Dreamy Vacations
TUESDAY - FRIDAY 11:30AM - 3:00PM
Let's go!
Growing up, our family's summer vacation meant piling into the station wagon and driving five hours north for two glorious weeks on Lake Michigan. It was the only time I ever saw my mother napping mid-day. She would stretch out with a book, then slowly dissolve into a lounger on the deck of the cottage under a canopy of jack pines. She would play cards with us and giggle with her girlfriend. She would wear a bathing suit and sunglasses all day and I thought she looked glamorous. Vacation looked so good on her.
I hope it looks as good on me. Because, it sure feels good!
This month in our annual travel issue, we bring you stories of places faraway and nearer to home.
Where ever you go this summer, keep your eyes and heart open. Have a conversation with someone new. Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.
Have a wonderful month!
SUE G. COLLINS, EDITOR @BUCKHAVENCITYLIFESTYLE
PS - that's me and a redwood in Mendocino, California. I love trees!
July 2024
PUBLISHER
Jim Newman | jnewman@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Sue G. Collins | scollins@citylifestyle.com
SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
Karyn Slovin | karyn.slovin@citylifestyle.com
ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR
Karla Wilkinson | Karla.Wilkinson@citylifestyle.com
COPY EDITOR
Stacy Conde
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Becca McCoy, Sean O'Keefe
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Josh Govero
LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee
1: Mary and Felton Norwood at Buckhead Heritage's Home & Garden Party. 2: Carol W. Kelly and Cathy M. Minch. 3: Adam and Kim Ogburn.
4: Marilyn Morgan and Lee Morris. 5: Lisa and John Snodgrass. 6: Homeowners Nancy and Joe Wilen with Elizabeth Morgan Spiegel. 7: Kathy Olmstead, Thornton and Lori Kennedy. Events and projects at BuckheadHeritage.com.
Cheers, Wine from France
Le Bon Nosh launched a new expanded wine list with more than 500 wines sourced exclusively from France. Cheffounder Forough Vakili's time cooking in Paris solidified her love of food paired with great wine, and each of the curated wine selections expertly complements the simplicity and beauty of her food. She seeks to demystify French wine by giving guests a firsthand tour of all the varying terroirs the country has to offer. LeBonNosh.com
HEALTH AND STRENGTH
Mendocino's coast, a vegan resort, giant redwoods and charming community feel so good.
ARTICLE BY SUE G. COLLINS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY SUE G. COLLINS, STANFORD INN
When I told my husband that I booked a stay at the Stanford Inn by the Sea in Mendocino, California, I may not have mentioned that it was a vegan resort. He’s a life-long carnivore and starts and ends his day with milk. From a cow, not from nuts.
“Joan Stanford and her husband Jeff own the inn and they have created the most unique hotel lobby”
After the drive north from SFO, past Napa Valley and over the hills and through a tunnel of redwoods and the Anderson Valley wine country, we checked in and sat down to dinner at the resort’s whole plant-based Ravens Restaurant. The meals, inspired by the on-site certified organic garden, composting and recycling programs, the cleaning supplies, electric and bio-diesel fueled vehicles make Stanford Inn & Resort North America’s only truly sustainable destination. We tucked into the futomaki and maple-tamari glazed tofu and a glass of sparkling wine from Roederer Estate Brut, Anderson Valley, just down the road. We vowed to spend the next day wine tasting along Route 128. Dinner was an adventure, one that we both reveled in. Every dish was packed with flavor and the view across the farm to the Pacific was nourishing.
Joan Stanford and her husband Jeff own the inn and they have created the most unique hotel lobby I’ve ever experienced with a curated collection of books and gifts for sale to support a healthy and creative lifestyle. Tables and shelves in the lobby are neatly stacked with interesting titles and thought-provoking subjects. In Joan’s book, The Art of Play, she shares her journey through art and poetry and urges us to pay attention to the imagery our daily lives present to us, which can expand our awareness and joy. Sid Garza-Hillman is a certified nutritionist and the events and wellness programs director. She believes the closer the human species moves by degrees to its natural design, the healthier and therefore happier it will be. His titles include ULTRARUNNING FOR NORMAL PEOPLE: Life Lessons Learned On and Off
the Trail, Raising Healthy Parents: Small Steps, Less Stress and a Thriving Family and others . He plans private classes/sessions in nutrition and healthy living, cooking, creative playshops, breath-work, meditation, Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Tai Chi, yoga, massage and spa treatments, gardening, nature walks, mushroom foraging and more.
We discovered that when you eat clean, you feel lighter and stronger, which came in handy when we climbed into a dugout canoe at Catch A Canoe, the Stanford Inn’s outdoor adventure shop. Built by a local boat builder and designed for ease and comfort, the redwood outrigger was sturdy and fun to paddle up the moody Big River Estuary where we spotted families of river otters and harbor seals and felt the presence of coho and Chinook salmon and steelhead trout.
A drive down the twisting two-lane Highway 128 took us through the Navarro River Redwoods State Park where the road turned dark midday in a tunnel of magnificent second-growth redwood groves. Pull over and try to wrap your arms around a redwood. You won’t even hug a third of the massive trunk. The road leads from the coast’s windswept bluffs to the Anderson Valley, a bucolic wine country home to award-winning vineyards like Lula Cellars and Roederer Estate.
The charming and historic town of Mendocino is perched on dramatic cliffs, so stop in at the Bay View Coffee Shop (movie posters and cow’s milk!) and meet the Pacific head-on.
StanfordInn.com
ART AND CULTURE REFINE THE CRESCENT CITY
A New Look at New Orleans
ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN O'KEEFE
The Grand Lobby Loews Hotel New Orleans
The Country Club, a social house and pool club in Bywater Arts district
Street art and murals dot the industrial buildings in Bywater Arts district
“
From my initial greeting by the hotel staff ... Loews exceeded my every expectation.
New Orleans has always been a place with an extraordinary energy. The culture of the city is persuasive. Its adventure is ever changing. I have always enjoyed New Orleans on my many visits over the years, but none has been so special as this recent trip to the Crescent City. Dominated by art and the city’s dynamic evolution, I was sure that this visit was going to move the needle on my love affair with all the sights and sounds that New Orleans has to offer. Having a home away from home when traveling is optimal and Loews New Orleans offers both respite and luxury. From my initial greeting by the hotel staff through to the exceptional service I received while dining or simply having a drink at the bar; Loews exceeded my every expectation. Poydras & Peters, an American brasserie, is the hotel’s fine dining restaurant. Named for the iconic New Orleans intersection on which the hotel is built, the restaurant offers a glimpse into the history, relevance, and cultural diversity of this great American city.
Not to be missed while visiting this city that boasts over 2,643 dining establishments is Chef Donald Link’s Herbsaint Bar and Restaurant. Accolade laden, Herbsaint, is one of the best restaurants in the country and is helping to define dining in America. Also, check out The Chloe, a boutique uptown 14-room hotel housed in a renovated and refurbished mansion that invokes the spirit and glamour of New Orleans. The café is fun and filled with everything that you’d expect in a New Orleans eatery, where the local flavor is not only in the food, it’s everywhere.
Café Du Monde, the original French market coffee stand, invites all who visit to enjoy the classic beignets and chicory café au lait, complete with all the French Quarter has to offer. Street performers, buskers, and musicians all add to the soundtrack. Just steps away is the French Market, an original Native American trading post turned outdoor market for souvenirs and themed tchotchkes. My advice is to follow your nose. The city will certainly wake up all the senses as you stroll along the streets in this historic, ever-changing, eclectic city. Just a little out of the normal, lunch at The Country Club is not to be missed. Just remember the contemporary creole cuisine isn’t the only spicy thing on the menu. There is quite a lot that this neighborhood has to offer. Located in the artistic Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods of New Orleans, the art galleries, cafes, and funky live music venues all add to the mix. It is a refreshing sojourn from The French Quarter. Art is alive and well in New Orleans and it continues to move and shape the future of this incredible city. From the technologically advanced Vue Orleans, located 34 stories above the hustle and bustle of daily life, to JAMNOLA, an immersive, funhouse style, exhibit that celebrates the iconic art, music, food, and theatrics of this city’s more than colorful past. Art is also helping to script the speed and trajectory of New Orleans’ future.
Not to be missed on any art tour of New Orleans is The Ogden Museum of Southern Art whose mission is simply “to broaden the knowledge, understanding, interpretation, and appreciation of the visual arts and culture of the American South.”
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Located in the Warehouse Arts District, The Ogden boasts the largest collection of Southern art and is a poignant salute to all things that make the South such an integral part of our nation’s heritage. The museum’s hyper-personalized approach to collecting art and its carefully curated arts program adds to the understanding of fine art for all ages.
Whether you have been before or are lovers of the city, everyone who visits needs to take in an evening of jazz music at Preservation Hall and a tour of one of the city’s many historical cemeteries. There is so much to
do when you are in town, plan wisely and remember to laissez les bons temps rouler.
LoewsHotels.com
HerbSaint.com
OgdenMuseum.org
Shop.CafeDuMonde.com
TheCountryClubNewOrleans.com
TheChloeNola.com
VueOrleans.com
JamNola.com
Explore Right Here
ARTICLE BY BECCA MCCOY
What began with a local schoolteacher who was concerned that new development posed a threat to the exceptional raw wilderness that her neighborhood contained... eventually became a sanctuary for local flora and fauna. Nancy Jones worked with the North Buckhead Civic Association and successfully negotiated an initial 7-acre swath of floodplain to be set aside to create Blue Heron Nature Preserve. Twentyfour years later, Blue Heron Nature Preserve is now a 30-acre, thriving natural feature of BuckHaven.
There are four distinct ecosystems within the Preserve: meadow, woodland, wetland, and riparian – which is especially remarkable in
BLUE HERON NATURE PRESERVE
“THE PRESERVE IS CELEBRATING ITS 10TH YEAR WITH INSTALLATIONS
FROM ATLANTA ARTISTS CURATED BY THE 2024 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE DOROTHY O’CONNOR”
an urban setting. When all you hear is birdsong and the sound of your own footsteps, it’s easy to forget that the hustle and bustle of Lenox Square is a mile away.
The nonprofit managing the Preserve oversees conservation efforts, promotes education, and integrates the arts, encouraging visitors to create a personal experience with nature. Its offerings are as dynamic as the land it serves – from Volunteer Saturdays and community gardening to kids’ camps and the Art of Nature. The Preserve is celebrating its 10th year with installations from Atlanta artists, curated by the 2024 Artist-in-Residence Dorothy O’Connor, that dot the Blueway Trail for visitors to enjoy anytime the park is open.
Volunteer Saturday is held in the morning on the first Saturday of the month.
Projects vary from gardening, invasive removal, tree survey, trail maintenance, creek clean-up, painting, etc. All four ecosystems are addressed over time and you will walk away learning something new. Once a month an email will go out to those who sign up to the right with the objective for that month. This month, meet other volunteers on July 15, 5:00 am - 7:00 am.
Or, join as a supporter of the Blue Heron Stewards Program. Your stewardship will enhance our summer camps, offer environmental education opportunities to the underserved in the community, and initiate conservation projects. This program will provide the urgent and necessary support to continue to face new challenges and work closely with partners in the environmental family to bring more vibrant activities to the Preserve.
Bring your camera and binoculars, hiking boots and water shoes, kids, dogs, and picnics. This stunning urban oasis is yours to explore, and to spread your wings.
BHNP.org
Art of Nature 2024 – mural by Diana Toma on the Blueway Trail
Your North Georgia Real Estate Team
500 Old Gravel Road | Mc Caysville
4 Bedroom | 4 Bathroom | 1 Half Bathroom Offered at $$2,199,000
Rare secluded property along Fightingtown Creek, offering exceptional privacy and outdoor amenities. The extensive outdoor features include inviting fireplaces, a s’mores roasting firepit, and a charming kids’ playground. Inside, a tastefully renovated interior with 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, and a separate guest house provides ample space for family and guests. This one-of-a-kind property is ideal for those seeking a private sanctuary, a gathering place for loved ones, or a prime investment opportunity, embracing the beauty of nature and luxury living. offering endless possibilities for those who appreciate the best that nature and luxury living have to offer.
Resort Destination: Your Backyard
GEORGIA LUXURY POOLS
ARTICLE BY SUE G. COLLINS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN RILEY
David Brown is on call pretty much 24/7. When a customer has a question, he presses pause on his day and focuses on solutions. It’s his pleasure. He grew up watching his father run a successful pool business and now, at the helm of Georgia Luxury Pools, David is building a company where design excellence and customer communication are key.
“At Georgia Luxury Pool, integrity, quality and customer service are the foundation we build upon every day to make sure the customer’s experience, from dream inspiration to building their pool, creates a luxury experience,” says David. These three core values set the bar for every employee at GLP to build a better customer experience for their dream backyard. “When you walk out of your back door, your friends and family will be impressed from pool to patio. Not only will you end up with a luxury backyard, but it will also be built better for you and your family.”
That’s the goal with every project.
Homeowners John and Jeanne Flack along with daughter Emma and son John wanted an expansive space to entertain family and friends that also had a more cozy and intimate feel for smaller gatherings. Together with David and Patrick Ferguson of Southern Landscapes and Designs, the Flacks now have a showcase property.
Patrick chimes in, “The Flack residence was a complete design-build project. The project started with a solid design, but over the course of the project, changes arose.” The sloped backyard presented challenges to level multiple elevations. “Walls were added to support the elevation changes, drainage played a big part as we controlled water run-off from many different entry points.” Two full-time designers are on staff and the company has an operation manager, two project managers, three hardscape crews and two landscape crews.
For the pool, the family wanted resort-feel, and a pool with a swim lane, tanning ledge and spa. David’s team designed the 18-foot x 36-foot rectangle with a 12-foot x 6-foot tan ledge on the side and a 6-foot bench in the deep end, plus a 6-foot x 10-foot spillover spa at the end with eight therapeutic jets.
The entire pool system and lights are set to automation and an app that the homeowners can control by their phone. On their way home they can set the temp of the Spa, have the jets moving and turn on a light show, all from their phone and it is ready to go when they pull in the drive! Along with the pool, this “resort style” backyard also has an outdoor kitchen/grilling area, a covered patio, tv and fireplace area, night-lighting, outdoor landscape speakers and putting green.
The family wanted a “resort style” backyard. After the project, Jeanne Flack says, “We had such a great experience using Georgia Luxury Pools to build our pool. David is incredibly knowledgeable and easy to work with. We’ve never built a pool before and David and his team were so helpful throughout the process and responsive to all of our questions. We could not be happier with the outcome- GLP and SLD truly brought our vision for what we wanted to life.”
Dreaming of a pool this summer? Consider the elevation and growth of the landscape (Patrick’s team will handle this) and local permitting. “On average, survey, design and permitting should take 1-2 months. The building of the pool (once land has been prepped and is ready to excavate) 3-4 months, weather permitting,” says David. “Even if you do not want to start the project until next January, go ahead and get the survey, design and budget complete, then you are ready to go to the next phase! Now is the time to start in order to be ready for next year’s season,” he notes.
“Two full-time designers are on staff and the company has an operation manager, two project managers, three hardscape crews and two landscape crews.”
ARTICLE BY SEAN O'KEEFE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN O'KEEFE, AS PROVIDED
Await St. Maarten and Saba
AN OCEAN LOVER'S PARADISE AT THE INTERSECTION OF THE DUTCH AND CARIBBEAN CULTURES
A perfect spot for a bath, overlooking the entire Caribbean.
If you are looking for an irresistible blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and thrilling adventures this travel season, look no further than the Dutch Island of St. Maarten. Warm breezes and a gracious welcome set the stage for what will be an unforgettable Caribbean getaway.
When visiting St. Maarten, Rainforest Adventure and The Flying Dutchman are not to be missed. After the 25-minute ascension to the top of Sentry Hill, guests are greeted with incredible 360-degree views of the neighboring islands. Luckily, a cocktail lounge offers a little liquid courage to those courageous guests taking the quick way down! An exhilarating 1,066-foot drop over 2,800 feet with speeds up to 56 miles per hour as you soar over the rainforest and rooftops. It’s the closest to fear and thrill you will ever know.
Philipsburg, the only beachside capital city in the world, is a beautiful, walkable city transporting visitors to the vibrant intersection of Dutch and Caribbean life. The Great Bay Beach scene rivals that of any city in the world. Bright pastel-colored, colonial-influenced historical buildings house the finest duty-free liquor, jewelry, perfumeries, and designer clothing shops.
From bustling markets, bakeries, and roadside eateries, to dockside fine dining restaurants, St. Maarten is a rich, delicious, global culinary adventure. The food scene is as diverse as the inhabitants of this robust island. While Caribbean, Dutch, Creole, and French cuisines have left their indelible mark on the emerging culinary landscape, its gastronomic prowess is representative of the more than 120 nationalities that call this wonderfully inviting island home.
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Looking towards Fort Amsterdam.
Hiking is a must do adventure while visiting Saba
The beautiful downtown of St. Maarten, full of color and life!
A short, 20-minute flight will land you on Saba Island, a veritable jewel amongst all the islands that make up the Caribbean. Saba captivates from the moment you land but please, mind the approach by air. It is always a miraculous landing. With its towering cliffs, lush rainforests, and colloquial atmosphere; it’s a haven for hikers and nature enthusiasts. Don’t miss Mas Cahones Hill. It is exhilarating! With charming villages and a rich cultural heritage, Saba offers a serene escape from the ordinary. From sea level to the top of Mount Scenery, some 2,900 feet above, Saba truly is a fantasy island - the unspoiled queen of the Caribbean.
Here are my picks for embracing St. Maarten. Enjoy salt fish and Johnny Cakes. Fine French pastries are your friend. Eat them. Go to Fort Amsterdam. It is a step back in time. Whatever activities you choose to do while visiting St. Maarten, your home away from home should be Oceans at Divi Little Bay. This luxury beachfront oasis is the ultimate traveler’s paradise.
Whether it’s relaxation or adventure, the Dutch Islands of St. Maarten and Saba are undiscovered Caribbean destinations waiting just for you.
RainForestAdventure.com
DiviResorts.com
SeasideNaturePark.com
VacationStMaarten.com
SabaTourism.com
Visit Seaside Nature Park and go horseback riding in the ocean.
Try to catch a jet plane at Maho Beach
Captain's Rib Shack is a must dine while visiting Saint Maarten.
Volunteer Opportunities
Locations near you
Now is the time to serve! Help us tackle Atlanta’s most pressing needs by signing up to volunteer with a trusted partner and a meaningful project. Together, let’s do something good. HandsOnAtlanta.org
JULY 11TH
Author Talk with Gabrielle Zevin
Atlanta History Center | 7:00 PM
Meet Gabrielle Zevin, author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow. Spanning thirty years, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Venice Beach, California, and lands in between and far beyond, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow examines the multifarious nature of identity, disability, failure, the redemptive possibilities in play, and above all, our need to connect: to be loved and to love. AtlantaHistoryCenter.com
JULY 12TH
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“My experience at Absolute Image completely changed my life. After suffering from hair loss since college, I’d also lost most of my self esteem and confidence along the way. The quality is truly astounding. They gave me my life back. They have me myself back. My only regret is not choosing this sooner and saving myself all those rough mornings in the mirror. If you’re considering hair replacement - do it.” - Client Testimonial
Jersey Boys
Byers Theater, Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center | 7:00 PM
With phenomenal music, memorable characters, and great storytelling, JERSEY BOYS follows the fascinating evolution of four blue-collar kids who became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. Winner of Best Musical at both the Tony Awards® and Olivier Awards®. CitySpringsTheatre.com
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JULY 16TH
Dinner and a Diva: Anything Goes at Petite Violette
2948 Clairmont Rd NE | 7:00 PM
Join Capitol City Opera Company for a night of delicious food and performances from Cole Porter’s "Anything Goes." This performance is filled with a madcap group of passengers, witty repartee, exceptional singing and brilliant dancing. CCityOpera.org
JULY 20TH
Salty Saturdays with the Buckhead Run + Walk Club
Salty Donut, 5 W Paces Ferry Rd NW | 8:00 AM
Join the Buckhead Run + Walk crew for a 3 or 5-mile walk / run through Buckhead. After your workout, indulge in The Salty Donut with a 15% discount. This event is open to all levels. Free parking directly behind The Salty Donut or in the parking lot located next to The Salty Donut.
JULY 24TH Food Truck Roundup
Blackburn Park | 5:00 PM
The monthly event will feature food trucks, beer and wine available for purchase, and entertainment. Seating is available at the pavilion, but attendees are encouraged to bring picnic blankets and lawn chairs. Pets are welcome. The food trucks will be located at the north end of the park near the Blackburn Pavilion, bordering the playground. Easy dinner!
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