PROF I L E
Gabriel Pica NIGHTLIFE NOTABLE • WORLD EXPLORER • DOG DAD By Barbra Buoy
Gabriel Pica is proof that partying in college can actually pay off. “I’ve always enjoyed the nightlife,” says Gabriel, nightlife director at Big Sky Buckhead Bar & Restaurant. As an economics student at the University of Georgia, he spent his undergraduate years checking IDs, bartending, and managing local bars. Two years ago, he moved to Buckhead to work at Big Sky. Juan Calle and Adam Berlin, both of whom grew up in the area, opened Big Sky Buckhead, winner of the 2019 Sports Bar of the Year award by Nightclub & Bar Media Group, in 2014. The bar is famous for hosting broadcasts of major college football games like the SEC Championship and international events like Copa América and the World Cup. “Our through-the-door counts are anywhere from 2,000 to 6,000 people per day during big events,” Gabriel says.
WE DID A REMODEL JUST OVER A YEAR AGO. WE WANTED TO GO MORE UPSCALE, YET STILL CATER TO OUR CORE SPORTS FANS. —GABRIEL PICA
To complement its food offerings, Big Sky Buckhead has a full cocktail program. Resident mixologist, Bijan Montezari, captivates guests with concoctions like the Lady in Red, which features Ketel One vodka infused with hibiscus tea. However, the restaurant’s most popular drink is The CBD Green Fairy, an absinthe-based cocktail topped with five drops of CBD (an active ingredient in cannabis) tincture, which was released earlier this year. When he’s not at work, Gabriel prioritizes quality time with his girl. “I spend at least an hour most days at Charlie Loudermilk Park with my 6-year-old boxer/pug mix, Lana,” Gabriel says. And once Lana’s been walked, you can find Gabriel hanging out with friends at The Painted Pin or at Tongue & Groove. But Buckhead isn’t the only place you’ll find him. “I also love scuba diving, skydiving, and traveling. So far, I’ve checked Italy, Germany, Austria, Colombia, Mexico, Belize, and Nevis in the West Indies off my list.” bigskybuckhead.com
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Atlanta Best Media is hosting an anniversary party at Big Sky Buckhead Bar & Restaurant in September. Visit our Facebook page (@MyBuckhead) for more information about this event and others.
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AUGUST – OCTOBER 2019
PHOTOGRAPHY BY J.R. WEST PHOTOGRAPHY.
Over time, Big Sky Buckhead reinvented itself to mirror the colossal shifts in the neighborhood. “We did a remodel just over a year ago,” Gabriel explains. “We wanted to go more upscale, yet still cater to our core sports fans.” In addition to the new western-chic décor, Big Sky Buckhead has a menu that rotates quarterly. Even the obligatory sports bar wings have been gussied up with Goose Island IPA BBQ sauce.
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