East Cobb, GA February 2023 by City Lifestyle

Brian and Brittney Kelley share love for life

F E B R UA RY 2 02 3

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LIFESTYLE LETTER

Hello to Love

February 2023 PUBLISHER

Lisa Thibault | l.thibault@citylifestyle.com EDITOR

Denise K. James | denise.james@citylifestyle.com

While we teeter between the chill of January winter and the excitement of spring, we hope you’ll be inspired to take a moment to come together with the people in your life. I don’t know about you, but this time of year, I am always torn between resisting purchasing another greeting card or indulging in all the sweet excuses of the season. To enjoy a Valentine’s Day date out or a cozy evening at home with wine and cheese parings? To purchase a gift, simply share a kind word or provide a helping hand? I usually land somewhere in between. We’ll each arrive at different answers based on our preferences and personalities, but what we hold in common is an opportunity to make sure those around us know we love them. We hope the pages of this month’s issue help you do just that as we celebrate and highlight what’s to love in our local community and beyond. In this issue, we invite you to read about local businesses and those who lead them, including Jeff South, who celebrates over 35 years of loving local and industry award-winning accolades, as well as Atlanta real estate professional Julie Altenbach of Harry Norman REALTORS®, who inspires us to love where we live. We're excited to share what is drives Brian Kelley, former band member of Florida Georgia Line, and the gratitude he has for everything that has happened in his career and continues to happen. We believe what we can accomplish together is far more than what we can do apart. We continue to see this demonstrated through the many stories shared in these pages and are excited to highlight the Cobb County Safety Foundation and the leaders who admire and care deeply about our community heroes — our first responders. Thank you for letting us be a part of the life you are building. Our hope is that we inspire you to feel the love and possibly lean in just a bit more than you did before. Happy February! Warmly,

CONTR IBUTING WR ITER

Sue G. Collins CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Jolie Loren, Wayne Albright, Katie Kauss

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell AD DESIGNER Josh Govero LAYOUT DESIGNER Eva Tucker

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Proverbs 3:5-6 East Cobb City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the East Cobb area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in East Cobb City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but

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the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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inside the issue The Local Love Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

12 Love Where You Live

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Business Monthly

Expert Help

Hometown Hero

Hair Care

Local Limelight

Back Stage

Culinary Creations

Realtor Julie Altenbach shares luxury design tips

24 A Community Love Story Intrigue Salon is a cut above the rest

30 Meet Ford Smith, Artist and Optimist A Q&A with one of the world’s foremost contemporary artists

34 Songs Are His Life

Beach cowboy Brian Kelley looks forward to his new solo record and a bright future

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Katie Kauss 6

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city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen. 1

1: Congrats Third Door Owners Ted and Lara Ferreira, Marietta Business Association’s Business of the Year 2022! 2: Kory Rykman, Owner of The Rykman Agencies, and Koby Germaine celebrate CASL 2022 Men’s Championship. 3: Chattahoochee Plantation Women’s Club celebrated the recent holiday season — thank you, Debbie Judd! 4: Congratulations to Michael King of Marietta Roofing, Marietta Business Association’s Member of the Year 2022! 5: Congratulations to Sergio Santos of SQS Photography, Marietta Business Association’s Member of the Year 2022! 6: Danielle Crawley, Managing Partner, The Capital Grille Dunwoody and Management Team celebrate the New Year. 7: Kory Rykman and team celebrate back-to-back CASL Cobb Adult League Men’s Championship.

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C I T Y SC E N E

I Love My Beach Life.

I was taught young that when you find good in this world you share it with others. Years ago after living in the Atlanta and Nashville metro areas for two decades, my husband, Scott, and I decided that life is too short not to love where we live. We took the opportunity to move to our vacation paradise of the Emerald Coast’s Scenic 30A and have not looked back. The beach life immediately felt like home to us. Sharing this lifestyle with others has been a dream and rarely feels like work!

Rachel Hutchings 30A Luxury Realtor 850.842.9202 rachel.hutchings@compass.com luxurybeachgroup.com

I welcome the opportunity to discuss your interest whether buying, selling or investing, primary or secondary, and representing you with an elevated and curated approach. -Rachel

Luxury Beach Group is a team of real estate agents affiliated with Compass, a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws.

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business monthly T COBB'S S A

URY FIR J M IN

A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

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B USIN E SS M ON T H LY

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LIVE MUSIC OUTDOOR PATIO FULL MENU - LUXURY SEATING THEMED PARTIES - FAMILY FUN SIGNATURE COCKTAILS - CRAFTED BREWS

East Cobb Resident Suzanne Tucker Named Executive Director of GSO East Cobb resident Suzanne Tucker has been named the new executive director of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra. A former public school music teacher, Tucker also has 18 years of leadership experience in church music, including as director of music at Mt. Bethel UMC. She assumed her new role January 9, according to a GSO release. “I am thrilled to become a part of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra family,” she said in the release.

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LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE REALTOR JULIE ALTENBACH SHARES LUXURY DESIGN TIPS

ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES PHOTOGRAPHY BY JOLIE LOREN PHOTOGRAPHY

EXP E RT H E LP | R EAL ESTATE

When Julie Altenbach looks back, the signs of her love for real estate and home design were there as early as childhood. Growing up in Tennessee — though she has proudly called Atlanta home since graduate school — Altenbach had a beloved dollhouse that she “played with constantly” — and, fun fact, she still has it! This budding interest in homes soon became more sophisticated; she would draw simple floor plans on the family’s driveway using chalk and even dug out a multi-level playhouse behind her parents’ garden. These experiences inspired Altenbach to pursue a home-related career, and, though she felt equally drawn to interior design and real estate, she ultimately chose the latter for the opportunity to connect with a broader audience. “I have

met people from all over the world, and I have been able to experience other cultures,” she shares. Working with Harry Norman Realtors, Atlanta’s longest-standing and most respected luxury real estate firm, Altenbach has witnessed many interior design trends come and go and, more importantly, what has stood the test of time. She particularly encourages homeowners to seek decor reflecting who they are as a person. Known as “grand millennial” style, this art of blending cherished heirlooms with modern design appeal “if done right, can be fabulous,” she notes. As an exclusive to East Cobb Lifestyle readers, Altenbach offered a few design tips from the local luxury market. Take your pick, and give your interiors a new look — then fall in love with your home all over again. • Indulge in color. “For a while, everything was white,” Altenbach says, “and it was very neutral, often rather sterile-looking.” She suggests increasing visual interest with earthy shades of green and blue, which are frequently showing up in the high-end market. • Liven things up with prints. Bold is back, Altenbach insists — she is seeing “everything from lime green floral wallpaper to orange striped draperies CONTINUED >

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inspired by antique French mattress patterns.” The lesson? Don’t be afraid to try something new with your wallpaper, rugs, draperies or upholstery. • Let the walls (and ceilings) talk. Begone, boring walls and ceilings! — Altenbach suggests giving these often overlooked spaces a touch of drama with floor-to-ceiling board and batten or decorative fretwork. • Here’s a cool idea. Skip corporate coffee and plan an elite coffee station in your home. Machines that craft your favorite latte (foam too!) plus a refrigerated drawer for accouterments can take your morning joe

EXP E RT H E LP | R EAL ESTATE

from habit to indulgence. Furthermore, these refrigerated drawers can go anywhere, bathrooms and bedrooms included. “Homeowners are using them to store medications, vitamins and an array of beauty products—makeup, moisturizers, cooling eye gels and masks,” Altenbach says. “Cold temperatures enhance the soothing, therapeutic effects.” Her attention to detail in home design, Altenbach says, is inspired by her favorite quote from the iconic Gloria Stenem’s book, My Life on the Road: “Home is a symbol of the self. Caring for a home is caring for one’s self," she points out.

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For the Good of All COBB COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY FOUNDATION KEEPS OUR LOCAL HEART BEATING

ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

The Cobb County Public Safety Foundation was not inspired overnight — ask Lance LoRusso Jr. of LoRusso Law Firm, the organization’s CEO. Rather, it was a long time coming — even prior to the chaos that was 2020, there had been negative feelings about law enforcement and public safety, LoRusso notes. With that knowledge, several caring community members who understand the imperative nature of public safety got together, and the very first meeting of the Cobb County Public Safety Foundation took place in June 2019. According to LoRusso, the group had already seen how other foundations of its nature had been successful in the United States and hoped to emulate them. “We decided that Cobb needed to have something

H OM E TOWN H E R O | ARTS + CULTURE

like that, where we could stand up for our public safety,” he says. “We don’t get into any politics. We just support them.” True to his statements, the Foundation is careful to remain unbiased and encourage the betterment of fire, EMS and police, who are able to save lives and improve the community as a whole. The board, made up of concerned citizens, utilizes members’ different talents and business sensibilities to ensure funds raised address the most pressing needs. John Loud, owner of LOUD Security Systems and an original board member, feels that raising money to supplement the invaluable work of public safety officials is one of his callings. “What greater mission is there for all of us?” he remarks. “These are real people who finish

The Foundation is careful to remain unbiased and encourage the betterment of fire, EMS and police, who save lives and improve the community as a whole. a shift and go to dinner with their families, just like the rest of us. I never served in the military — and I was a volunteer firefighter for only a short window of time — so I want to give and do with my abilities today.” Another board member, Susan Hampton with Pinnacle Financial Partners, feels similarly about giving her time for the good of the collective. “To be honest, I’ve always been someone who loves to give back,” she shares. “I got out of high school and started volunteering with Young Life, then eventually moved on to other causes.” Hampton, Loud and LoRusso, as well as the rest of the board, understand the importance of raising funds for the underfunded area of public safety. Not only do EMS, police and firefighters earn modest salaries, but plenty of additional costs and emergencies can come up, and the Foundation is there to supplement as much as possible. “There is only so much money a county can put into public safety,” Hampton notes. “So many things are needed and aren’t in the budget. One small example is the 9-11 Center, where we sponsored a garden area, where it’s beautiful and safe and workers can go on their break. That was recently completed and unveiled.” Other projects funded by the Foundation have included a recent seminar where officers could share and express their concerns and feelings to other officers and even a fleet of bicycles.

“There are areas where, if officers are on a bike, they can interact more with the community,” Hampton points out. “Especially with younger people. Parks, apartment complexes — you can ride your bicycle up to a basketball game and shoot a few hoops, for example.” LoRusso adds that the main points of the Foundation come down to the acronym REST, which stands for Relief, Equipment, Support and Training. Providing all of these things close to home — instead of sending officials to another state for training, for example — saves money and keeps them closer to their families. The psychological benefits are as myriad as the financial, since individuals are able to retain and grow in their roles with proper support. Right now, the Foundation is building a $300,000 relief fund that will aid in many different areas. LoRusso adds that these funds often make the difference between a public safety officer staying on board to serve the community and being forced to find higher paying work in the face of a financial crisis. “We need to be prepared for loss,” he says. “We had an officer who could not work his part-time job because of an injury, and we helped him pay his rent. These funds can take away the burden." LoRusso, Hampton and Loud agree public safety is the very heartbeat of Cobb, and the Cobb Public County Safety Foundation’s mission is to keep that heartbeat pumping for the future. Without first responders, a solid community cannot exist.

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Lance LoRusso, Foundation CEO

Susan Hampton

“This is paramount for me,” Loud shares. “Our community heroes are our first responders and teachers — I ask myself, what can I do as an individual to help them? I have the heart and passion to supplement them and support them.” “There is no strong county or city in the United States that can prosper without a strong foundation, and that foundation is provided by police, fire and EMS,” adds Hampton. They work long hours for little pay and put their lives on the line for us each time they wear the uniform.” LoRusso agrees,

John Loud

pointing out that Cobb County’s public safety officials are not just vaguely “for the county,” but rather, for each and every person who inhabits Cobb and loves where they live. “It’s not Cobb’s public safety; it is every citizen’s,” he emphasizes. “When you call 9-11, someone answers and sends people to you, who then commit to protecting and saving your life. For that, they deserve our respect and support. That’s why we are here — to make certain someone keeps answering the call.” Visit ccpsf.org to donate.

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H OM E TOWN H E R O | ARTS + CULTURE

Time to fall in love with a new home. Let’s start a conversation.

Happy Valentine’s Day! With love, Amy Jones Team Principal & REALTOR® amy.jones@compass.com M: 404-409-0528 | O: 404.668.6621

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reﬂect actual property conditions.

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A Community Love Story INTRIGUE SALON IS A CUT ABOVE THE REST

ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES | PHOTOGRAPHY BY WAYNE ALBRIGHT

It was inevitable that Intrigue Salon Owner Jeff South and Life Coach and Podcast Host Bonnie Bonadeo would cross paths at some point. Both 40-year veterans of the beauty industry, they did indeed meet — at an international hair event in sunny California, when a mutual friend introduced them. South was already a fan of Bonadeo’s radio show, and the two soon collaborated on a speaking presentation for an industry event. “Over time, we connected at other events, and we realized we shared many interests,” says South. “As fate would have it, we fell in love, and Bonnie eventually moved from Phoenix to Atlanta.” The pairing has certainly been fortunate, not only for the couple but for the East Cobb community. Intrigue Salon, which has called East Cobb home for more than 35 years, has

H AIR CA R E | BEAU TY

benefitted from South and Bonadeo’s collective passion for hair care and customer service. The concept for the salon is simple yet requires effort: Client wishes are addressed through careful listening and consulting, and dream hair is achieved through each stylist’s assortment of creative, technical skills, according to South. And this simple formula has built an empire – for three decades and counting, Intrigue Salon has been the top brand in town. “Jeff’s commitment to his team to help them grow and prosper leads to him being coined the nicest guy in the industry,” says Bonadeo. “The salon is filled with smiling faces and high energy.” Elevating the salon experience, however, is far from the only way Intrigue Salon makes an impact. The company

values giving back to East Cobb and regularly donates funds to a variety of causes, most often recommended by clients and friends. This way, according to South, they don’t have to select just one or two charities to support. “We look to our loyal clients who request support . . . for their charities, churches, schools and fundraisers,” he notes. South himself has been a long-time member of the East Cobb Civic Association and was appointed to the East Cobb Precinct 4 discussion group. “I gather and share information from our heroes of public safety,” he explains. Within the salon itself, elite products and services are consistently the focal points. “We offer the finest home hair care products to support clients looking their best between services,” South says. “Oribe, Goldwell, Arrojo and Aveda, as well as unique gift items — including locally made

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Himalayan items and the popular Voluspa candles. We choose companies based on the alignment of mutual values and our relationships.” Last March, Intrigue Salon celebrated South receiving a prestigious industry award at one of the largest salon events in the country — the Jerry Gordon Industry Leadership Award. Established in 2015, this honor celebrates and commemorates the ideals of Jerry Gordon and those who represent his ideals – of which South is a shining example. Ever humble, however, he insists much

H AIR CA R E | BEAU TY

of the credit is owed to his entire salon staff, who are affectionately known as an “industry family of friends.” Altogether, the entire team consists of 40 stylists, assistants, guest service providers and managers — many who have been happily part of Intrigue Salon for well over a decade. “With Bonnie’s life coaching expertise, she builds growth journeys for the Intrigue team. We all get along and cheerlead each other to be our best and learn together every day. Our culture drives us,” South says, smiling.

“Last March, Intrigue Salon celebrated Jeff South receiving a prestigious industry award at one of the largest salon events in the country” — the Jerry Gordon Industry Leadership Award.

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MEET FORD SMITH, ARTIST AND OPTIMIST the morning and tea most afternoons by the fire in my studio with my dogs.

ECL: YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS AN OPTIMIST. DO YOU ESCHEW THE IDEA THAT ARTISTS ARE BROODING AND MELANCHOLY? HAVE YOU COME UP AGAINST AND HAD TO REFUTE THIS STEREOTYPE?

PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF FORD SMITH

ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES

A Q&A WITH ONE OF THE WORLD’S FOREMOST CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

LOCA L LIM E LIGH T | A RTS + CULTURE

We sat down with Ford Smith, landscape painter and eternal optimist, to learn about his creative process and how he stays inspired. This is one artist who refuses to give in to stereotypes and always thinks (and paints) outside the box!

EAST COBB LIFESTYLE: WHAT IS YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS? Ford Smith: Getting into the studio and painting. The act of painting inspires me. I use paint, water, gravity and texture, moving it around the canvas until I start to "see" something I want to bring forth. I also adopt what Picasso used to say: "Inspiration is for amateurs.” I'm a professional painter, so I don’t wait for inspiration; I get up in the morning, and I paint. The inspiration follows. Music helps! I listen to a wide variety of music, but I am a dedicated Beatles fan, so that is a frequent sound coming from my studio. I also listen to classical music, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s rock ‘n’ roll, soft rock and even some pop and rap. I’m all over the place musically. For other energy, I’m both coffee and tea – coffee in

Smith: I'm not a tortured soul — quite the opposite — and I think that’s reflected in my work. When I started painting again after 25 years, I thought I had to create disturbing, complicated or controversial work to get the attention of the museum boards, but it didn't feel natural. What I loved to paint was color and abstracting elements of nature. I am a huge fan of the great Impressionists and Expressionists, who chose not to paint photo-realistically but instead used their imaginations, skills and talents to expand a concept and interpret their subject matter creatively. Bottom line ... I get to paint for a living, and that makes me feel like one of the luckiest people on earth.

ECL: WHAT CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS DO YOU ADMIRE OR KEEP IN TOUCH WITH? WHAT CULTURAL FODDER — FILM, BOOKS, PODCASTS — DO YOU VALUE? Smith: I've read or watched about every biography on Van Gogh, Seraut, Klimt, Monet, Cezanne and DaVinci. I've been to Europe and visited the Louvre, Musee d' Orsay, Uffizi and all the great museums of Florence. I like visiting the High Museum here in Atlanta every year. I also have my ear to the ground on who's currently making waves in the great art cities. I often watch YouTube to see what's happening in the broader art community, as well. It's a fun industry to be a part of, and I believe it's a good practice to

immerse yourself in its past and present. Not to mention that doing so is inspirational.

ECL: WHAT WOULD YOU TELL A YOUNG ARTIST STARTING OUT? Smith: Spend time developing an identifiable style and/or subject matter that you enjoy, then seek an audience who responds favorably. If I were starting out again, I'd begin with social media because it's like conducting a free and easy focus group. Build a website to showcase your work. Then you're ready to approach local gallery directors or owners. There's no shame in getting a job while you're making your way in the art industry, gaining life experience and maturity along the way. If you can find a steady job somewhere in the art industry, even better. I'd probably not recommend waiting until half your life is over, although it seemed to work out OK for me. I guess the upside for me is that at the age of 72, I still feel like a young painter!

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B E A C H C O W B OY B R I A N

Songs Are His Life

K E L L E Y LO O K S F O R WA R D TO H I S N E W S O LO R E C O R D AND A BRIGHT FUTURE

ARTICLE BY SUE G. COLLINS PHOTOGRAPHY BY KATIE KAUSS

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Singer-songwriter Brian Kelley is powered by three forces: his love for his wife Brittney, his four German shepherds and music. Sure, there’s more to this former band member of Florida Georgia Line, like spending time with friends and family at his homes in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and Nashville; launching a retail brand, Tribe Kelley, with Brittney; and growing their NFT collection, Chill Cowboy Country Club. But it’s songwriting that fuels him most of all. “To this day, I wake up excited about songs — from a friend, from another artist. Songs are life,” says Kelley, who is working on his second solo album from his studios in both Florida and Nashville. Fans around East Cobb love this beach cowboy, but he’s exploring different creative spaces for this record, telling new stories and finding joy from collaborations that are inspiring to him. Late last year, he hunkered down with some of his favorite musicians and fellow songwriters — who share the same passion for ideas, words and melodies — to dig deeper during songwriting retreats, which proved to be fruitful and fun. “Everyone there was a great singer and artist, and we did three different sessions of songwriting camps in Nashville. I wanted to put myself through the wringer, see what I could find,” he says. “There’s magic to be made in creative places. While many shut down over the holidays, I wanted to make a little hay while the sun was still shining.”

One week, he wrote during two sessions a day, every day, reminiscent of his earlier career. “The hustle and heart are still inside of me, and to connect with the songwriter community continuously feels great,” he says. They would riff off one another, recording tracks, honoring every line and story. “It’s a really cool connection, when you’re on the same page and share the same connection, trying to uncover what that room on that day needs from you. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s harder. We would write in the living room, have a fire going, and I was really grateful to have the opportunity,” he shares. Not being strangers to hard work, he and Brittney renovated a historic home in Grayton Beach for a retail boutique, Tribe Kelley Surf Post, plus a studio upstairs and green event space complete with a tiki hut in back, where they hosted nearly 30 live shows last year. Country music singer-songwriter Chase Rice did a “sound check” last summer, and Kelley performed favorites as well as new songs, sometimes just days old. “I wanted to be in my own lane and create an intimate fan experience in our own world and invite people into that,” he says. “It was important for me to be home and be writing. It changes the course of the record I’m making.” Brittney is committed to the brand they started eight years ago. “We wrote the blueprint during our first year of marriage, launching it on our first wedding anniversary,” she says. Her apparel and accessories are sourced from local and USA makers, something she is passionate about. From her studio upstairs at Tribe Kelley Surf Post, she is driving their NFT collection, Chill Cowboy Country Club, a members-only club. “Web3 is coming up quickly on us, and we want to be on the forefront of this technology. We love helping to educate those who are new coming into the space, and we want to introduce country music and country music fans to it while making our mark in the community,” she says.

Tribe Kelley Surf Post

“The hustle and heart are still inside of me, and to connect with the songwriter community continuously feels great.” -Brian Kelley With purchase of the NFT, members get numerous perks, including tickets to events such as concerts, an exclusive party featuring special guests and surprise performances during Superbowl weekend and pop-ups around the CMA Festival with cocktail hours. “Join with like-minded individuals to come together, network, have fun and connect — not just with country music fans but also sports figures and actors, bigger than just country music,” Brittney says. CONTINUED > FEB R UARY 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C OM / E ASTC O BB

TRIBE KELLEY SURF POST Kelley launched Tribe Kelley in December 2014 after spending years prior customizing her husband’s stage clothes. With the goal of creating a tribe unified through fashion and community, the dynamic lifestyle brand has expanded with a brick-and-mortar retail store, Tribe Kelley Surf Post, located in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida and internationally through e-commerce, while manufacturing proudly remains in the United States. With several high-profile spotlights in Entertainment Tonight, Fo rbes, PEOPLE, Women’s Wear Daily, and more, Tribe Kelley’s threads have been spotted on today’s hottest stars like Lil’ Wayne, Kane Brown, Luke Combs, and Kacey Musgraves.

This Valentine’s Day, the Kelleys will likely be in Nashville, savoring dinner at Bourbon Steak and enjoying time together, then hanging out with their dogs and watching a movie. “We love being together, and it doesn’t take much to make us happy. I’m forever grateful for everything that’s ever happened in my career and that continues to happen — with every door that opens. It continues to feel surreal,” says Kelley.

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For more information on Brian Kelley, visit officialbriankelley.com. For more information on Tribe Kelley, visit tribekelley.com. For more information on Chill Cowboy Country Club, visit chillcowboy.com.

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Matches Made in Heaven Wine pairings for an evening at home

Planning an evening of great wine and yummy nibbles? We have perfect pairings right here, courtesy of Debbie Ruskin of Debbie Ruskin Travel. As a chef, wine educator and traveler, Ruskin has tantalized the taste buds of travelers all over the world – and she has advice exclusive to East Cobb Lifestyle readers! Not a chocolate fan? Not to worry – Ruskin assures us that cheeses are just as delicious and even more foolproof for pairing with wine. “Pairing chocolate with wine can be tricky,” she says, adding that the chocolate fans in the house should keep in mind this general rule: lighter wines with milk chocolate and heavier wines with dark chocolate.

Here are three pairings from Ruskin, whether you’re in the mood for a wintry red or a festive bubbly.

JOSH CELLARS CABERNET This wine’s notes of blackberry, toasted hazelnut, cinnamon and vanilla make it rich and decadent for an evening at home. Pair this amazing red with dark chocolate to match the wine’s rich structure, and add raspberries to accent the fruitiness, says Ruskin. For cheese lovers, semi-hard cheeses like aged, sharp cheddar and gouda work well and have the right amount of fat to balance the tannins in the wine.

HOB NOB PINOT NOIR Made in France and bursting with

ARTICLE BY DENISE K. JAMES

C ULIN A RY C R E AT ION S | LI F E + CULTURE

notes of cherry along a medium-bodied and smooth (yet rich) texture, this beautiful bottle of Pinot Noir is fantastic with classic sweets such as creamy milk chocolate and even a Snickers candy bar. Prefer cheese? Gruyere or comté are slightly salty and will pair nicely with the berry flavors in the wine.

JEAN-JACQUES VINCENT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE This unique, sparkling Chardonnay from France has notes of crisp apple and toasty vanilla. Pair this bottle of bubbles with white chocolate, advises Ruskin, or with a chocolate-covered fruit to accentuate the wine’s natural hints of citrus. Sparkling wines also pair well with camembert or brie.

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Laura Elleby 678.736.1132 | 404.668.6621 laura.elleby@compass.com Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions.