story, and much of it is historically accurate. Atlanta is the setting for the end of the book, and places like East Lake Golf Club, Piedmont Park, Peachtree Road, Rich’s Department Store and Druid Hills Country Club are mentioned. Harvey will hold a book signing on April 2 at Borders in Buckhead from 1 to 3 p.m., and he will continue his book tour around the Southeast this spring.

James Harvey. Jan Connell

Favorite restaurants: Sotto Sotto in Virginia-Highland. Favorite dish? Whole baked fish. “They used to bring it out to you and debone it at the table,” Harvey sighs. Maggiano’s Little Italy in Buckhead. “It offers good value,” Harvey says. South City Kitchen in Midtown. “I like that it’s Southern,” Harvey says. “They’re creative. I love the fried chicken.”

Favorite Buckhead store:

Grayton Beach Affair by James Harvey Available for $14.95 at www.amazon.com.

Orvis. “I am not the world’s biggest shopper,” Harvey confesses. “But I am an avid fly fisher. I like the professional, informative knowledge of the people there and the quality of their product.”

Favorite Atlanta museum: The High Museum of Art. Harvey and his wife are members of the High and go to most new exhibits. Harvey’s favorite recent exhibit was The Allure of the Automobile.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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D 26

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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DESIGN. SHOP. EAT. ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ALL HERE. March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY A & E A RT VIE W

Left: Some of Saadé’s Ecuadorian offerings; Right: Jennifer Saadé. Photos by Alli Royce Soble

Small world

Buckhead’s 5 Continents features works by more than 30 international crafters By H.M. Cauley

he daughter of a French-born diplomat, Jennifer Saadé has called many places home. Born in Chicago, she has lived in Singapore and Geneva, and spent her longest stretch—13 years—in Atlanta. Now she’s putting her international perspective to work as the founder of 5 Continents, a fair-trade cooperative in Buckhead that showcases the creations of more than 30 artists from around the world.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Saadé made her first foray into the international market working for an art co-op in Inman Park. That experience gave her the connections and the impetus to open her own space on Pharr Road five months ago. “I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to open a shop, and I’ve always loved Buckhead,” says Saadé, who lives in Dunwoody. “I liked the idea of being near the International School and an international community. It was a good fit for our artists. And there

aren’t any other international co-ops in Buckhead.” Saadé’s craftsmen hail from more than 25 countries and she selects them not only for the quality of their creations, but also for the sustainability and eco-friendliness of each piece. Their work is displayed under the headings of the five major continents. In the European corner there are fragrant stacks of soaps from France, antique chests and handmade jewelry. Rainbow-colored girls’ skirts from

In the European section of 5 Continents, shoppers can peruse handmade jewelry from Germany.

New Zealand anchor the Oceania raiser to benefit a different cause. Past area. And in the Africa section, hand- events have focused on Haiti relief painted soapstone bowls from Kenya and the House of Hope in Kenya. An share space with bright bangles, purses Earth Day event is being planned to and paper made from elephant pooh highlight the co-op’s earth-related merchandise. (called pooh paper, of course!). Saadé also contributes to the galThe varied assortment provides a wealth of gift ideas as well as special lery’s collection with her own line of jewelry, much of which is treats to brighten any day: inspired by her visits to the hand-woven silk scarves, 5 CONTINENTS Atlanta History Center. Japanese tea, one-of-a-kind 326 Pharr Road “I like to look at old sea glass jewelry pieces, bas- Atlanta 30305 pieces, be they jewelry or kets, pillows and chess sets 404.846.9988 clothing, to see how they’re carved from vegetable ivory. www.5continents.us made,” she says. “The HisThe high-ceilinged space tory Center has everything is filled with clothing for kids and adults; personal and home from the early settlers to World War accessories; paintings and purses. II, and sometimes just seeing items Two shelves are adorned with bright from a particular time frame helps me tea cozies and baby bibs embroidered find inspiration.” The inspirations of Saadé and the by Saadé’s mom, Nicole. There’s even a box of Italian beads for those who many artists at 5 Continents add yet want to create their own jewelry. Prices another dash of international flavor to Buckhead’s global art scene. range from $2 to more than $2,000. Each month, Saadé hosts a fundMarch/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY A & E ON STAGE

Kid at heart “Honk!” resonates with Alliance director

Left: Rosemary Newcott directs high-school students in a performance exercise during the Collision Project at the Alliance Theatre; Right: Justin Tanner performs a song from the musical “Honk!” for the Alliance Theatre’s annual Taste of the Season. Photos by Greg Mooney

By Wendell Brock

osemary Newcott and Kenny Leon go way back. During the ’80s, when they both worked at the old Academy Theatre in Midtown, they drove around the Southeast together doing kids’ shows. Later, when Leon was artistic director of the Alliance Theatre, he picked Newcott to lead the children’s component of the city’s largest playhouse. “I got so much more connected to the Atlanta community through my work with Kenny,” Newcott says. Now under Susan V. Booth, who succeeded Leon at the Alliance in 2001, Newcott immerses herself in creating original plays for youth. “I can’t believe how much new work I am doing,” says Newcott (official title: the 30

Alliance’s Sally G. Tomlinson Artistic Director of Theatre for Youth). Now it’s time for “Honk!”—a musical telling of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Ugly Duckling,” playing at the Alliance March 5-20. We recently spoke to Newcott—a New Jersey native whose intelligent laughter and classic peaches-and-cream complexion recall actress Meryl Streep—about her life and work. Tell us about “Honk!” RN: It won the Olivier Award in England. It’s “The Ugly Duckling” retold in musical form. That story is one that reaches everyone. I mean, everybody feels like an ugly duckling. And the design? RN: It’s all from the perspective of

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

the duck, so there will be giMarch 5-20 ant cattails. The Alliance Theatre world should be 1280 Peachtree really beautiful. Street NE The swan world Atlanta 30309 is gorgeous, 404.733.5000 too. It’s really www.alliancetheatre. kind of an Alorg liance spectacle, things that you couldn’t do in a smaller space. We’re working with the swans as being ballroom dancers. So there’s going to be a lot of partnering. I love “So You Think You Can Dance.” I really love partner dancing, so we are putting a bit of that in between the Cat (Eugene H. Russell IV) and Ugly ( Justin Tanner). “HONK!”

Why does this story appeal to you? RN: It was Hans Christian Andersen’s favorite fairy tale that he wrote. He said, “That’s my biography,” because he considered himself really ugly, but his work was beautiful, and that’s what identified him later on. There’s a national conversation now about bullying. Does the show speak to that? RN: Thank you for bringing that up. It was one of the things that drew me to it to begin with. Absolutely. It is critical. Everybody feels at some time that they have been bullied, but this is the quintessential [expression of it]: “You don’t fit in. Get out.” And one of the key songs is called “Different.” Why is different bad? That’s the whole idea of it. I hope it rings some bells out there.

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 Antica Posta’s oven-baked filet of sea bass, served with fresh seasonal vegetables.

SPOTLIGHT Antica Posta 519 East Paces Ferry Road, NE Atlanta 30305 404.262.7112 www.anticaposta.com When we fall asleep, it’s not sheep jumping over fences that fill our thoughts. We’re dreaming of duck ragu spooned over fat puffs of

spinach-and-ricotta-filled ravioli. And it’s all Antica Posta’s fault. The Betti brothers oversee this authentic Tuscan kitchen nestled on a tree-lined side street in Buckhead. The menu is filled with centuries-old dishes from their family archives, like cappesante con passata di ceci (seared sea scallops atop chickpea purée) and finocchiona (the famed fennelflavored salami). Their light touch means you’ll taste delicate nuance

in the flavors and never leave with that “post-Italian-dinner-weighted-down” feeling. (In fact, the only thing that feels stuffed at Antica Posta is the house-made veal sausage.) Step through the glass doors at this cozy terracotta house for dinner and be transported to a Toscano night that will certainly occupy future dreamy thoughts. For more featured restaurants, see page 41.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS RE VIE W

From its appetizers to its open kitchen to its sultry décor, Sufi’s brings a taste of Persia to Buckhead. Left and top right photos: Andrew Alonso; bottom right photo: James Camp

A passage to Persia Flame-kissed kabobs are the stars at Sufi’s By Wendell Brock

abobs charred on an open flame. Warm, heavenly flatbreads begging to be smeared with salty feta. Buttery rice pilafs. The romance of Persia has come to Peachtree, where diners hungry for clean, fresh flavors and unfussy cooking can feast in luxurious abundance at Sufi’s. Though most of the city’s Persian

restaurants are anchored in Sandy Springs, Sufi’s owners Mohsen Roozi and Fred Nayebi believe Buckhead deserves a destination for their appealing native cuisine. Roozi says he named Sufi’s—in the old Shipfeifer’s gyro joint next to R. Thomas’ Deluxe Grill—after his favorite restaurant in his hometown of Shiraz, Iran. He also says he wanted to call the place Sufi’s

Kitchen, a less-than-veiled reference to the well-established Persian restaurant Rumi’s Kitchen on Roswell Road. Rumi’s proprietors didn’t much like the idea, so they talked him out of it. Slide into one of the pillow-tossed banquettes in this sumac-colored room. Admire the glitzy bar and the

SUFI’S 1814 Peachtree Street Atlanta 30309 404.888.9699 www.sufisatlanta.com Lunch entrées: $8-$22. Dinner entrées: $14-$25. Bottom line: Polished Persian comes to Peachtree.

Continued >> March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS RE VIE W

Above: Lamb kabobs at Sufi’s. Photo by James Camp; Right: Sufi’s main dining room. Photo by Andrew Alonso

Continued from page 33 inviting street-side patio. And let the noshing begin. It starts with sabzi, the accompaniment to every Persian meal. Sufi’s version is a mini-feast, a freebie and quite delicious. It’s a bouquet of fresh tarragon and mint plated with a dribbling of walnuts, olives and radishes; a slab of butter and a hunk of that fantastic feta, which is more creamy than crumbly. Among the appetizers, you might begin with lemony hummus, one of four eggplant dips, or a bowl of fresh yogurt redolent with herbs. We liked the mast kheyar (yogurt stirred with chopped cucumbers and onions). You can smear it on your warm bread, then set it aside to use as a condiment with your main course. We sampled two of the aubergine smash-ups, both wonderfully tasty: Sufi’s Special, a spicy eggplant sauté of onion, garlic, chickpeas and tomato sauce, and the kashk bademjan, a rustic concoction drizzled with yogurt whey and sprinkled with slivers of fried shallot. The dolmeh—fat little grape-leaf cigars stuffed with rice, lentils, chives, tarragon and parsley—were bathed in a pomegranate sauce of ambrosial sweetness.

As with most Middle Eastern cuisines, kabobs (roasted on a spit over an open flame that recalls the most ancient of cooking techniques) are an integral part of the meal. Sufi’s generous portions of long-marinated beef, lamb, chicken, salmon, shrimp—even a whole Cornish hen—do not disappoint. The meats are cooked to a juicy bliss, then gently nudged from their spears onto a plate of saffron-speckled basmati rice, salad greens or both. We liked the chicken, but the star was the classic soltani: a scene-stealing pairing of spicy ground beef (miraculously pressed around the skewer like a long beefy lollipop) and filet mignon that had been pounded into tender oblivion. To add a little flair to these straightforward flavors, try a bit of the earthy, reddish-brown powder kept in a tiny dish on every table. It’s ground sumac, and you might discover that a kabob don’t mean a thing until it’s got that sumac zing. One day at lunch, we were amused by an Iranian eavesdropper at the next table. (I nicknamed the self-professed expert and “food critic” The Professor.) Hearing my indecisiveness over the fesenjoon (a stew of chicken, walnuts and pomegranate), The Professor wiggled his nose and steered me

to the ghormeh sabzi, a beef stew with a gravy of parsley, cilantro, fenugreek and dried lime—which gives the dish a tangy, almost bitter complexity. The Professor was also big on the grilled salmon, which we later tried alongside the baghala polo, a rice dish simmered with chopped fresh dill and fava beans. Not bad, Professor. On our two visits, no alcohol was served, but Roozi promises a full bar once his liquor license comes through. Let’s hope it does. It would be a shame to waste that stylish bar with its shining mirrors and breezy outside space. In the end, it’s almost impossible not to consume a banquet at Sufi’s. While you contemplate dessert (maybe just a cup of hot Persian tea and a bite of baklava), the staff will kindly box up your leftovers. The night we visited, our server promised to bring out a tray of sweets, only to return with the news that the kitchen was out of everything except the pomegranate cheesecake and a pistachio cake. (Where was The Professor when we needed him?) Settling on the cheesecake, we liked the way the pomegranate-seed topping dropped little flavor bombs on the palate. It was a tingly, exotic finish to a night of intense flavors in glorious abundance.

We liked the chicken, but the star was the classic soltani: a scene-stealing pairing of spicy ground beef and filet mignon that had been pounded into tender oblivion.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS

Foodie Journal | Culinary News & Notes Yappy days are here again

Souper Jenny’s Jennifer Levison is naming her new endeavor Café Jonah and the Magical Attic after her 7-year-old son, Jonah, who attends the Galloway School. Joel Silverman Photography

Souper Jenny brews up magic By Wendell Brock

t’s not every day that a kid gets bragging rights to his own namesake café. Jennifer Levison, a professional actress and single mom who has made a living on soup, has birthed a second eatery around the corner from neighborhood favorite Souper Jenny. Housed in the charming cottage formerly occupied by Full Cup, Café Jonah and the Magical Attic is a New Age-y brew of café, coffeehouse and spiritual retreat. It’s named after the Buckhead soup queen’s 7-year-old son, Jonah, who attends The Galloway School. “Jonah thinks it’s all his and he’s a rock star,” Levison chuckles. “All he does is walk around and say he has a restaurant. Hopefully, it will be place for him to work someday.” Levison describes her new endeavor as a cross between a European coffeehouse and the Phoenix & Dragon, an

inspirational shop on Roswell Road. She envisions the upstairs attic as a quiet retreat—a world away from the banter of the thespian-staffed Souper Jenny—where patrons can buy soothing candles, aromatherapy oils, books and cards. “I want it to evolve into a healing center,” she says of her plans to bring in psychics, reflexologists and the like. Food can be therapeutic, too, especially when it’s the kind of local organic produce, artisan breads and desserts that Levison has in mind. Breakfast offerings include a couple of frittatas (goat cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and basil, anyone?), a breakfast sandwich and a build-your-own-fruit-salad bar with Greek yogurt and crunchy toppings. Lunch will feature Levison’s socalled “coffee-house food”—tartines, salad plates, gourmet sandwiches. One thing Levison wants you to know (so don’t ask): “There won’t be soup!” 3188 Paces Ferry Place, Atlanta 30305. 404.343.4107.

Cinnamon, peanut butter, Parmesan and cheddar: Who’s to say that pooches don’t have palates as sophisticated as humans? With her irascible yellow Labrador, Emma, in tow, Peachtree Hills resident Paige Dohoney has opened Woof Gang Bakery Buckhead, a purveyor of delectable gourmet snacks for discriminating doggies. Deliciouslooking cookies and bone-shaped snacks are displayed on a long wooden table under a twinkly chandelier at the bakery, in the same Garden Hills block as Fellini’s Pizza and La Fonda Latina. Dohoney, a 2009 University of Georgia graduate, bought into the franchise after helping her parents open a store in her native Ashville, N.C. While she waits for her commercial oven to arrive, she has been selling products baked and shipped by her parents. Peanut butter bones, peanut and carob-chip cookies, and Parmesan “Cheese Dogs”—all made without sugar, salt or preservatives—are among the top-sellers. And Dohoney isn’t afraid to try her wares. “I tasted every thing on the table,” says the young entrepreneur. 2815 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta 30305. 404.812.9663; www.woofgangbakery. com/locations/buckhead.asp

Woof Gang Bakery’s Peanut Butter Bones 2½ cups water 2½ cups natural peanut butter 2½ cups blackstrap molasses 2 tablespoons canola oil 8 cups whole-wheat flour Combine water, peanut butter, molasses and canola oil in a mixing bowl. Slowly add flour and mix on low speed until all ingredients are combined into dough. Turn the dough out on a kitchen surface. Working in small batches, roll the dough into 1-inch-thick pieces. Cut treats with a cookie cutter and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. To help reduce air bubbles, cover with a baking sheet. Bake at 325 degrees in a convection oven for 25-30 minutes (longer if in a conventional oven), flipping after the first 15 minutes. Continue baking until thoroughly done. Turn off oven and leave treats in the warm oven to dry overnight. Next morning, remove from oven and store in airtight containers.

Paige Dohoney (shown here with her yellow Labrador Retriever, Emma) opened Woof Gang Bakery Buckhead late last year. Woof Gang’s gourmet doggie treats are made in house, and seasonal items are a specialty. For St. Patrick’s Day, Dohoney offers leprechaun and four-leaf-clover cookies; for Easter, iced pastel eggs and bunnies. Alecia Lauren Photography

Continued >> March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

SI MPLY DELI CI OUS F OOD IE JOU RNAL Continued from page 35

Having a Gatsby moment In this age of Groupon and Scoutmob, it seems everybody is looking for a deal. We couldn’t resist checking out Livingston Restaurant + Bar’s “Millionaire Monday,” where $16 will buy you a six-ounce filet mignon or a whole lobster, plus your choice of soup or salad and a side. (No coupon necessary.) The steak was killer, and at that price we could surely spring for dessert. We loved the pear-and-cranberry beignet-style fried pie with crème-fraîche ice cream and bourbon caramel sauce ($7). Monday nights may be dark at the Fox Theatre across the street, but this opulent dining room in the elegant Georgian Terrace Hotel has got some juicy entertainment on its plates.

THE SOUTHEAST’S LARGEST SELECTION OF WORLD CLASS BEER!

659 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta 30308. 404.897.5000; www.livingstonatlanta.com

Puttin’ on the Ritz for about $20 a head Our swell night at Livingston got us sniffing around for other fine-dining bargains, and here’s what we came up with: Gimme the Onassis special: We die to take the yacht to Kyma for its $7 Sundays, where Executive Chef Pano I. Karatassos sends out his little Aegean-inspired mezes. Grilled oysters with coriander, lemon and mint; cod fritters; sardine tartine; seared tuna with wild ’shrooms; shrimp “souvlaki” — all of the chef’s signature small plates are on parade. As spring approaches, we can’t think of a nicer way to spend an afternoon than on Kyma’s patio.

Livingston Restaurant + Bar, where you can dine like the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers on Millionaire Mondays.

Question: How did Jackie O. manage to stay rich and thin by eating Greek food? Answer: She didn’t. 3085 Piedmont Road, Atlanta 30305. 404.262.0702; www.buckheadrestaurants. com/kyma/ Goin’ just swimmingly: Goin’ Coastal Seafood in Virginia-Highland is offering an irresistible catch on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights. For $15, you get a 1-pound sustainable live Maine lobster, with shoestring (naturally) fries and house-made coleslaw. Reel me in. 1021 Virginia Avenue NE, Atlanta 30306. 404.941.9117; www.goincoastalseafood.com A selection of Kyma’s $7 Sunday mezes: It’s a trip to the Aegean that won’t cost you a fortune.

Enjoy Atlanta’s favorite family friendly sports restaurant and bar. Serving the best wings, burgers, salads and more.

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

Wine Shoe in Castleberry Hill offers more than 150 handpicked selections, tastings and more. Photos by Alex Neely Photography

Best bottle buys A wine lover’s guide to shopping in Buckhead

By Gregory D. McCluney

here can you find that perfect bottle of wine to complement your special dinner? Where should you stock up for a big party? There are lots of places in Buckhead to buy wine. But when you need more—personal assistance with food pairings, serving tips, how many wines and how much to buy—the list shrinks quickly. We can help. Simply Buckhead has done the homework for you and checked out Buckhead’s wine shops—large, small and in-between. Here are our picks, organized by category.

Grocery Stores While they rank high on convenience, offering one-stop shopping for groceries and wine, most major grocery stores offer little else to lure the wine shopper. Large buys from huge producers who mostly hail from California and Australia dominate their shelves. And generally, you will pay a bit more for this convenience. But if you must buy wine when you shop for detergent, check out our pick, Buckhead’s Whole Foods Market.

n Whole Foods Market 77 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.324.4100 www.wholefoodsmarket.com Buckhead’s favorite grocer offers a true wine-buying experience. Wine specialists are on duty to assist and answer questions, the selection is huge and interesting, and the pricing in most cases is competitive.

Continued >>

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Let us bring the tastes

of Italy to you!

SI MPLY DELI CI O U S WINE F EAT U RE

Continued from page 37

Package Stores

They come in all sizes and shapes, and some offer even fewer wines than grocery stores. Others see wine as an important part of their business, more than Bud and Smirnoff. Our picks take wine seriously and offer wine education, trained specialists and wine events.

Pizzas • Pastas • Soups • Salads • Coffee • Desserts & Gelato • Beer & Wine

Feed the Whole Family! $20 Family Night

$22 Nonna’s Dinner

Full Pan of Pizza, Endless Salad & Sodas for 4

Endless Pasta, Salad & Sodas for 4 people

Mondays & Wednesdays, after 5p.m.

All Day, Every Sunday

For more specials:

Pizzeria Venti

2770 Lenox Rd., Atlanta, Georgia 30324 • (404) 228-2013 • www.pizzeriaventi-atlanta.com

n Ansley Wine Merchants 1544 Piedmont Road NE Atlanta 30324 404.876.6790 www.ansleywine.com An established, family-owned, full-line retailer for years, Ansley Wine Merchants offers great service and off-premise events. n Green’s 2614 Buford Highway NE Atlanta 30324 404.321.6232 www.greensbeverages.com Huge selection of wine, beer and spirits and a trained staff, wine dinners and tastings; order your Bordeaux futures here. n Pearson’s Wine of Atlanta 3072 Early Street Atlanta 30305 404.231.8752 www.pearsonswine.net Off-premises tastings, wine specialists on the floor, deep selections, and your favorite beers and spirits. n Tower Beer, Wine & Spirits 2161 Piedmont Road Atlanta 30324 404.881.0902 www.towerwinespirits.com Full-line package store with deep, varied wine selections and a trained staff to assist.

Wine Shops/Stores

For a pure wine play, Buckhead’s wineonly shops are hard to beat if you like to linger and talk wine, indulge in tastings and dinners, meet a winemaker and just feel the vibe. n Atlantic Wine 3906 Roswell Road NE Atlanta 30342 404.846.5770 www.atlanticwineinc.com Personal service, wine education and

dinners are offered in this intimate wine shop. n Cellar 13 3765 Roswell Road Atlanta 30342 404.816.4071 www.cellar13.com This cozy addition in the heart of Buckhead is all about wine, personal attention and service. n The Grape Phipps Plaza 3500 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30326 678.990.9463 www.thegrape.com Enjoy lunch, dinner, bar service and retail sales, plus the Phipps scene, all in one location. n Pour Village Place 1418 Dresden Drive Atlanta 30319 404.474.9563 www.pourwinemarket.com A new addition to the east side, Pour is a rustic tasting room, popular wine bar and retail shop. n Sherlock’s Brookhaven Wine Merchant 4062 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30319 404.949.9945 www.sherlocks.com Just to the east of Buckhead, this Sherlock’s boasts a tasting bar, trained staff and cookware selection. n Sherlock’s Buckhead Wine Merchant 3401 Northside Parkway Atlanta 30327 404.233.1514 www.sherlocks.com Wines are king here in the Westside Buckhead location founded by Atlanta’s Jim Sanders, in an expanded store by the Sherlock group. n Wine Shoe Castleberry Hill 339 Nelson Street SW Atlanta 30313 404.577.2000 www.wineshoeatlanta.com OK, it’s a few minutes south, but worth the trip. Lots of wine education here and 150 handpicked selections in a unique, artsy setting. Don’t miss the manager—a very large German Shepherd!

Check out the shops convenient to you; talk with the wine consultants and see which suits your style. It’s not only fun, it’s part of the wine experience.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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

Skinny dishing Healthy recipes make this Atlanta-based chef a hit at The Viking Store and CNN By Wendell Brock

othing is more frustrating to Donna Brousseau than a person who turns up his nose at a fabulous meal. “I find the most boring people in the world are the people who don’t enjoy food,” says the delightfully opinionated Canadianborn chef. But as much as Brousseau enjoys rich French sauces and her mom’s Whoopie Pies, she knows she shouldn’t always indulge. By creating healthy recipes that cut calories without sacrificing flavor, the chatty, telegenic chef has been able to market herself in the food world—as a writer, cooking-show personality on CNN’s AccentHealth and favorite face around The Viking Store Atlanta, where she teaches classes on food and wine. Judging by the 46-year-old’s trim physique, her slenderizing “tricks” appear to be working. Over a cup of coffee and lots of laughs, the indefatigable tipster shared stories about her life, career and passion for eating with gusto. “Everyone who knows me knows I love to eat and drink,” she says. “But it better taste good, or I’m not going to bother.” How did you get into healthy eating? My mom has Type 2 diabetes. Half my family is overweight and half isn’t. I thought: What do I do that’s different from them? We both like great food. But I do a lot of little tricks. The food tastes the same, but nobody knows how I got there. … Even though all those grand French sauces taste fan-

WHERE TO FIND DONNA BROUSSEAU Classes: The Viking Store 1745 Peachtree St. NE Atlanta 30309 404.745.9064 www.thevikingstore.net AccentHealth videos and recipes: AccentHealth.com/recipes Personal website: www.skinnydishing.com

tastic—you can’t dispute that—a couple of changes and you can still have them. How did you become a food professional? I worked for the government of Canada for 15 years as a fraud investigator. On the side, I had a catering company. In 1999, I took the first e-business class in Canada, went to Manhattan and got a job right at the cusp of the Internet craze as a producer at a media company. I was there on 9/11, and I quit my job a couple of days later. I thought, “I have been flirting with this cooking thing all my life, and that’s it. I don’t want to do anything that’s not going to make me happy.” (Saying good-bye to the corporate world, she studied at the French Culinary Institute in New York, cooked professionally in France, Italy and Ottawa, and moved to Atlanta six years ago when her husband’s job with IBM brought him here.) Continued >>

Donna Brousseau. Haigwood Studios

Donna’s Skinny Tips 1. Low-fat buttermilk is a great alternative to cream in a recipe. 2. Use lemon juice, vinegar or other acidity before reaching for salt. 3. Fresh herbs add flavor without calories. 4. Keep a well-stocked pantry; it will keep you away from the drive-in window. 5. Think colorful when eating healthy. Orange (sweet potatoes, pumpkin) is full of beta-carotene; red (tomatoes, watermelon) is loaded with lycopene. 6. When baking, replace half the white flour with whole wheat and you will hardly notice the difference. 7. Get kids in the kitchen; they’ll have a harder time saying “yuck” if they helped cook it. 8. Miso and quinoa not only taste fantastic, but are great sources of low-calorie protein. 9. Cut sugar in half by using mashed ripe bananas in baked goods. March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

SI MPLY DELI CI OUS TAST EMAK ER

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ChooSe YoUr diSCoUnt!

$10 oFF Supplies or Framing or

20% oFF a Class or Workshop

How did you get on AccentHealth? I was teaching at a couple of schools, and AccentHealth through Turner Broadcasting was scouting for a healthy chef. They are kind of few and far between. So I did a video for them. I had never done one before. They had thought about going with a big name; they have like 12.5 million viewers a month. They have a website, and the show is broadcast in doctors’ offices. I’ve been really fortunate that they have allowed me to do this. What do you teach at Viking? Everything. Absolutely everything. Because I am French-trained, I’ll do some of the French classes. And I teach a six-week wine program.

Wine? Tell us more. I always tell everyone, “Make sure you eat a lot before you come.” Forget all this silly “it tastes like the dust of a Shakespearean novel that’s been kept in the library for 12 years” business. That doesn’t sound like me, right? You might love that $4 bottle with the screw cap. But when you learn more, you see objectively how much you should pay for that wine. So you learn about the balance and the elements. If you have a wine that’s spectacular and well-balanced and crazy-good, then you are probably going to have to pay a little more. … A really special bottle of wine is like a relationship. If it’s OK, it’s probably going to be a one-night stand. If it’s special, it’s probably going to be a relationship. You are going to do it again. Every night.

SIMPLYBUCKHEAD. Expires April 30, 2011. The $10 discount applies to a purchase of $50 or more. One coupon per transaction. This coupon may not be combined with any other BINDERS coupon. Not valid on previous sales.

Piedmont PeAChtree CroSSinG 3330 Piedmont road Suite 18

404.237.6331

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

Donna Brousseau’s Chocolate Pumpkin Whoopie Pies Brousseau grew up thinking her mom invented Whoopie Pies. Then she discovered them on the menu at Muss & Turner’s, and the spell was broken. The chef created this lighter version, which comes to 240 calories per pie, for her health-conscious 19-year-old daughter. Ingredients ¾ cup all-purpose flour ¼ cup whole-wheat flour ¼ cup dark cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons maple syrup ¼ cup pumpkin 1 egg ½ cup nonfat buttermilk 2 tablespoons melted butter 1 teaspoon fresh ginger 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, divided ¼ cup nonfat cream cheese ¾ cup marshmallow fluff Directions Preheat oven to 350°F.

School Sales 40

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Make the cakes: Whisk together flours, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl until combined.

Donna Brousseau’s Chocolate Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, a lighter version of her mom’s special that she created for her daughter. Donna Brousseau

Stir together maple syrup, pumpkin, egg, buttermilk, melted butter, ginger and 1 teaspoon of the vanilla in a medium bowl. Mix dry ingredients with wet ingredients until well-mixed and smooth (either by hand or with electric mixer). Spoon 1/4-cup mounds of batter about 2 inches apart onto two sprayed baking sheets. Bake until tops are puffed and cakes spring back when touched, 7 minutes or so. Transfer with a metal spatula to a rack to cool completely. Make filling: Beat together the cream cheese, marshmallow and remaining teaspoon of vanilla in bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Assemble pies: Spread a rounded tablespoon of filling on flat sides of half of cakes and top with remaining cakes.

S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS

Featured Restaurants | A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead By Stephanie Davis Smith

n The Big Ketch Saltwater Grill 3279 Roswell Road Atlanta 30305 404.474.9508 www.thebigketch.com Definitely drop anchor in one of these booths for lunch or dinner. To eat a blackened scallop dipped in Georgia peach sauce here is to feel like you are dockside and not in bustling, landlocked Buckhead. As a rule, the chefs opt for healthy ingredients like oil and wine instead of mayo or butter. The fresh-daily fish sandwiches (try the grouper or lobster roll) are scr-yumptious, but everything plays second fiddle to their brilliantly battered two-bite hush puppies. n Bistro Niko 3344 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30305 404.261.6456 www.buckheadrestaurants. com/bistro-niko.com It’s a shame that chef Gary Donlick’s shrine to Paris bistros and French kitchens is perched, not alongside the Seine, but on the thoroughfare that is Peachtree Street. Lucky for us Atlantans, its authentic offerings—velvety rillette spreads, Gruyère cheese puffs, salmon Croque Monsieur and steak frites—can transport us to the Champs-Elysées without the outrageous airfare. Francophiles will delight in habit-forming Boeuf Bourguignon and Crisp Duck Confit. n Buckhead Bottle Bar 268 East Paces Ferry Road NE Atlanta 30305 404.474.9892 www.buckheadbottlebar.com In ritzy Buckhead, you’ll spot dozens of trendy restaurants advertising high-end comfort food. At BBB, you get the real deal—mac ’n’ cheese spring rolls with a sweet pepper dip, tomato soup with cheddar cheese toast and broiled shrimp on a pepperjack grit cake with pickled peppers. The Big Boy Burger requires you to put on your roomy (a.k.a. “big boy”) pants—it’s 12 ounces

of juicy burger, cheddar, fried onion rings and a secret sauce. n Café at the Stalls 116 Bennett Street Atlanta 30309 404.352.4430 www.thestalls.com Finding this spot requires an explorer’s nature and a Lewis and Clarke-style stomach. Hidden inside The Stalls at Bennett Street Antique Market among art and antiquities is a tasty café frequented by Buckhead’s gallery insiders. If you don’t pick up a Victorian-era bamboo desk, then definitely pick up the grilled pimento cheese sandwich with bacon and tomato. n Café Lapin Peachtree Battle Shopping Center 2341 Peachtree Road Unit C Atlanta 30305 404.812.9171 www.cafelapin.com Oui! Oui! We’re regulars at this Parisian patisserie. (“Best croissants I’ve had outside of Paris!” squeals one fan.) Elegant slices of asparagus tart cozy up next to baconwrapped strawberries with bleu-cheese panna cotta and zucchini fritters with lemon crème fraîche. Sure, meatloaf feels more American than French country cuisine, but their bacon-wrapped version paired with haricots verts or gratin dauphinois with broccoli is all kinds of ooh la la. n Coast 111 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.869.0777 www.h2sr.com/coast Crowds with deep-sea devotion set sail often for Coast’s signature oversized dishes. Although you’ll find the usual steamed clams and snow crab legs done divinely, this restaurant has some original dishes like a Chinese hot chili seafood mix and shrimpand-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 hush puppies play second mate to any order. The white-tablecloth crowd is gone from Seeger’s and Home (the restaurants that occupied the space previously); instead you’ll find a lively bunch of Atlanta’s toniest dressed comfortably casual to hit up their fave neighborhood spot. n Corner Café 3070 Piedmont Road Atlanta 30305 404.240.1978 www.buckheadrestaurants. com/corner-cafe There’s a reason they don’t do dinner—because few do brunch or lunch better. 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. A 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 EVOS 5590 Roswell Road, Suite 140 Atlanta 30342 404.252.4022 www.evos.com Like the Fountain of Youth or the Holy Grail—a hamburger, fries and shake spot with half the fat and calories seems like a tall tale. At EVOS, the myth materializes. Feel good about chowing down here. The Steakburger (430 calories) is hormone- and antibioticfree. Fries (230 calories) are Airbaked™, 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.

n Hal’s 30 Old Ivy Road Atlanta 30342 404.261.0025 www.hals.net Here’s bona fide proof that taste always beats out trendy. Expect a high-end steak house filled with rowdy regulars dressed in business casual. Most order the ever-faithful filet or New York Strip; both are perfectly licked by the flames of an open grill. But don’t discount Creole creations like gumbo, crawfish tails and shrimp remoulade. Hints of New Orleans inspiration are alive in the atmosphere, too: The bar area is a smattering of characters who pass the time jamming out or talking above the sounds of live jazz, Delta blues and old rock ’n’ roll. Regulars and newcomers will appreciate the new expanded front room and an addition upstairs of two private rooms, a bar and patio that is getting glassed in even as we speak. n Henri’s 61 Irby Avenue Atlanta 30305 404.237.0202 www.henrisbakery.com A second-nature stop for almost all Atlanta lunch-goers, Henri’s has been part of the fabric of Buckhead life for generations. A classic order-totaste deli, their egg salad and pimento cheese sandwiches are unmistakably Southern. Give in to the temptation of a snickerdoodle, elephant ear or chocolate-dipped shortbread. Want pure perfection? Wash down a hot Cuban on sourdough with a bubbly Orangina. n Holeman & Finch Public House 2277 Peachtree Road, Suite B Atlanta 30309 404.948.1175 www.holeman-finch.com

The burger steals the show, though. Each night at 9:30, 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 The 300 Calorie Club at Pizzeria Venti is the kind of club every healthy eater wants membership in. Fortunately, there’s no fee or meeting attendance required to be part of this tasty crew. Just show up and know that you have three full lunch choices for under 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 Seasons 52 3050 Peachtree Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.846.1552 www.seasons52.com They pull tomatoes in the summer. Asparagus in the spring. Butternut squash and tangerines in the winter, too. Every plate gets a seasonal reworking when the calendar turns over. But no matter the month or weather outside, every item remains under 475 calories all year long. Hence the stylish restaurant’s apropos moniker. Begin with one of their savory flatbreads and close with a Mini Indulgence (single-serving dessert) and you can’t go amiss.

Linton Hopkins does beautiful things with meat; there’s a reason James Beard named him one of the best chefs in the Southeast. Witness his ground, stuffed, cured, fermented and tied versions of duck, lamb, beef and pork.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 1 | S I M P LY BU C K H E A D

Cover Story pets & kids The cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best bloggers share the very best ideas and events for kids and pooches

Caroline Petters

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Above: Treats from Woof Gang Bakery.

Alecia Lauren Photography

Left: Dogs can find designer duds at Glamour Paws.

What every Buckhead pet wants Boutique finds for the furry kind By Diane Silver

If you’re a Buckhead pooch or kitty, there’s simply no reason to go without. Whether you want the finest in healthy, organic foods and treats or the latest in top fashion accessories, there’s a pet boutique in the neighborhood to suit every style and taste! And if it’s customer service you’re looking for, all of these shops are staffed with folks who will cater to your every whim. Woof Gang Bakery Don’t let the name fool you. Woof Gang Bakery, the newest addition to Buckhead’s pet boutique scene, is much more than a doggie bakery. While it’s worthy of a trip just for its handmade, gourmet dog treats, this shop also carries a unique collection of stylish boutique items like collars and leads, apparel, toys and a wide selection of premium dog and cat food. Franchise owner Page Dohoney opened the boutique in November and offers a variety of in-store events, from networking sessions with your BDF (Best Dog Friend) to fundraisers for local pet rescues. Woof Gang Bakery 2815 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30305 404.812.9663 www.woofgangbakery.com

CityDog Market It’s Trader Joe’s meets Whole Foods at CityDog Market, located in Brookhaven since 2008. Says coowner Renee Palmer: “Think of us as a health-food store for dogs and cats.” But they carry more than just food, like dog beds made with recycled plastic bottles and earth-friendly toys. Check out the wheat- and corn-free treats made exclusively for CityDog Market, with names like “Better than a Belly Rub Bars” and “Fur-Tatta Treats.” A self-service dog wash also is available. 4244 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30319 404.816.8050 www.citydogmarket.com Highland Pet Supply From its large selection of organic food and treats to its fashionable jackets and comfy beds, Highland Pet Supply has been the go-to spot for hardto-find items and everyday essentials for neighborhood pets since 1992. “We always try to find items made in the USA, even better if they’re local,” says Manager Toni Barry. Sure enough, you can check out delicious-smelling Shampoochie Herbal Dog Shampoo from Georgia-based Greenstone Soap Company (www.greenstonesoap.com). Or make sure your pup is both stylish and protected with a handmade, dura-

ble ID tag from Atlanta’s own Fetching Tags (www.fetchingtags.net). 1186 North Highland Avenue Atlanta 30306 404.892.5900 www.highlandpet.com Glamour Paws If ready-to-wear makes you sniff in disdain, head to Glamour Paws for upscale dog clothes and luxury products. Adorable Romy and Jacob jackets (www.romyandjacob.com) and custom-ordered Bessie and Barnie beds (www.bessieandbarnie.com) with coordinating accessories are sure to please any pampered pooch. For the classic canine, argyle sweaters and puffer jackets in pink and green are staples. Says owner Nichole Ferguson, “Preppy is always in!” For the pup who wants it all, Glamour Paws also offers full-service grooming as well as ecofriendly collars and toys, organic treats and food, and special events to show off that new finery.

BIO Diane Silver is a public relations/ social media consultant and pet lifestyle blogger for To Dog With Love. She lives with her dog @ CosmoHavanese in Morningside. When Cosmo isn’t busy with agility trials or shopping his favorite pet stores, he uses social media to help raise funds and awareness for animal rescues all over the world. www.todogwithlove. blogspot.com

776 North Highland Avenue NE Atlanta 30306 404.885.9285 www.glamourpaws.net

Continued >> March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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

Buckhead’s best family attraction And the winner is… By Amy Querido

One of the main benefits of living in Buckhead is its proximity to many fun, family-friendly places around town. But within Buckhead itself you’ll find what is, without a doubt, the best family attraction of all…drumroll please… the Atlanta History Center. Don’t let the word “history” fool you into thinking that this is yet another boring museum where you and your brood will just wander around aimlessly. As soon as you walk in, your kids can stop by the Kid’s Corner to play a little game like “Who is Who in History?” or spend some quiet time reading books like Good Night Atlanta. The main exhibits have interactive displays and encourage kids to touch and learn. Kids will absolutely love the Centennial Olympic Games Museum, where they can try out sports like the long jump and cycling. Don’t forget to check out the schedule for a guided tour of the Tullie Smith Farm and the Swan House. Kids will get a kick out of the costumed guide who leads tours of the houses and explains activities typical of people from the 19th century. With admission totaling $16.50 per adult and $11 per kid (ages 4-12), the Atlanta History Center is also one of the best values for the family in Buckhead.

Top 5 Free Things to Do in Buckhead

Let your imagination take flight at the DeKalb Peachtree Airport Playground. Take a quick drive to the DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) playground and let the kids run loose while you (and perhaps the kiddos too!) enjoy watching small airplanes take off and land. www.pdkairport.org/restoration.asp

INFO BOX Atlanta History Center 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.814.4000 www.atlantahistorycenter.com

Make like Kermit at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Every Thursday from 1 to 3 p.m., the whole family can visit the Center for Puppetry Arts’ museum exhibits for free. www.puppet.org

Run and play at Chastain Park. Enjoy a nice day out at the park with the whole family—this one boasts great amenities like walking trails, a playground, grills, pavilions and a swimming pool. www.chastainpark.org/ park.htm

Teach the value of a dollar at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. All kids should learn about money. Take a guided tour of the Visitors Center and Monetary Museum, which features a display on the history of money and a view of the bank’s automated vault and cash-processing areas. www.frbatlanta.org/about/tours/

Book it at the Buckhead Library. Enjoy free story time at the library with your babies or toddlers. Check for schedule and time. www.afpls.org/buckheadbranch

BIO Amy Querido lives in Atlanta with her two school-age kids. She loves to find deals and cheap things to do with them in Atlanta. She shares her discoveries with locals at her blogs (www.AtlantaWithKid.com and www.AtlantaDealSites. com). When she’s not busy with her blogs, you can easily find her dreaming and scheming their next trips.

An aerial view of the DeKalb Peachtree Airport Playground, located beneath the traffic-control tower. PDK Staff Left: A performance at the Center for Puppetry Arts. Kathryn Kolb © Center for Puppetry Arts

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Pooches enjoy the patio at Nancy G’s. Pets and the Sit-y

Sit, stay, eat Your pups can tag along to these Buckhead patios By Ashley Hesseltine

BIO Ashley Hesseltine is entering her third year as a proud, loving (and often crazed) owner of a rescued dog named Dewey. You can read about his antics, as well as hers, at www.hesseltime.com.

As the weather warms, Atlanta’s endless patio options are calling your name. But someone else is calling your name, too—your dog. He or she also wants to enjoy the outdoors, and lucky for both of you, Buckhead has plenty of spots in which to dine, drink and soak in the warm temps with your pup by your side. Nancy G’s prides itself on its “feels-like-home” atmosphere and contemporary Southern cooking. Enjoy dishes like fried green tomatoes and shrimp and grits on the patio, and let your pup order from the “Doggie Dining” menu, which includes everything from tiny treats to chicken-andsausage meals. And, in true VIPup style, every canine gets his or her own water bowl. If you’re craving Italian cuisine, you can bring your family, friends and furry loved ones to Pizzeria Venti for pizza, pasta and patio-lounging. Dogs are always welcome and, chances are, your pup will sit next to your table, waiting for a meatball to roll off your plate. More additions to your dog-friendly repertoire are two of Atlanta’s favorite “tucked-away” spots, Mosaic and Treehouse, both of which welcome those of the canine persuasion on their cozy patios. Whether you’re enjoying Treehouse’s casual dining underneath the leaves or noshing on Mosaic’s slightly fancier fare (like rosemary salmon and filet mignon), your pup can get in on the action and stay fully hydrated as both spots offer water bowls on the patios at all times. Dogs love all meals, but if yours especially likes accompanying you for a late breakfast, Treehouse, Nancy G’s and Mosaic all offer weekend brunching as well. Those guilty feelings of leaving your pup at home while you’re out on the town are a thing of the past.

East Andrews Yappy Hour attendees.

Hair of the Dog If you prefer the bar scene and your pup is a party animal too, Yappy Hour at East Andrews on the terrace is a must-attend for you both. Sip on canineinspired cocktails (Salty Dog, anyone?) while your little one enjoys all the water he or she can drink and treats galore. Yappy Hour begins in March and occurs monthly, typically on Wednesday evenings beginning at 5:30 p.m. Check www.eastandrews.com for dates. n East Andrews 56 East Andrews Drive, Suite 10 Atlanta 30305 404.869.1132 www.eastandrews.com n Nancy G’s 4920 Roswell Road, Suite 55 Atlanta 30342

404.705.8444 www.nancygscafe.com n Pizzeria Venti 2770 Lenox Road Atlanta 30324 404.228.2013 www.pizzeriaventiatlanta.com n Mosaic 3097 Maple Drive

Atlanta 30305 404.846.5722 www.mosaicatl.com n Treehouse 7 Kings Circle Atlanta 30305 404.266.2732 www.treehousecatlanta. com

Continued >> March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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

Family affairs

Birthdays made simple Where to find the best birthday parties in Buckhead

Top spring events for parents and kids By Meghan Cooper

As we move away from our brutal winter, you’ll start to see more events hitting the calendars. It’s the time when we come out of hibernation, brush off the snow and get out and about. Here are some family-friendly events to keep you busy this spring. St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival March 12, 12 p.m. Enjoy St. Patrick’s day with this fabulous event for the whole family. Beginning at the intersection of Ralph McGill Boulevard and Peachtree Street, the parade ends at Underground Atlanta with vendors, food and free entertainment. Your family will enjoy laughing at clowns, petting horses and dogs, and dancing along with Irish dancers. www.stpatsparadeatlanta.com Atlanta History Center Magic Mondays March 14, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Take your toddlers (18 months to 5 years old) to the Atlanta History Center for their Magic Mondays program, where they’ll meet new friends and enjoy story time and a craft or activity. While you’re there, check out Tullie Smith Farm and its 33 acres of woodland trails and gardens. www.atlantahistorycenter.com Easter Egg Hunt at Chastain Park April 23, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Hunt Easter eggs in beautiful Chastain Park at an event sponsored by Peachtree Presbyterian Church. Enjoy some Chick-Fil-A or your own picnic lunch in between jellybeans! Invite your friends and their kids to join you for a fun time of goofing off at the playground and hunting eggs. Nothing brings smiles to kids’ faces like finding handfuls of candy! (Ages 2 and under will hunt at 10:30 a.m.; ages 3 to 5 will hunt at 10:45 a.m.; ages 6 and up will hunt at 11 a.m.) www.peachtreepres.org/ ChildrensPrograms.aspx Celebrate Shakespeare’s Birthday April 23, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Join Georgia Shakespeare for a fun-filled afternoon at Oglethorpe University to celebrate William Shakespeare’s birthday. You’ll take part in Shakespeare-themed arts and crafts, face painting, performances, and, of course, birthday cake! www.gashakespeare.org

BIO Meghan Cooper is the creator of Atlanta Moms on the Move, a website for family-friendly events in and around Atlanta. She’s also a busy mom trying to keep up with her little JaMonkey. When she isn’t being supermom or blogging about her family and local events, she’s a marketing coordinator. www.atlmomsonthemove.com

By Jessica Jones

BIO Jessica Jones is an Atlanta-area mother of three and blogger. She enjoys exploring everything the city has to offer with her kids and sharing what they do around town and at home with her readers. From reviews of local attractions to funny stories to giveaways and deals, Atlanta Mothers Guide www. atlmomguide.com has a lot to offer the mothers of Atlanta!

INFO BOX Art & Soul Pottery Studio 4920 Roswell Road Atlanta 30342 404.303.9959 www.artandsoulpotterystudio. com Buckhead Pizza Co. 3324 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30326 404.869.0678 www.buckheadpizzaco.com Mighty Jumps 1019B Collier Road Atlanta 30318 404.351.1818 www.mightyjumps.com Young Chefs Academy: Sandy Springs 220 Hammond Drive NE, Suite 368 Sandy Springs 30328 404.255.9263 www.youngchefsacademy.com/ sandysprings

Living in Atlanta means having a huge selection of great places to celebrate your child’s special day! In my search for the perfect party place, I came across everything from Buckhead Pizza Company (where your kids can make their own pizza) to Art & Soul Pottery Studio (where they can tie dye shirts and paint their own plates). If your kid loves to help in the kitchen, then The Young Chefs Academy of Sandy Springs is the place for Junior’s shindig. You can host a themed party there where kids can make Alien Pizza or fondue. Have a teen or tween in your life? She and her friends can whip up “copycat recipes” like Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino, California Pizza Kitchen pizza and Olive Garden salad. Another great party place for children is Mighty Jumps in the heart of Buckhead. Boasting bouncy houses, arcade games, a snack bar and toddler area, this place has everything a family could want. Plus, to celebrate your child’s special day, they also have private party rooms decorated with your little one’s favorite character.

Great Birthday Freebies Let these Atlanta businesses chip in to make your child’s birthday memorable •

Tell Publix it’s your child’s first birthday, and they’ll give you a free smash cake when you purchase a regular cake.

•

Join the Toys“R”Us Birthday Club and your child will receive a phone call and card from Geoffrey the Giraffe, along with a special gift.

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Register online with Zaxby’s, Burger King, Captain D’s, Moe’s and Sonic, and your child will receive a free kids’ meal on his big day.

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Coldstone Creamery, Baskin-Robbins, Marble Slab Creamery and Bruster’s all offer ice-cream coupons by mail after registration.

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Kiddie Kandids and Olan Mills both offer free portraits and discounts for the birthday child.

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Register online with Monkey Joe’s and your birthday child gets one free admission during the week of his or her birthday.

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

Boot camp participants paint their own masterpieces. Binders Art Store

Spotlight Binders Oil Painting Boot Camp April 3, 12-5 p.m. Binders Art Store 3330 Piedmont Road, Suite 18 Atlanta 30305 404.237.6331 www.bindersart.com

Whether you haven’t picked up a brush since childhood or you’re a seasoned painter looking to revisit the basics, Binders Art Store has your boot camp (and you don’t even have to fake it through the push-ups). Train with Instructor J.Z. Torre as he walks you through the technical aspects of your artsy side. Torre developed the boot camp after realizing that many of his

students had never learned the basics of oil painting. He’ll pass on ways to slow down or speed up oil-drying time and the ABCs and 123s of the artist’s toolbox. He’s known for his personal attention to students and the class is great for beginners with questions. The class is $90/person before March 18 and after that, $105/ person.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY HA PP N E ING

Simply Buzz | Events, exhibits, galas and more By Margaret Watters

Variety Show and Benefit at 14th Street Playhouse March 11-12, 8 p.m. The 14th Street Playhouse 173 14th Street Atlanta 30309 404.733.4738 www.14thstplayhouse.org

Jam to your favorite music icons like Cher, Elvis (uhhuh), Madonna, Britney Spears and more at the Seasons of Love IX: CHRIS Kids. Your $41 ticket to this variety show will benefit CHRIS kids, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting children in Georgia’s welfare system. Who knows— one of these little numbers may have you dancing in the aisle. Olympic Fun at the Atlanta History Center March 14, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Atlanta History Center 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.814.4000 www.atlantahistorycenter.com

Grab your toddler (18 months to 5 years old) and head to the Atlanta History Center for a 1996 rewind. Kids will learn about the Games through the Centennial Olympic Games Museum exhibit, where they’ll see Olympic medals, torches and other memorabilia. The small athletes can also compete against each other in Olympic-inspired activities. Admission is $5 for children and $6 for nonmember adults. Free Lunchtime Concert at the Rialto Center March 16, 12 p.m. Rialto Center 80 Forsyth Street NW Atlanta 30303 404.413.9849 www.rialtocenter.org

Pack your lunch, break free from your cubicle confines and head to the Rialto Center for an hour’s respite with its “Feed Your Senses” series. Everything from jazz to world music is performed free on

the third Wednesday of the month in the lobby of this downtown performing arts hall. Get there early to grab a chair right by the action. Cloris Leachman’s One Woman Show March 18-19, 8 p.m. The Buckhead Theatre 3110 Roswell Road Atlanta 30305 404.843.2825 www.thebuckheadtheatre.com

With 75 years in showbiz under her belt, Cloris Leachman has some things to say. You may recognize her as the sassy grandmother from Raising Hope, you might have seen her shake it on Dancing with the Stars, or perhaps you remember her from playing opposite Katharine Hepburn on Broadway in As You Like It. The nine-time Emmy winner (the most held by an actor) has an exciting career and “Cloris! A One Woman Show” shares the laughs behind the years. Publix Georgia Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K March 18-20 Publix Georgia Marathon 285 International Blvd. Atlanta 30313 404.832.0786 www.georgiamarathon.com

How’d those New Year’s resolutions go? Yeah … us too. Reverse the cycle, lace up those running shoes and get moving with the Publix Georgia Marathon and Half Marathon. The weekend’s events include a kid’s fun run and 5k in Grant Park, a fitness expo at the Georgia Dome and a half and full marathon (which start at Centennial Olympic Park). With so many options, there’s a reason for every member of the family to get going. Check online for the full schedule.

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Coffee Tasting and Lecture March 22, 7:30-8:30 p.m. Carlos Hall, Michael C. Carlos Museum of Emory University 571 South Kilgo Circle Atlanta 30322 404.727.4282 www.carlos.emory.edu

Tired of the daily grind? Let Jason Dominy, outreach director for Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters in Decatur, wake up your routine. Dominy will lead a tasting of Africa’s finest beans and discuss the history and significance of the coffee industry within the continent. Tickets are $5 for museum members and $10 for nonmembers. Pre-registration required by phone or email at ehornor@ emory.edu. Creating Gone With the Wind March 29, 7 p.m. Margaret Mitchell House 990 Peachtree Street Atlanta 30309 404.249.7015 www.margaretmitchellhouse.com

It’s true—you can go back to Tara. To celebrate the 75th birthday of the novel Gone with the Wind, go behind the scenes of the classic film it spawned. Cathy Whitlock, author of Designs of Film: Creating the World of Gone With the Wind, will share details in a lecture on the epic film’s production, including the creation of Tara and Twelve Oaks and the reconstruction of the South. Whitlock explains the film’s design through renderings, stills and behind-the-scenes images. Admission is $5 for Margaret Mitchell House members, $10 for nonmembers. Reservations requested by phone or online. Jessica Jackson Hutchins Exhibit April 8-June 19 Atlanta Contemporary Art Center 535 Means Street NW Atlanta 30318 404.688.1970

www.thecontemporary.org

Visiting artist Jessica Jackson Hutchins’ work takes everyday objects and flips them on their heads to explore the relationships between people, beauty, transformation and life’s daily schedule. Check out her latest show at the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, but be warned—you may look at your sofa differently when you return home. General admission is $5. Taste of the Nation Culinary Benefit April 14, 7:30-10 p.m. The Georgia Aquarium 225 Baker Street NW Atlanta 30313 404.581.4000 taste.strength.org

Take a delightful whiff of the warm aromas as you stroll your way through a sampling of gourmet food and wine from 50 of Atlanta’s best restaurants at Share our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Atlanta benefit. Proceeds support local organizations fighting childhood hunger like the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Genesis, A New Life and Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters. Tickets start at $250. Gift Shop at Decorators’ Show House & Gardens April 16-May 8 Decorator’s Show House & Gardens 1945 West Wesley Rd. Atlanta 30327 404.733.4935 www.decoratorsshowhouse.org

You’ll ooh and ahh at the beautiful life when you visit Lotus House, the 2011 Decorator’s Show House & Gardens estate on West Wesley. Explore the 20,000-squarefoot home and be sure to take a minute in the exercise room—the location of this year’s gift shop. The newly revamped store will include items across all price points, from tea towels to designer

tables. Tickets are $20 if purchased before April 15 and $25 at the door. “Buckhead in Bloom” House Tour April 17, 12-5p.m. Atlanta Preservation Center 327 St. Paul Avenue SE Atlanta 30312 404.688.3353 www.preserveatlanta.com

Be sure to check out The Atlanta Preservation Center’s 31st annual “Buckhead in Bloom” festival. Festivities kick off Friday, April 15, at 8 p.m. with a lecture at the Cathedral of St. Philip’s Gould Room. The fun continues Sunday, April 17, from 12-5 p.m. with a tour of historic homes in Tuxedo Park and Peachtree Heights. Lecture tickets are $10 and tour tickets are $30 for Atlanta Preservation Center members, $40 for nonmembers. For ticket sales, email info@ preserveatlanta.com. 2011 Atlanta Film Festival April 28-May 7 Landmark Midtown Art Cinema 931 Monroe Circle NE Atlanta 30306 678.495.1424 www.atlantafilmfestival.com

Did you know… Atlanta boasts the largest and longest-running film festival in the South, which is now in its fourth decade? Grab some popcorn and take your pick from more than 150 films submitted from all over the globe in categories like animation, independent, international and documentary. Don’t miss the best live action narrative short and best-animated short categories—Atlanta’s festival is one of only two dozen Academy Award-qualifying festivals in the country in these genres.

S IMP LY HA PP N E ING C HA RITAB LE

tlanta’s kids at heart gathered for Amuseum 2011: Imaginopoly, a playful event supporting Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. The game-themed party featured everything from a VIP “Jail” to a game-board dance floor. Guests sipped creative cocktails and noshed on gourmet far from the numerous buffets. It was a night to remember in honor of a museum no child can forget! Photos by Renee Brock

Collin Webb is visited by his wife, Amina Webb, during his time in the VIP jail.

Susie Baggett and Lucia Hopper pose for a picture in the photo booth.

Event Chairs John and Molly Jamieson. Host committee members Nigel and Taylor Wright bid in the silent auction during the event.

Amer Rathore, John Sapone, Liz Rathore and Penny Sapone pose for a picture in the photo booth.

Hallie and Rich Warren, a museum board member.

Kristina Scally, Dan Mangold and Anna Maxey.

Public Relations Chair Mara Maddox and Alison Weldon. Leigh Deese, Jack Deese, Wren Gilliam, Mary Grace Deese and Taylor Broun.

Event Honoree Shayla Keough Rumely (who was honored for her community leadership in education and the arts), Board Chair Andrea Montag and Museum Executive Director Jane Turner. March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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

Life is rich Mary Parrish Green enjoys two of life’s sweetest pleasures — a cupcake and quality time with her pup. Photo by Caroline Petters

Cupcake courtesy of Gigi’s Cupcakes Buckhead

March/April 2011 | Simply Buckhead

a l t n t A a ’ s Best P y l p m i S lace to PLAY!

Feature Exhibits Pajama Party – March 26 Explorer Camp – June & July Party Celebrations – All Year Long!

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

www.childrensmuseumatlanta.org

Beacham & Company, realtors®

Blog ranked #5

real estate blog in the world “It is amazing how many people stop me to talk about Blayne’s blog,” Glennis said. “I was skeptical when she first came to me with the idea but it has proven to be a marketing homerun. We are all extremely proud of the work she has done to become one of the top five real estate blogs in the country.” Beacham makes it a personal goal to respond to each and every comment. She develops personal relationships with readers, and spends hours finding out the answers to questions such as “what paint color did they use in the living room?” This lets our clients know we are doing something special to market their home, and it lets the blog readers know we care about the time they spent to ask the questions.

eacham & Company’s blog, “This Photographer’s Life,” written by the Director of Creative Services and staff photographer Blayne Beacham, is ranked #5 in real estate blogs according to BlogRankings.com. Beacham began “This Photographer’s Life” in October 2009 as a place to share stories about photographing luxury homes in Atlanta. People began reading immediately, interested to get a “behind the scenes tour” of the houses. Beacham’s love for art and photography resonated with her readers, who return over and over to look at the photographs and comment on the stories.

Beacham feels one of the most successful things she does on the blog is offer a free ad in “The Beacham Series” magazine. People send in entries for their companies. Beacham & Company agents vote on the entries and we narrow it down to 5 entries. Then those companies get their customers to visit the blog and the Beacham & Company Facebook page to vote. We had over 600 people visit the blog and Facebook page voting during the last contest. Those are people we may not have ordinarily visited, but now they know who we are. Many of those people signed up to have each new blog post emailed to them, so we connect with them several times a week.

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“I share more than real estate statistics on the blog,” Beacham says, “I share my opinions and what I love. The blog has a personality and a spirit, which is why so many people read it.” Since the first post, almost 90,000 people have visited the blog. “Many real estate blogs are stagnant,” according to Beacham, “but people come and comment and ask questions on my blog. That’s what makes it so cool!”

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