TASTEMAKER Atlanta
Scoutmob co-founder
MICHAEL TAVANI THE MAN BEHIND THE ‘STACHE
LOCAL GETAWAYS:
rediscovering the Carolina’s
THE ALFA MAN
BORIS KODJOE
NETWORKING 101: 5 THINGS YOU SHOULDN’T DO WHEN NETWORKING
+
Fitness Duo
Ellen + Lana Ector 10 Fab Holiday Gifts Throw a Southern Soiree
TASTEMAKER MAGAZINE
IN EVERY ISSUE 04
Editor’s Letter
05
Contributors
07
10 Fab Finds {holiday edition}
27
Great Buys Under $100
32
Tastemaker Spotlight
2 November | December 2012
ICONS
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PIN WITH US 3 November | December 2012
November/December
Holiday Issue
VOLUME II ISSUE V
BEAUTY
11
Lisi Cosmetics
13
Beauty 411
14
Behind the brand
FASHION
LIFESTYLE
19
Fashion Star Edmond Newton
39
Feature: Scoutmob’s co-founder Michael Tavani
30
Boris Kodjoe: the“Alpha Man”
45
Local Getaways
47
Festivals
48
Southern Soirees
51
Lifestyle Tips
ART + CULTURE 35
Kevin Khao Bridges ‘Da Gap
37
Chef Alex Hitz+Southern Food
4 November | December 2012
EDITOR’S NOTE
A few days ago, just before Halloween I went into a store and lo and behold, jingle bells were ringing and visions of the holiday season – ripe with ornaments and colorful string lights -- filled the scene. Guess it’s that time of the year and it’s a time that I adore; when the air is crisp, people are just a little nicer and we look beyond our everyday problems to appreciate our families, loved ones and the greater community a little more. That’s what it’s all about: helping others. And we don’t have to wait until holiday time to put in work and make a difference. In this holiday issue I’m excited to introduce you to Kevin “Khao” Cates on page 35 , a man who is making a difference in the lives of youth by developing a curriculum for schools called Bridge Da Gap. Khao talks exclusively about his choice to transform himself from a hit-making producer to a man on a mission to change the lives of troubled kids. His work is honorable. Speaking of work, it’s also that time of year that many of us look to take some time off and hit the office party scene. On page, 18 celebrity fashion designer Edmond Newton offers up some tips on how to shine at your boss’ office party and how NOT to make the fatal fashion faux-paus that can leave coworkers talking about you the next day.
And there will be plenty of days shopping this holiday season. And if you’re like me, you scout out the best deals before shelling out top dollar. And thanks to the team at Scoutmob there are plenty of deals to be had. On our cover, we talk to Michael Tavani, the sometimes moustachewearing co-founder of the popular app Scoutmob which gives consumers awesome local deals that makes shopping a worthwhile experience. From Scoutmob deals to our Holiday Finds on page 6, to getting weight loss tips from Atlanta’s fitness guru Ellen Ector, this issue is oozing with holiday goodness. And it makes me feel very good especially since this is the first issue of my tenure as Editor-in-Chief. This has definitely been hard work and a labor of love. So sit back, kick up your feet, grab some hot cocoa and cozy up to this holiday issue of Tastemaker Magazine. For us, it’s all about you everyday of the year. Enjoy!
Kia Morgan-Smith Editor-In-Chief
Atlanta Tastemaker Magazine Andrea Janise
Kia Morgan Smith
Lifestyle Editor @atlfoodwriter
Editor-in-Chief @kiamorgansmith
I’m grateful for family and good health.
I’m grateful for family The worst gift I ever received was a knit hat with the fuzzy ball on the end.
The worst gift I ever received was a re-gifted jewelry set with a card that said , ‘To Lisa!”
OUR TEAM Editor
Kia Morgan Smith- @kiamorgansmith email: ksmith@tastemakermag.com
Editorial Director Tiffini Gatlin-@theatlgo2girl email:editor@tastemakermg.com Bernetta Jackson Knighten
Jamilah Rahmaad
Contributor @bernettastyles
Contributor @atlhappyhr
I’m grateful for a healthy self and family.
I’m grateful for my health, family and friends.
The worst gift I ever received was a Macy’s box full of socks!
The worst gift I ever received was a previously opend box of Chocolates! REALLY?!
Lifestyle Editor Andrea Janise-@atlfoodwriter email: ajanise@tastemakermag.com
Travel Editor Kirstin Fuller-@travelindiva email: kfuller@tastemakermag.com
Photographer Chanda Scott-@chandascott28 Taé Stallworth
Contributor @ConglamTae I’m grateful for a supportive family. The worst gift I ever received was gift basket full of old, stale candy+ treats.
Carmen Blakely
Contributor @lipstickfashion In the wake of Hurricane Sandy I am grateful for my home + none of my neighbors were hurt. The worst gift I ever received was Victoria’s Secret “love spell” lotion +shower gel.
6 November | December 2012
Social Media Umber Kamal
Contact Us: 404-884-8296
Tiffini Gatlin
Editorial director I’m grateful for the opportunity to create such a wonderful magazine! The worst gift I ever received was a keychain and t-shirt from someones vacation.
Ruksana Hussain
Kirstin Fuller
Contributor I’m grateful for my husband and our new baby on the way!
The worst gift I ever received was a snowcone maker.
Gratefully, I haven’t received a bad gift. My family gives cash!
Chanda Scott
Contributor I’m grateful for the life I live.
Photographer I’m grateful for my parents long life.
The worst gift I ever received was a blouse in a style and color I hated in a size way too small!
The worst gift I ever received was a his and her chocolate Santa set given by my aunt!
Making the Cover Michael Tavani, this month’s Tastemaker cover guy, was shot by phtographer Chanda Scott after taking us inside his company’s headquarters in Atlanta, GA. Giving us the famous Scoutmob ‘stache and the ‘A’ town down foam fingers, Tavani proves to be the coolest CEO we’ve met to date! Check out his feature on page 39.
7 November | December 2012
Mandy McCullough
Travel Editor I’m grateful for family + Friends.
10
A list of FAB finds that we think are perfect for the holidays!
Jonathan Adler Salt and Pepper Shakers Spice up anyone’s table with Jonathan Adler’s fashionable and elegant salt and pepper shakers, an ideal gift for the friend who has everything; $48.00 www.jonathanadler.com
By Andrea Janise 8 November | December 2012
10 FAB
FINDS
Designs by Lolita Show your distinct personality and dress your holiday wine glass up with a pattern that has fabulous flair and a fun recipe on the bottom; $24.00 www. designsbylolita.com
< Italian Leather
Driving Gloves Grip the wheel as you drive through the city streets with these trendy driving gloves. Available in attractive colors, you’ll want to grab two pairs— one to gift wrap and one to keep for yourself; $56.95 www. leatherglovesonline.com
Anthony David’s Love out Loud > Stay in touch with soulful R&B crooner Anthony David, as he takes listeners on a musical journey through ear-pleasing ballads on his new album Love out Loud in stores November 13th; $14.99 www.bestbuy.com
< Yes, Chef
Highlighting his journey from being adopted in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden to moving to the U.S. and climbing to the top of his culinary game, celebrity Chef Marcus Samuelsson dishes all in his new memoir, Yes Chef; $27.00 www.amazon.com
10 FAB
FINDS
Sifteo Interactive Gaming Cubes > The whole family will love playing with Sifteo’s handheld futuristic game cubes that wirelessly interact to create hours of mind-boggling gaming experiences; $154.99 www.sifteo.com
< Corkcicle
Keep your whites and light red wines chilled with the Corkcicle, the perfect gift for the wine lovers and party planners in your life; $24.95 www.corkcicle.com
Wood iPad Case by Root Cases > These lightweight cases not only look cool, but are sustainable too. Made from repurposed wood and flawlessly crafted to outfit your iPad, you’ll go hi-tech naturally; $69.00 www.rootcases.com
TINte Cosmetics Vintage Lip < Gloss
Get nostalgic with flavored lip glosses in vintage slider tins from TINte Cosmetics. With flavors like Bubble Gum and Cream Soda, you’ll find a delicious choice with every kiss; $14.00 www.tintecosmetics.com
Designs by Lolita Ornament Ball Designed for the one who stands out and lights up a room, designs by Lolita ornament ball is the perfect gift to take to your next holiday tree trimming party! $16.00; www.designsbylolita.com
BEAUTY LiSi Cosmetics takes New York | Beauty 411| Behind the Beauty Brand
Beauty| Beauty Newcomer
LiSi Cosmetics Takes New York
-by Carmen Blakely
Tastemaker Magazine’s contributing beauty editor Carmen Blakely gets the scoop on New Yorks newest beauty brand; LiSi Cosmetics. What happens in New York pretty much gets exploited! This summer I had the pleasure of attending the digital launch party for LiSi cosmetics; a chic brand located in New York City that ships their products worldwide. You’ll be happy to know you don’t have to sacrifice a luxe experience for afordability. The immaculate boutique offers a complete range of makeup, tools and accessories that easily rivals drug store prices with products available for as low as under $15. You’ll also be happy to know their team of trained makeup artists offer complimentary makeup applications. Who doesn’t like to test drive the product before buying it? Intrigued by it’s concept, I wanted to chat with the creative director, Lisa Hill, to understand the vision of the brand, and it’s future. While I was at it, I thought why not benefit from her advice on starting your own business. 12 November | December 2012
Beauty| LiSi Cosmetics Carmen: So how has business been? Lisa: Amazing! Internet sales have been through the roof; often times more volume than the brick and mortar store and have been featured on a savvy shopper segment on the local news. Carmen: I’m curious, what field did you leave to join this venture? Lisa: I worked in licensing in the cosmetic field for eight years, I also have worked on the manufacturing (cosmetics) end for four years. I traveled extensively for work.
LiSi Cosmetic Boutique in New York
Carmen: What is next for LiSi? Any plans for other Carmen: How did you decide to leave your locations? stable income and career to start a small Lisa: No expansion plans as of yet. I want to be a business? destination store and wildly successful. Lisa: I was actually very happy in my previous role, and almost didn’t take the leap. But after hearing what the vision was for the store and the line I wanted to be a part of it- creating a high end experience with mass retailer prices.
Carmen: What is your advice for people wanting to start their own business or join a venture?
Lisa: Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith. Believe in the concept, and do something you love. You have to have a vision and take emotional Carmen: Speaking of a high end experience, ownership. what prompted your choice of location,the Read more about my visit to LiSi’s by clicking here. very trendy Greewich Village ? Visit Lisi Cosmetics: www.lisicosmetics.com Lisa:*very matter of factly* NYU! It is Central to New York University, an obvious hub in this part of Manhattan. Carmen: Students! Makes sense. Give us some insight on how social media has impacted your business so far. Lisa: I’m old school! My daughter created my instagram. Stuff happens in real time! Unbelievable. Page views and hits on the site have definitely increased, hence the spike in online sales. We have customers all over now!
Beauty| Must-Have Products
. Entrepreneur Courtney Vines creates Coco Rae ‘4-Free’ non-toxic nail lacquers in 12 luscious colors. $10, lovecocorae. com
Beauty 411 NEW PRODUCTS, BEAUTY COLLABO’S, FUN FINDS
.
Maybelline Limited Edition Colored Great Lash Mascaras,$4, target and cvs for a limited time [prime lashes for best results]
Maybelline Great Lash
.
Violent Lips The Cheetah Temporary Lip Appliqué is a fun way to spice up your night. Tattoo stays on your lips for 4 to 8 hours and comes with 3 samples per pack. $14, rickysnyc.com
14 November | December 2012
.
Shave on the go! This electric shaver is about the size of your smartphone and charges via USB cable making grooming a breeze, $39.99, shavetech.com
Beauty| How They Did It
Behind the Brand Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder but the brand is in the hands of its creator; don’t believe us?...Ask these three women.
We caught up with three fabulous ladies who just happen to be behind a few of the beauty industry’s favorite brands. Although each come from different backgrounds their passions are very similar. Karen Tappin from Karen’s Body Beautiful, Melanie Hurley from Piggy Paint and Sandye Lomax from Beauty Fetish gives us access into their beautiful world, to discuss how they were able to turn their passions into profitable enterprises.
15 November | December 2012
Beauty| How They Did It
Karen Tappin
[Beauty Brand: Karen’s Body Beautiful] When Karen Tappin started Karen’s Body Beautiful in February 2004, the last thing on her mind was branding. “We felt we made a really good product and our family and friends and customers enjoy what we do, so we focused on making a product that worked well on your hair and skin.” After the business grew and Karen sharpened her business acumen and paid more attention to the market she began to shape her brand to not only appeal to women but to let them know they can be fly, trendy and sexy with natural hair. “A few years ago natural hair wasn’t so popular and the perception was that natural hair was not beautiful. We wanted our physical brand (store front,products etc) to represent a more upscale look.” Tappin doesn’t see the natural hair care boom 16 November | December 2012
as a fad, and believes that people are growing to accept their natural kinks and curls. “It’s more than a hairstyle. The european style of beauty has been so ingrained in black beauty that it is more than a hairstyle.” Although Karin is anything but shy about rocking her iconic natural ‘fro, she says her products are not made specifically for naturals. “I make products for people with hair--period. I have customers of every ethnicity and every texture you can think of. I’m not a natural Nazi, I’m about having great hair.” A former teacher, Tappin says having great hair starts with being educated. “What distinguishes my approach in the natural hair care industry is my ability to educate consumers about the products they choose and how they take care of their hair.” Although Tappin has a product that’s name speaks on her behalf, she says she is not the sole owner of the product. Tappin is in business with her husband who she says is the best business partner she could ever ask for and in fact wouldn’t ask for another business partner. “We both eat, breathe and sleep this business---literally. Tappin and her husband may enjoy working tirelessly for their company but she’s generous in crediting bloggers for playing a very important role in the success of her business. She says that she is very fortunate to have this so called “unofficial street team” that enjoys her product and spreads the love to their audience. “Bloggers make the world go ‘round,” says Tappin. If you want to purchase their product you won’t be able to visit their Brooklyn store. Tappin says their team made the decision to close their location in July of 2012 because they discovered that 90% of their revenue was coming from internet sales. Additionally, Tappin shares that her brand will be in Target store in 2013, so making the sacrifice to close one store to be in hundreds of stores was the right decision to make. www.karensbodybeautiful.com
Beauty| How They Did It
Melanie Hurley [Beauty Brand: Piggy Paint]
Over a bonding nail session with her two daughters, Melanie Hurley discovered what would ultimately be the beginning of Piggy Paint, a beauty enterprise for kids consisting of non-toxic, odorless nail fun! After one of Hurley’s daughters dropped a glob of her solvent-based polish onto a foam plate that ultimately began to bubble and eat through the plate (exhibit A), Hurley decided to begin her quest to create a kid-friendly product. An educator from La Grange, GA Hurley says she didn’t have any business experience, but knew if she were looking for a toxic free product like this and couldn’t find it, other moms were probably looking for a product like this as well. Hurley credits ‘mom bloggers’ for the success 17 November | December 2012
of her business. “In the beginning I had very minimal capital. I would send mommy bloggers a sample and they would try it out and blog about it or do a giveaway and then they would go to their local nail shops and ask if they carry Piggy Paint and then ultimately the retailer would call me. So that is really how the business grew--word of mouth.” Hurley says you may be fearful of starting your own business, but gives this advice to those wanting to become entrepreneurs. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. I often get lots of questions from mompreneurs and I always appreciate giving back what was given to me.” Hurley seems to have really found her niche and you can feel the excitement and care for detail with the product through her vibrant polish hues. Hurley says she gets her inspiration from everything that surrounds her. “We have a new color coming out soon--a neon pink and I actually matched the color to a pair of my daughters neon shorts. I saw a really cool carpet in LasVegas and that too became one of our polish colors.” Looking back at her launch of Piggy Paint in 2008, Hurley says she would only do one thing differently. “I hadn’t told anyone about my vision, except a few close friends and family members just in case I failed and I wish I would have told more people because my friends would have supported me even if I had failed.” Today, Piggy Paint can be found in retailers like Bed Bath and Beyond and independent retail stores near you. If you’re feeling frisky try polishes for your puppy appropriately called “Puppy Paint”. You can also have college and university spirit and represent your school on your nails or get crafty and draw designs using Piggy Paint nail pens.
Visit Piggy Paint at www.piggypaint.com
Beauty| How They Did It
Sandye Lomax [Beauty Brand: Beauty Fetish LLC]
Baltimore native and Tastemaker Sandye Lomax is no stranger to the social scene. Working in the fashion industry booking modeling gigs in New York in between her 9-5 as a disabilities specialist was one way of satisfying her fashion cravings. It wasn’t long before Lomax became a staple on the social scene flying about on private planes and eating with Lady Oprah herself. Short of turning 40 this year, Lomax started feeling the need to get back to her roots and fulfill the passion that she abandoned decades prior. Lomax says she began to think about what she would do for free that would make her happy, grow and become prosperous. “Making other people feel good about themselves and pulling out their inner beauty made me happy, so I decided to take a cosmetology class to enhance my skills.” After paying for half of her cosmetology class 18 November | December 2012
from her bank account and getting a student loan for the remainder of her course work, Lomax says graduating was the stepping stone that allowed her to start her own beauty brand Beauty Fetish, LLC. Lomax credits the relationships she has fostered and being around notables like Roberto Cavalli, Beyonce, Oprah, hairstylists and make-up artists has afforded her the opportunity to learn beyond the textbook. “Having these relationships added to my creative ability and made me think outside the box. I also learned that people are fickle, and some relationships that I thought were friendships in fact were not. In the end I was so determined to do it on my own, so that I didn’t feel like I owed anyone anything.” After migrating to Atlanta 3 years ago, Lomax says she felt like she had to start over and found herself working at Victoria Secrets. “I had to start somewhere. I had to find a happy place for me. I always believed you should stay in the industry you are interested in. Victoria Secret had just started a make up line, so there I was still in the industry I like and picked up more tips I needed.” Lomax knew that her resume was not traditional. She began to create a strategy for survival that included her being happy in a career that she would love. “I had to step out on faith. My first steps were to incorporate my contacts and start using social media heavy. I started to ask the contacts that I had to allow me to do their makeup for free and in return I wanted them to talk about their experience.” With all the beauty professionals Atlanta contains, Lomax sounds aware but definitely confident and unfazed of her competition. “My personality, skills and path allows me to stand out. Also being able to offer many services and being certified and educated about the beauty services gives me instant credibility and also allows me to stand out beyond competitors in my field.” Lomax’s beauty roster is impressive for a starter business touching the face of notables like Mary J. Blige and Kandi Burress. Although settling in her Midtown beauty suite, Lomax already has plans on providing eyelash extension education, her very own lash glue line and a Beauty Fetish franchise. Lomax says this is only the beginning! www.beautyfetishllc.com
STYLE
Fashion Faux Paus | Fall Finds under $100 | Boris Kodjoe “The Alpha Man”
Fashion| Edmond Newton
20 November | December 2012
Fashion| Edmond Newton
Edmond Newton From Fashion star to fashion stylist on Vh-1â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hit television show single ladies, Edmond newton offers tips on Office party fashion-faux-paus and how to keep it classy beyond the cubicle!
By Kia Morgan Smith Photography by Chanda M. Scott Styling by Edmond Newton Location Provided by Nikki Darling & Co.
21 November | December 2012
When Edmond Newton dresses a woman, he embraces every bit of her inviting curves; from her bosom, past her luscious legs that peer out through the slit of her little black dress, down to the tips of her red toenails peeking out her Louboutin shoes. Edmond knows that a sexy woman can easily go from sweat-pants wearing soccer mom to a tailor-made suit wearing business maven in a minute, but realizes sometimes the lines get crossed when it’s time to let down her hair and head to an office holiday party. Edmond, a fashion designer to the stars and recent reality show clothing designer on NBC’s Fashion Star, offers up tips to women during the holiday season so they won’t make the fatal office party faux-paus and show up dressed in their bargain best at their boss’s shindig. And he gave Tastemaker Magazine a sneakpeek of his Edmond Andrè holiday fashion collection which showcases some glamorous and versatile pieces that can transform any daytime diva into the Queen of the night. “Some of the biggest mistakes I think people do is being as though it’s work and they work there everyday, I think they go (to an office party) as the same person,” Edmond said. “During the holidays it’s an opportunity for you to glam it up-- a whole lot,” he said. “Look your best. Do your hair. Showcase who you are and stand out and shine. Get out of that uniform!” Edmond declared. And of course getting off work and going straight to your office holiday party is a serious fashion offense. Change is good. And Edmond says his fashion line offers a variety of looks that are interchangeable enough to be worn at weddings, evening galas, and cocktails parties all the same. For instance, for a black tie affair, Edmond’s long black dress is a sexy new amped-up twist on the “little black dress.” He says the slit in the dress helps to elongate the legs and since the dress is a piece that pops on its own, accessories are not necessary. “Being as though it has so much detail and embellishment and the shoe, there’s no need for jewelry. It would be
22 November | December 2012
overdone,” Edmond said. Even with accessories, the crush metallic and black strapless hourglass dress is really popular, Edmond said. He designed a lengthy version that goes to the knee and included the faux mink shawl for the woman who wants to cover up with an option to unveil her strapless dress when she hits the party scene. “You want to unveil what’s going on and show people another side of you.” And remember your friend who always tried on a million different outfits before going out to a party? Well Edmond says that’s
“During the
holidays it’s an opportunity for you to glam it up-- a whole lot,” “Look your best. Do your hair. Showcase who you are and stand out and shine. Get out of that uniform!” exactly what women should do. Try on different looks, walk around in them and look in the mirror, he suggests. That’s the best way to fact check what works for your body. Ask yourself, “What makes you feel good,” he said. “If you feel like your legs are your best attribute, show a little leg, but up top you cover something else so it’s a balance. You don’t want to do arms out, busts out, legs out, it’s too much!” he said. “Do a little sneak-peek here and there. That’s what I like to have people think about. What makes you feel comfortable? Going to an event
you want to feel your best. You want to glow when you walk in the room.” Pieces like Edmond’s nude dress glitters with playful hints of gold flakes in it, which the light captures, he said. “The pieces for the holiday collection allow me to utilize some of the elements that I love to work with which is the glamorous feel. And I love to utilize items that have metallics,” he said. Edmond thanks his mom for his affection for fashion. Growing up in South Carolina he remembers how his mother, a hair stylist, was always sharply dressed and her hair was always laid. And even though his father was a military man, know that his suits and spit-shined shoes were nothing less than impeccable—it was the military way. His early travels with his mom to hair shows and fashion events further fostered his love for fashion. And he’s building his Edmond Andrè brand to become a household name by landing a deal with Macy’s where his couture fashions were manufactured and sold in stores to the everyday consumer. Now Edmond’s gearing up to dress Atlanta’s most high-profile single ladies during the third season of the VH-1 hit series Single Ladies and his fashions will once again be worn by the cast. What started out with Edmond dressing the female and male cast members last season for five episodes, blossomed into an opportunity to have his fashions chosen as the clothing of choice and a prime deal for the designer. And from Atlanta to New York, Edmond’s making his mark. Expect to see him at the crème de la crème of fashion shows – the Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week in August 2013, where his line will be shown on the runway alongside notable and elite arbiters of fashion. So this holiday season, Edmond warns, “Some people think they have to overdo it with the hair, makeup and shoes. All of that is like a train wreck.” Not only should you be mindful of those extra helpings of turkey and stuffing, but beware of excessive jewelry, big hair, and questionable clothes that’ll have your coworkers snickering about you the next day at the water cooler.
The Little Backless Dress >
The little black dress never goes out of style and is the perfect dress for an office party when you want to add a little edge without going over the top. $75.00
23 November | December 2012
Cowl Neck Creme de la Creme >
If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re tired of the LBD, then youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love this little creme dress with a cowl neck front $165.00
24 November | December 2012
Holiday Glam >
Turn heads at your office party with a long dress adorned with sequins for added shimmer and shine. The thigh high split gives your dress a bit of an edge and proves youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re anything less than stuffy; Price upon request Add a black fur stole for added glam! $210
25 November | December 2012
Animal Instincts >
Shake up the party in this leopard dress and give your co-workers something to talk about on Monday; $165
26 November | December 2012
Red, White and You> Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the holidays, so red is such an appropriate color to celebrate the holidays and show off your curves in this tie-front jersey dress; $98.00
27 November | December 2012
GREAT BUYS UNDER $100!
Fall trend guide for the man and woman who crave more for less
-By Taé Stallworth
Studded or Tasseled accented leather gloves are the perfect accessory for Fall.
$44
$60
Leather pants are a must for fall. Dress them up with blazers or get comfy and chic when you throw on a denim shirt. Either way you’ll be on trend.
$70
Get Kim Kardashian’s Look for Less
It’s faux-real the cutest outerwear you’ll want to covet this season. Not only will it keep you warm you’ll remain stylish and within budget!
Trendy, Casual, Chic
$50
$69
An oversized bag like this crocodile faux suede bag accents a trendy chic fall look perfectly.
Sneaker wedges provide an alternative to boots or heels and gives your wardrobe instant personality with an added lift!
A cropped cable knit sweater or a two toned sweater adds a sporty element to an otherwise boring essential
$85
GREAT BUYS UNDER $100!
Fall trend guide for the man and woman who crave more for less
-By Taé Stallworth
$57
Satchel cross-body bags are classic and just the right size to compliment any outfit. Go for a vibrant suede color or this Fall’s “it” color--oxblood.
$85
Don’t pack away your skater skirts just yet! Pair a jacquard skater skirt like this with tights and mary janes and throw on a blazer for a chic look.
$61
Get Solange Knowles’ Look for Less
$68
Mixed fabrics are definitely on trend this season and what better way to flaunt this trend than in this houndstooth sheath dress with faux-leather sleeves.
Classic +Sophisticated $98 Fitted sweaters with a front design are not only fun but great for wearing over shirts. Check out these from fun sweaters from J.Crew.
Ankle boots pair well with skirts and dresses, these cut out booties from ASOS will give you an edge.
GREAT BUYS UNDER $100!
Fall trend guide for the man and woman who crave more for less
-By Taé Stallworth
Cufflinks don’t have to be boring. Add texture to your accessories with these w rkin stiffs plaid black and white cufflinks.
$85
$80
For the man who wants to give their chinos a rest, these coated Calvin Klien Slim Fit Pant is a stylish option that will keep him on trend.
$89
Get Will Smith’s Look for Less
Biscuit Donkey Heritage gives a mens essential classic blazer a twist with this mixed fabric structured blazer.
Cool + Dapper
$100
$80
The winter will be cold so be sure to bundle up with stylish accessories.
Be a stud in these high-top sneakers from Forfex. Keep up with your most important appointments with a timepiece that fits in with your daper don style.
$85
Atlantaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Boris Kodjoe has developed the Alfa Line of Luxury clothing where the average man can go online and design custom, tailor-made clothing. You can pick out your custom clothing through a 3D portal and have it designed for an affordable price. Not only that but Boris has developed a way for the average person to be consultants and work with his brand. We chat with him about what makes his menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brand unique.-by Kia Morgan Smith
31 November | December 2012
Boris Kodjoe
gives the everyday “Alpha Man” an Edge in Fashion ATM: What was the inspiration behind creating the Alfa Line and why did you feel giving the everyday man a opportunity to buy Luxe less was important? Boris: Our inspiration behind ALFA was the desire to make the experience of wearing high quality custom clothing available to everybody. We don’t want people to have to sacrifice style or fit because they cannot afford custom shirts or suits. ATM: Being such a well dressed man yourself-what were some of the options you knew for sure had to be available to men when shopping this line? Boris: We wanted our design options to reflect the multitude of our customers’ style and fit desires. Everyone has a unique and personal way of dressing themselves, which we wanted to cater to. ATM: What makes the Alfa Line unique from its competitors? Boris: ALFA’s differential advantage is our value (price/quality relationship) and the numerous design options we feature. Our 3D designer is also a very unique aspect, that allows our customer to get a true impression of the garment he/she designs. ATM: Your company also gives the distinct opportunity to become a consultant and brand ambassador for the line, why was that an important component to include? Boris: Our ALFA TEAM INITIATIVE allows us to partner with anyone who is interested, and wants achieve financial independence by following his/her entrepreneurial spirit. Folks all across the country are becoming business owners simply by joining us. We want to create a community of empowered individuals who are proud to spread the word about ALFA. ATM:In your opinion what is the fascination about a well dressed man? Boris: A well dressed man communicates confidence, purpose and success.
www. worldofalfa.com
Tony Rouse
The creative genius behind some of Atlanta’s favorite brands; and part of the reason you crave chicken By Tiffini Gatlin By the time Tony Rouse was 18 years old, he was performing on one of the biggest musical stages in the country-Carnegie Hall. His background in marketing,branding and advertising has catapulted his career and has made him one of the most sought after creative consultants in Atlanta. Through Rouse’s company Bending Imagination, he creates next level concepts through the use of innovative media and single-handedly transforms ideas into tangible realities. Most known for the work he did for The Atlanta Food Rave, a culinary experience in Atlanta, his Confection Collection campaign he created for gourmet cake pop brand Candy Cake Company and his recent jingle and branding he created for J.R. Crickets at Colony Square, Rouse continues to prove he’s a force to be reckoned with. Rouse says everything he creates is a fun experience for him. “I like working with people and just have fun. I like to re imagine and create everything.” Rouse doesn’t stop at creating original media,yet he continues to challenge himself. In his book he offers up some of his secrets to success in his book ‘Presentation Pep Talk: The 20-Minute Quick Fix that focuses on public speaking and shows
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individuals not only how to be efficient at it, but effective while speaking. “If you never challenge yourself to grow, you will never going to get anywhere,” says Rouse. Rouse explains before he gets involved in any project it has to be new. Rouse says he doesn’t get involved in projects that aren’t fresh, new or different. “I operate at excellence, if it’s not “hot” I don’t concern myself with the project.” Rouse says he’s at a point in his career where he is at peace with himself and he’s excited about life and the possiblities that await him.
Rouse’s 5 Tips for Entrepreneurial Success 1.Be honest with yourself and your product. You trying to do something and actually doing it, is two different things. Stay in your lane. 2. Be the expert in your field. People value others who have experience. 3. Have Style. Everything your business does should have a signature or identity that when people see it, it speaks to them. 4.Attach yourself to something that makes you feel good. and have fun. Don’t be a slave to something you don’t enjoy. 5.Have a positive mindset. You have to set your mind that you will make it. Things will come up but you have to remain consistent.
Angie Tillman How one woman took her love for pickling and created a budding enterprise By Tiffini Gatlin
Athens Georgia native Angie Tillman never thought her love for pickling would turn into a business that would ultimately support her family of five. After getting rave reviews and demands for jars of her pickled tomatoes, that she frequently gave out as holiday gifts, she decided to start selling them in 2009 soon after her husband’s construction business closed. Today Tillman produces 20-30 cases of pickled veggies which she sells in over 30 stores in Atlanta as well as farmers markets as well as her southern covered porch, which began as a tradition when she first offered Phickles Pickles. Tillman is in the process of drafting her first book, which she says will be a book that tells the story of how her husband losing his career as a top contractor due to the decline in the housing market, losing their dream home to financial woes and starting a business strictly on faith inevitably brought her family
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together. “Our life has become big because of everything we’ve gone through. I feel like we are living better than we ever have even in a smaller place,” says Tillman. Tillman says she fellt like her husband had so much pressure previously trying to live up to the expectation of being a well known builder and now he’s blossomed and can be himself. She says that her entire pickling business is built around her family the ‘PH’ in Phickles was coined after her husband Phin.” Tillman says her family has dealt with their share of ups and downs over the past few years but recalls that everything that has happened in her life had to happen the way it did, otherwise she wouldn’t have a great story to tell. “There have been times I’ve yelled at my husband and said I should have called our business Chickles and not Phickles and then immediately I thought it wouldn’t work because there is a story there. This entire Pickling thing has kept our family together, my business would go nowhere without this story.” When you purchase Phickles Pickles you know you are buying a quality product that is personally prepared and packaged by a family who loves each other through adversity. Tillman says she promotes her business all through organic growth--social media. Tillman says at this time she has no plans to sell her product in bigger stores and enjoys the connection she makes with local store owners. But thanks to their generous shipping prices you can mix and match phickles and have them delivered to your door! Makes a great gift for the holidays too! www. phickles.com
Art + Culture Bridging the Gap with Kevin “Khao” Cates | Alex Hitz shares new Cookbook
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(Developing Academics) Gap, and developed a curriculum that fuses HipHop songs with practical solutions that address social problems while teaching kids critical life skills. The curriculum outlines 12 principles that teaches patience, self-determination and selflove as well as teaching kids to watch the company they keep, deal with anger and address drug abuse. Khao found there were too many distractions in kids’ lives and these principles could perhaps serve as the therapy they need to incite a change in their challenging lives.
Bridging Da Gap: Kevin “Khao” Cates turns his love for making controversial hits into hitting the streets to make a difference in the lives of kids- By Kia Morgan Smith Super producer Kevin “Khao” Cates knows that many of the hits he’s manufactured for Hip-Hop heavy hitters from T.I to Jay-Z to Lil Wayne, may have negatively impacted today’s youth who are dealing with a barrage of societal issues of their own. Many kids are living conflicted lives; maybe their fathers are not in the home. Perhaps their anger propels them to bully and beat up their peers. Or it could be an issue of drugs that has them on a downward spiral into addiction. Whatever it is, Khao is no longer producing controversial hits and has decided to become a part of the solution to these perpetual problems that has consumed kids throughout America. Khao founded the non-profit organization Bridge DA
Kudos to Khao. “It’s one thing to be successful,” said Khao, “but you want to be significant and leave a legacy behind.” Gil Scott-Heron who largely influenced hip-hop in the 70s, would have agreed that if we want to BE the change we’ve got to get up off the couch, turn off the TV images of video vixens gyrating across the screen and tune out the salacious rhymes with reverberating Hip-Hop beats because the revolution will not be televised. While it may not be televised, what is being broadcast on smartphones and going viral through the blogosphere for all our children to see, is rappers gone buck wild, busting shots in the air and beating each other to a pulp in the parking lot during award shows. That negative imagery in Hip-Hop holds weight among today’s youth. And yes, kids mimic the negative antics of their hip-hop heroes like Rick Ross and Young Jeezy. “It’s pretty dismal out there,” said Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz, who has used Khao’s music and rhymes to further her own cause and rapped about financial literacy in front of 300 people at event she attended. “If we’re going to make change in our youth we have got to be bold and relevant.” That revolution and cultural shift in consciousness to bring about change happens only when people become proactive and take a stake in the problems that plague our youth today. Khao is hip to that fact. “I always had a feeling that I wanted to do something great to help people,” he said.
Art+Culture| Bridging Da Gap However, Khao’s road to significance was anything but smooth. Growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, Khao had his own set of setbacks. He realized he wasn’t making headway at a local radio station and decided to save his money, pack up and move to Atlanta hoping that he’d get a big break in the industry. Instead, he ended up struggling and homeless but was determined to push past his difficulties and prove to any hecklers back home that he wasn’t “that dude” who couldn’t make it in the music industry. His perseverance persisted and he did make big moves, later opening a music studio with a friend and he started producing tracks for independent artists which led to him negotiating a deal with Grand Hustle Records and an upcoming unknown rapper named Clifford “T.I.” Harris. He produced hit after hit for T.I. and also jams for Jay-Z, Lil’ Kim, Pharell and even Rick Ross and Young Jeezy. His prolific work earned him Grammy nominations, a bigger bank account and respect as a hit-making record producer. But even with more than 30 million records sold to his credit and his successful ascent into the music industry, Khao’s accomplishments were overshadowed by his emptiness. After his father passed away, Khao said he started to realize that music didn’t define who he was. It was time to do something much more significant. Khao then had an eye-opening moment when he went to an awards show where he was being honored. At that show Dr. Charles Steele, president of the Southern Leadership Conference stepped up to the podium and professed his apologies for the shortcomings of his generation. Dr. Steele said “on behalf of himself, Dr. King and his generation he apologized to all of us for not passing the torch. And, there was a lot we could learn from each other,” Khao said. “I never heard an older gentleman apologize to anybody younger for anything. That moment was prophetic for the hip-hop producer. “It became clear to me what I needed to do. I knew that in order to get to where we needed to go it was going to take sacrifice and
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this was my road to significance.” To that end, Bridge DA Gap was born, Khao first wrote a book outlining what he believed kids needed in their life. Those key components he outlined became the basis for writing the curriculum. Bridge DA Gap is a text/workbook (written by Khao), CD and DVD curriculum that focus on mentoring and building character in our youth. There are 12 chapters in the book that include such subjects as Self-Esteem, Bullying, Gang Violence, Patience, Self-Determination and much more.
“It’s one thing to be successful, but you want to be significant and leave a legacy behind.”
Every chapter begins with an overview and ends with solutions. Each song on the CD corresponds with a chapter in the Bridge DA Gap textbook and were all produced by Khao. Actress Meagan Good, a friend of Khao’s, was impressed with the project and joined him in the effort. She appears in the DVD, is a board member and co-hosted the first annual red carpet launch of the Bridge DA Gap program on October 9th at Puritan Mill in Atlanta. The starstudded evening included dinner, live
and silent auctions, an awards ceremony and a live BDG performance. Good appeared on video with a message. The curriculum is making its way around the US schools in Georgia, D.C. Alabama, Allentown, Pa, and the Carolinas. Also Nassau Bahamas and juvenile detention centers in Virginia have put the curriculum in place. Dr. Sheldon Bethea, a science teacher at Hopewell Christian Academy in Norcross Ga, teaches the curriculum two days a week for 45 minutes to a group of 8th graders. “The curriculum promotes openness and frank discussions in class,” Bethea said. “The best thing is that each time they (students) got through a story, they can relate to a lesson and somebody says, ‘oh that happened to me.’ ” And that’s enough proof for Khao that he’s making a difference where it matters. “It gives me inner peace,” Khao said. “It makes me feel great, I can’t even explain. …God is using my talent to change and transform the lives of the next generation… that’s riches in itself.”
Chef Alex Hitz gives southern cooking a french twist
Just in time for the Holiday’s Atlantan Chef Alex Hitz, former co-owner of the Patio by the River in Atlanta, reveals the secrets that have made him such a renowned host, turning his new cook book, ‘My Beverly Hills Kitchen: Classic Southern Cooking with a French Twist’ into a comprehensive road map that follows his fabulous dining parties, complete with his best-loved recipes. His formal training at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris coupled with his southern roots, pair two of the Chef ’s loves all rolled into one. With recipes like Fried Chicken, Heirloom Tomato Pie, perfect Roast Tenderloin of Beef with Horseradish Sauce, Luscious Lemon-Ginger Squares, and Salted Caraml Cake, you can simply take your holiday cooking to the next level without comprimising any part of the Holiday memories generally made around the dining room tabe.
{New Buckhead Restaurant+Bar} New restaurant and bar YEBO brings its South African heritage safari chic feel to Buckhead at Phipps Plaza with an innovative eats, drinks and ambiance. YEBO (‘yeah’-boh) gets its name from a Zulu salutation and echoes the South African heritage of its founder Anthony Touting who wanted to bring a hip feeling with a laidback, loung-y vibe to Buckhead. The late-night restaurant has designed menu with everything from traditional South African cuisine to fun twists on pub fare. We personally love the chicken atop of spicy collards. Yum! www.yeborestaurant.com
Lifestyle Features| Local Getaways| Festivals| Entertaining| Lifestyle Tips
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Michael
Tavani
Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ambitious, charming and the brilliant mind behind one of the most popular apps-- Scoutmob. Tavani invited us into the Scoutmob headquarters in Atlanta, GA to give us an exclusive peek into how he makes it all work. By Tiffini Gatlin
Humble Beginnings In less than two years Michael Tavani and business partner Dave Payne built a ground breaking lifestyle app called Scoutmob in January 2010 that has nearly revolutionized the way young Tastemakers socialize and and brought the pain to current deal apps who simply thought a pre-paid deal was enough to keep them coming back. With 600,000 subscribers in over 13 cities, there are no signs of the ‘mob slowing down! Although success for the Atlanta native seems like an overnight success story, Tavani says the road wasn’t easy. “Pre Scoutmob, Dave and I started a self funded company called Skybloxs, a start up company that helped Atlanta businesses to set up wi-fi hotspots at their locations where the businesses could control the first landing page and promote deals and events they had going on. After a year into the business the results were not going up--which is what you hope for.” Tavani says he and his partner had to take a long look in the mirror to see if the business they started, in fact could sustain. “This was probably the lowest moment ever pre-scoutmob” recalls Tavani. “I remember us walking around Inman Park saying ‘We’re running out of money and its possible we’ll have to let go of the people we have, but we decided to give the business a couple more months to make it happen.” Good thing Tavani was an optimistic entrepreneur who thought he could make it, even if the odds seem like they were stacked against him. Proving that who you know can be a little bit more powerful than what you know, Tavani and his partner took their friend up on an offer to meet with a gentleman who was an investor who had extra cash and wanted to invest in Skyblox. However, Tavani said they came with a different agenda in mind. “We ended up telling the guy ‘hey, I know you have questions about Skyblox, but we have a totally different idea we want to pitch you.” After hearing the pitch of Tavani and Payne, they had their first investor who decided to take a chance on them; a chance Tavani says he’s grateful for. “I think when people invest in you--especially in the early days, people are investing in you; and maybe the idea, but definitely not the current business, because things change, especially a start up.” The invest in the new “idea” afforded the optimistic business entrepreneurs an opportunity to hire a couple of people to do the initial app. Tavani and Payne spent the last six months of 2009 planning what would ultimately be Scoutmob. Tavani says looking back he and his partner were fortunate. “We learned a lot during that company that we were able to poor into Scoutmob. There were a lot of similarities--we were working with local businesses, we knew what was working and what wasn’t working, we were asking businesses to pay us a monthly fee, so we knew unless you can drive in a guaranteed number of people, it’s really tough to make any money; so we knew that was something we were going to have to over with Scoutmob.”
It’s All in the Name
Tavani says one of the first people hired to staff was a
copywriter. “The reason we hired her was because we had these
ideas for Scoutmob but we didn’t know how to explain them, it took like 10 minutes for us to describe what we were doing. Her first project was to help us describe what we were doing as a company in a sentence or 30 seconds and then we needed a name.” Tavani says they were going to keep the name Skybloxs, but decided to totally rebrand. Tavani credits their copywriter for coming up with the word Scout. “We liked the word Scout because we felt like we were scouting the city and then putting businesses in front of people.” Unfortunately, Scout.com was an unavailable domain, so the hunt for the perfect name was still on. The team started combining words with scout like daily-scout and urban-scout but those didn’t seem to fit the genetics of the brand. Tavani recalls when he suggested “mob” as a suffix for scout. “A lot of people were like ‘no, it sounds like a rap group, but it was short and we could get the domain name. Mob was two things; flash mob’s were a big thing so we felt like we were Flash Mobbing a business and then it was short for mobile which is what we are.” Seems like it took no time for users to catch on, because in the first week their users were coining the phrase ‘i’m mobin’ and ‘I’m a mobster.’ This would be the beginning of a promising business and the end of Skyblox.
Balancing the Mob and Personal Life
Any entrepreneur that starts a new company knows the challenges of juggling personal and professional like and if anyone knows the agony--it’s Tavani. “I always say who knows how many facebooks there were that was never able to start because finances got in the way. Had my wife said ‘you gotta go get a job after our first company, we would have never started Scoutmob, and 60-70 people wouldn’t have had jobs here. Tavani praises his wife, a teacher who he say makes a modest income, for being patient and understanding in scoutmob’s startup. “I think my wife remained very supportive because she knew this was something I wanted to do, and I’m crazy passionate about starting companies and I’ll never do anything else again in my life says Tavani” says Tavani may not do anything else in life other than start companies, but if for some reason mobin’ doesn’t work, he can fall back on his 3 year law degree. “People felt like I wasted all my money to start my company and didn’t get it. Financially things were tough, but what was maybe harder than that is when you are starting something out, it’s only an idea in your head and no one else can see it. My wife kinda saw it, I would be talking about it [Scoutmob] all the time , and eventually she said ‘ Okay I kinda see what you are doing, but imagine if I were to tell a random stranger,” says Tavani. As if starting a company isn’t enough, imagine getting married only a few years prior and having a kid right when your new business started taking off. Sounds like Tavani had a lot going on, but leave it to him to figure it all out. “Everyone ask ‘how do you do it? My answer; I need to make money”, says Tavani.
The Future of Scout Mob
With 600,0000+ users per day, the future of Scout Mob looks bright and Tavani says if he could mentor entrepreneurs of start up companies everyday of his career he would. “I would tell every entrepreneur to focus
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on the brand. The barrier to entry in starting something has gotten so low, that you could start something at night.” Tavani says Scoutmob is always thinking about how their brand can become different. “There is so much competition out there and so many people that have an app that we had to do things different.” Different means giving the consumers something more to expect. Tavani says his approach as manager of Scoutmob’s product team is to appeal to the consumer. So the details matter!
“I would tell every entrepreneur to focus on the brand. The barrier to entry in starting something has gotten so low, that you could start something at night.”
“The reason we put content on our website is because we wanted people to open up the emails that we were sending out.” Tavani says the other reason they do things different with their app is simply to delight their users. “It comforts me every knowing that we are doing something that no one else is doing. We spend a lot of money on local editors to write local content, and we don’t make any money off of it; it’s not a revenue driver for us.” Tavani says more than the app their connection with their users that will keep them coming back. “We really wanted to create a strong connection with users. They easy route
would have been not to do that and save all that money. For us it’s not all about the deal, I think the deal is a good excuse to try a place, but it’s not only about the deal. Although Tavani is busy enjoying the daily demands of Scoutmob, Tavani says if anything ever happened to Scoutmob, he’ll just start a new company. But you don’t have to worry about that happening anytime soon, Tavani is one Italian Stallion that is running this race to the very end!-
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Local Foodie Getaway: Asheville, N.C. + Greenville, S.C. By Andrea Janise
Asheville, North Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina are two remarkable small towns, each with a burgeoning food scene only a short drive away from Atlantaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bustling metropolis. In this issue, we highlight two nearby Carolina destinations, both known for their chef-driven culture and locally made beer. Gas up the car and take a road trip to one of these locales and prepare to indulge in the food, drinks, and the scenic views that they offer. Plus, each location has an annual food festival to showcase their cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s culinary mastery.
Asheville, North Carolina
Greenville, South Carolina
The epicurean city of Asheville is located a mere three and a half hour drive from Atlanta. The unpretentious town is most wellknown for its local craft beer community, tying Grand Rapids, Michigan for the top spot as BeerAdvocate’s Beer City USA 2012. Its flourishing food scene includes restaurants like Tupelo Honey Café, Red Stag Grill and Curate, while bar-centric favorites--Storm Rhum Bar & Bistro and Lexington Avenue Brewery (L.A.B), have further validated the city’s gastronomic genius.
Greenville, South Carolina is definitely one of the South’s hidden culinary gems. A quaint college town with beautiful landscapes, a vibrant downtown area and dining that shows off its southern culinary perspective. Only two hours away, Greenville is a great destination for Atlantans wanting a quick weekend getaway.
Affectionately nicknamed “Foodtopia,” Asheville takes pride in highlighting its many culinary gems, restaurants and artisanal cuisine. Asheville Food & Wine Festival Founder and Director Bob Bowles and his crew have carved out a space for the city to showcase their goods. Now in its 4th year, the festival is only getting better. Held annually in August, its line-up of events started with the popular 2012 Chef Challenge where Chef David Ryba of the Inn on Biltmore Estate won a close battle against Chef Jason Roy of Lexington Ave Brewery, taking home the title of Best Chef in Western North Carolina. A “sweet” evening showcasing the city’s most decadent treats was followed by the official Grand Tasting where over 300 restaurants, food purveyors, wine distributors and breweries came out to let guests sample their products. Make your stay memorable by booking a room in one of Asheville’s quaint bed and breakfast accommodations such as the Cedar Crest Inn, the city’s oldest B&B, perfectly situated between the lively downtown area and the historic Biltmore village.
There is no better time to visit Greenville than for the Euphoria Food, Wine and Music Festival. Euphoria certainly aimed to live up to its namesake; from September 20th – 23rd, foodies were treated to three days of mouth-watering food, craft beer, wine and music. This intimate festival gave guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with many of their favorite local and national culinary experts including George Mendes, Gary Mennie and Edward Lee. The blissful experience included cooking demonstrations by Union Square Café’s Carmen Quagliata and Atlanta’s own Linton Hopkins; exclusive wine dinners at popular Greenville restaurants featuring award-winning guest chefs; as well as beer seminars moderated by celebrated beer authority, Ale Sharpton. The Taste of the South event’s music by singer Edwin McCain complemented the amazing bites from a wide variety of restaurants. The festival culminated with a tasty Jazz Brunch and the festive Sunday Supper, naturally sending festival-goers home with a smile on their face. Stay at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Greenville for quick access to all of the local dining and attractions. The Hyatt’s chic décor, comfy beds and variety of amenities provides the ideal accommodations for anyone visiting the city. Enjoy!
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Set up in a trade show format, the tastings were the highlight of the festival, complemented by burlesque dancers, a mixologist contest, a casino lounge area, games, and a culinary corner where local chefs hosted cooking demonstrations. Undoubtedly, Atlanta will be looking forward to next year’s festival. In the meantime, the folks behind the Speakeasy Cocktail Festival will be planning some cool events in 2013 to look out for including, the Speakeasy Cocktail Crawl highlighting some of the underground watering holes in the city, the Atlanta Tequila Fest, and Iron Chef Uncork’d which will be bringing together chefs to compete using a secret ingredient and then pairing their dish with a selected wine. Stay tuned for fun events coming from Speakeasy, but until then enjoy your own preprohibition cocktail using the recipe below, courtesy of Bulleit Bourbon:
Get In The Spirit Atlanta’s first Speakeasy Cocktail Festival was a hit By Andrea Janise
Atlanta is home to some fun and unique festivals, and we recently welcomed a new one in town—the Speakeasy Cocktail Festival. The two-day festival focused on the culture and the history of cocktails and all of their various ingredients dating back from the hush-hush speakeasies to the inventive cocktails that are poured in glasses today. The lower level of the Georgia World Congress Center was transformed into a “speakeasy” vibe complete with a “secret entrance” leading guests to a festive room full of happy imbibers sampling different liquors and spirits. A variety of brands were featured including Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Bulleit Burbon, Mount Gay Rum, Distillery 209 Gin, and Ole Hickory Moonshine. Brewers such as Samuel Adams and Innis & Gunn made an appearance, along with specialty drinks like Savida Sangria.
The Bulleit Rye Sazerac Ingredients: 1.25 oz. Bulleit Rye .25 oz. Demerara Syrup (Skinny) 3 dash Aromatic bitters Rinse: Absinthe Preparation: Take 2 Rocks Glasses. In Glass #1, put Crushed Ice and Absinthe. In Glass #2 put Rye, Demerara and Aromatic bitters. Stir Briefly. Add ice and stir. Throw out Ice and Absinthe from Glass #1. Strain Glass #2 into Glass # 1. Twist lemon peel over drink then discard. This Cocktail is served with no ice in the glass.
Southern
Soirees
With Danielle Rollins- By Ruksana Hussain
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in the book emphasize hosting at home with grace and ease. Readers learn to create a party timeline, prepare festive invitations, and plan everything a party needs. Working with some of Atlanta’s top chefs, she creates menus readers will find inspiring to try at home. At ADAC, Danielle shared her strategies for making any evening or event unforgettable: Why is the Southern tradition of entertaining such a big deal? Southern tradition comes from our agrarian societies, where people lived far apart so when someone visited, graciousness was extended and you were offered the finest food and hospitality. It is all about the attitude and the effort, about making memories based on traditions. What are some entertaining tips you can give our readers for gracious living and stylish entertaining? Be elegant but simple. Use what is seasonal, what you can find in abundance. Bring the inside out – use a natural element dressed with something sparkly. For the host/ hostess - be gracious to your guests and make them feel special – it’s a gift. What are some holiday entertaining tips you can share? The five Ps – plan, prep, polish, prioritize and post-its! Make anything ahead that you can, you don’t have to make everything from scratch, label what you can so others can help themselves. People come to your party to see you so spend the evening entertaining them. SOIREE: Entertaining with Style, published by Rizzoli. On Amazon-$50.00. Danielle@DanielleDRollins.com, Twitter - DRollinsBoxwood or Facebook - DanielleDRollins Above: Danielle Rollins The Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC) recently opened its doors to the general public for the first time in more than 50 years. It is the Southeast’s premier design center for furnishings and decor, consisting of more than 60 showrooms. The grand opening in October featured many events, including a keynote presentation by author and tastemaker Danielle Rollins, introducing her new book, SOIREE: Entertaining with Style, an idea-filled resource perfect for the holidays. A contributing editor for Veranda magazine, a frequent contributor to Southern Living magazine and lifestyle editor for www.luxecrush.com, Danielle is the cofounder and chair of several charity events and fundraisers. She sits on a number of boards whose causes are devoted to children’s health and education including Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Imagine It! The Children’s Museum of Atlanta. She currently lives in Atlanta with her three children. In SOIREE, Danielle invites readers to her world of elegant, accomplished entertaining. The 15 parties highlighted
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6 Easy Ways to Simplify Your Finances 1. Start payroll deduction to fund your 401k This is a no brainer. At the very least, everyone who has access to 401k should contribute enough to get company matching funds. Setting up automatic 401k contributions is easy. In most cases, you just go to your company’s 401k web site and set up a new contribution percentage — usually, 6% is a good place to start since most companies match “50 cents on the dollar” up to the first 6%. If you work for a smaller company, call your human resource person. After a few paychecks, you won’t even notice the small amount deducted from each paycheck. 2. Set up automatic bill payments and savings What is the secret that enabled me to save a lot of money and pay a lot of bills, without going crazy? Do it little by little and automatically! Don’t try to do it all in one shot. You can even take it a step further by taking advantage of a level payment plan (usually offered by utility companies) to make the ride smoother — i.e., I pay $175 a month for natural gas so that I don’t have to deal with $300+ bills during the winter. 3. Pay bills online If you can’t set up automatic payments, then you should payyour bills online. There are many advantages for paying your bills online: 1) you don’t have to spend money on checks or stamps; 2) you can pay from anywhere at any time; 3) you can occasionally use your credit card to pay, and get reward points or cash back bonuses; and, 4) you are less likely to be late, thus reducing the chance that you’ll have to pay late fees.
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4. Retire your debt and use only one credit card If you owe money on several credit cards, pay down your balances, put all your cards away (don’t cancel them), and use the 1-2 cards with the best rewards. Your wallet will be lighter, and you don’t have to call multiple companies if they’re lost or stolen. Moreover, you’ll spend less on checks, stamps, and potential late fees. 5. Consolidate your services and bills If you are still a “one service, one company” consumer, you should look around for companies that can provide you with bundled services at better prices. For example, combine gas and electricity; car, home, umbrella and life insurance; and television, telephone, and internet. 6. Consolidate your accounts Do you really need 3 checking and 5 savings accounts? Simplify your finances by consolidating these accounts and moving them into a few that serve you the best. For instance, instead of three separate checking, savings and investment accounts that all charge separate fees, have 1-2 accounts that let you write free checks, pay bills online through electronic fund transfers, invest cash in a money market fund, and provide overdraft protection. Moolanamy is a personal finance online magazine aimed to provide its readers with sound financial information and articles to help improve their finances and their life. Read more at www.moolanamy.com.
Networking 101
Top 5 Things You Should Never Do While Networking: with Rashidah Jenkins Networking in a room full of people you don’t know could prove to be one of the most intimidating moments of your life, but could also be one of the worst moments of your life if you don’t get it right. We turned to Rashidah Jenkins, Promotions and Internship Coordinator for Radio One Atlanta. In 2009 she started iNetwork Inc., a non profit organization based in Atlanta, GA geared toward preparing individuals for professional and academic success. Jenkins offers up her recommendations on being a Networking Pro with these 5 tips:
1.
The “Shy Networker”:
Sounds like an oxymoron right? Well the truth is these people really do exist; and sadly, they let the networking scene intimidate them. This person will always miss out on great opportunities to meet new people because they enter a room with a lack of confidence and they look unapproachable!
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*Tip: Know what you bring to the table and what makes you an asset. Before attending a networking event, write down a list detailing your strengths. Use your list of strengths to create what I like to call the “I-Statement” or better known as the “Elevator Pitch”. This “I-Statement” is a for sure win and a perfect kick off to any conversation. If you’re shy, an “I-Statement” is perfect because you don’t have to think about what you’re going to say during that first interaction.
The “Inappropriately Dressed” Networker:
2. This
person shows up to a networking event dressed as if they are going to hang out with friends at the club or with family at a barbeque. Don’t be “that guy” or “that girl” if you want to be taken seriously at a networking event.
The “I’m Just Looking for a Job” Networker:
3. This person comes to a networking event looking for a paycheck. If your sole purpose is to leave an event with a six figure salary offer with a benefit package, you’re going to leave disappointed every time.
“Poor Follow Up” Networker: 4. The You have to understand that networking is 10% meeting people and 90% following up with people! This person’s lack of follow up shows that they are not serious about fostering strong business relationships.
“Debbie or Donald Downer” Networker: 5. The This person is a total networking nightmare! All
night they tell depressing stories about how they lost their job, recently divorced, or hate their competitors.
*Tip: Prepare ahead of time for networking events
by picking out comfy attire appropriate for the event ambiance. If you are planning on attending a networking event, you should have plenty of time to prepare that winning outfit. We all know things sometimes just pop up; so if an event hits your calendar at the last minute, don’t rush fearing you might miss something. Come few minutes late or stay home! Remember, this is an opportunity to build business relationships, so dress as if you have some business about you! *Tip: Be sincere. The #1 purpose of any networking
event is “Relationship Building”. Your focus should be on making positive connections with people who may have future impact on your business and professional growth.
*Tip: Bring plenty of business cards or print material
with your contact information on it. If you share your information with someone, get his or her contact information also. Always follow up with a new connection with in 24-48 hours. Emails are always acceptable but phone calls may have “bad timing” so be mindful of that. In the age of social media, connecting on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn may be a great way to follow up quickly. Keep in mind that your social media sites should be a reflection of who are professionally, so take down those pictures of you drunk after the wedding and delete those angry public tweets to your ex-boy /girl friend.
*Tip: No one wants to hear your sob stories; perk up!
Stay away from negative chatter about your personal experiences and offer positive and meaningful information to a conversation. Remember this is most likely your first interaction with someone; leave a good impression.
Need more tips on being a pro networker? Follow Rashidah Jenkins on Twitter @rashidahj or email rashidahj@inetworkinfo.org 54 November | December 2012
Now home to many celebrities and Atlanta’s who’s who, the dynamic duo keeps them fit and trim and offers up a few tips to help you stay on track during the holiday season too. Lana and Ellen say you can put on a whopping 1015 pounds before 2013 from all the food you consume at all the office parties & family gatherings that occur during this season. So what can a person do to avoid that holiday baggage that will be placed on those hips? 1) NOURISH YOUR FITNESS during the holiday season! Do not put your fitness on the back burner you must stay motivated to control that holiday stress of over eating. 2) The key words are “PLAN AHEAD.” Find out the holiday hours of your gym! If you are entertaining family or visiting out of town - go out the front door and go for a run or brisk walk! Buy an exercise DVD and workout right at home with some family members! Get a jump start before the New Year comes in. Remember if you eat healthy most of the year you can indulge in HOLIDAY EATING! We basically can eat what we want during the holiday because we eat clean most of the year and we work out! 3) To avoid putting on the pounds make sure you drink WATER and not so much alcohol!
Mother and Daughter Fitness Duo Ellen and Lana Ector
Holiday Fit Tips:
with Lana and Ellen Ector By Bernetta Jackson-Knighten
4) You can also hide some of your sweet holiday treats in containers and put them away to avoid them staring you in the face. 5) Try doing Jumping Jacks, Body Weight Squats, and Pushups along with Abs workouts that include crunches and planks. These are two of Ellen and Lana’s favorite holiday recipes that will keep your calories down.
Thanksgiving Stuffing Tis’ the season to be tempted! For many of us, the holidays are dangerous days because we often overindulge when we eat. But it doesn’t have to be that way if you plan properly and treat your body right all year long. I had the pleasure of speaking with Ellen & Lana Ector, creators of the popular GYMNETICS fitness studio in Atlanta. The mother/daughter fitness duo has a passion for getting you not only in shape, but educating their clients about the nutritional benefits behind the exercise. Ellen has been a certified personal trainer for 20 years and Lana has been a trainer for 5 years. Ellen’s passion for fitness was ignited when she lost a lot of weight and fell in love with her new figure. She quit her job as a social worker and stepped out on faith to open up her own gym.
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8 slices of low calorie wheat bread, fat free veggie or chicken broth, 1/2 cup of onions, 1 cup of cut up celery, sage, rosemary, light butter, egg substitute, pepper and lite salt! Dry bread out and crumble. Add all ingredients and it bakes at 350 for about 40 minutes in pan sprayed with Pam.
Tomato Dip made with fat free cream cheese combined with sundried tomatoes and light cream. Most of all, you must not over-eat. MODERATION, the best GIFT you can give yourself is a healthier fitter you!
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