POINTS NORTH ATLANTA | ISSUE 168 | MAY 2014
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MY TURN DUE NORTH CALENDAR FIVE THINGS
{ ON THE COVER } Three inspiring local nurses: Allison Batson, RN; Sheny Hill, RN, CMSRN; Stephanie Meisner, RN, BSN, CCRP. Photo courtesy of Alan Brooks
18 SUMMER SURVIVAL GUIDE
40 LOUISVILLE
We’ve put together a must-have list of summer survival gear that’ll keep your sunscreens separate, your phones dry and your keys in the right pocket until the season comes to an end.
Wide-brimmed accessories atop Southern belles, stately thoroughbreds and more Mint Juleps than you can muddle top the list when Louisville, Ky. comes to mind … until recently. Now its culinary scene is making its mark.
22 TRIBUTE TO NURSES We’re extending a standing ovation to three local nurses whose passion burns eternal, placing them in a realm with the super heroes of our time.
32 UNTAMEABLE S P E C I A L A DV E R TI S I N G S E C TI O N S 28 | Women’s Health Advisor 50 | Hidden Gems: Roswell 58 | Mother’s Day Gift Guide
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Sherry Ajluni’s passionate quest for a more complete and proactive fight against addiction stems from losing her son, and learning firsthand the crippling effects of addiction can often be as damaging to those who lend their love, support, care and concern as it is to the addicts themselves.
52 GOLF’S NEW LEGENDS To continue her parents’ legacy of giving back to the Atlanta community, Lauren Judson helped give women’s collegiate golf an audience on par with the Masters tournament in Augusta.
60 HISTORIC BANNING MILLS Tucked 45 minutes southwest of Atlanta, Historic Banning Mills is a 300-acre campus of outdoor adventure akin to hours of aerial Shoots and Ladders. Pack your hiking boots and don’t forget your bravado as this place will whisk you off your feet.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JESSICA FEY PHOTOGRAPHY; SUE MARTIN | EOS SNAPS; KATHLEEN STEVENS MOORE
contents
MY
turn PRESIDENT / CEO
Witt Beckman PUBLISHER
Carl Danbury Jr.
SENIOR EDITOR
Heather KW Brown MANAGING EDITOR
Jennifer Colosimo PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WILLETTS | WILLETT PHOTOGRAPHY
CRE ATIVE DIREC TOR
Robin Harrison SENIOR ART DIRECTOR
Shannah J. Smith SALES & EDITORIAL COORDINATOR
Colleen Ann McNally
hello
NORTHSIDE!
It’s been well over a
Kathleen Stevens Moore Amber Lanier Nagle EDITORIAL INTERNS
LaTonya Darrisaw Ashley Biscan Christine Kirk
ADVERTISING
770-844-0969 sales@pointsnorthatlanta.com S E N I O R M E D I A C O N S U LTA N T
Karen Poulsen ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
Tom Tolbert ACCOUNTING & CIRCUL ATION MANAGE R
Tiffany Willard All Points Interactive Media Corp. 568 Peachtree Parkway Cumming, Georgia 30041 770-844-0969 www.pointsnorthatlanta.com © 2014 Points North All Points Interactive Media Corp. All rights reserved.
Jennifer Colosimo, Managing Editor jenni@pointsnorthatlanta.com
Points North is published monthly by All Points Interactive Media Corp. The opinions expressed by contributing writers are not necessarily those of the editor, the publisher or of Points North. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior consent of the publisher.
Subscription information: Points North offers a 12-month subscription for $12. Visit pointsnorthatlanta.com for details.
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c yc l e T h i s M a zi n e
To send comments and/or suggestions on this or any other subject, e-mail us at: myturn@pointsnorthatlanta.com.
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decade since I first picked up a pencil and nervously jotted down thoughts for a story I’d been assigned by a college newspaper editor. Since then, my subjects have varied as much as my writing tools (I did finally get a computer). Now, I am excited to join another artistic vessel and cannot be more pleased that it is the community-driven, creative publication you’re currently reading. In fact, if you’ve read it before, you’ve seen my stories over the last several years already. As cliché as it sounds, our May issue, dedicated to mothers of all kinds, is the perfect way to say thanks to my own, for her support and encouragement along the long, winding road of my writing career. For her constant story ideas and endless paper clippings of articles she thinks I
should be writing, for the company she brings on photo shoots and site visits and for the praise she (and my dad) constantly give my work, I am grateful. They’ve still got copies of my very first magazine gig — where my name in the masthead was really the only thing I had to show. Now, I can finally offer up something concrete for them to cash in their college chips on. So, to mothers, and in honor of all of the people who’ve helped us get to where we are today, cheers to tangible good reading.
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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PHOTO COURTESY OF TRADEWINDS ISLAND RESORT
{ ENTER TO win }
the PRIZE
A GETAWAY ON ISLAND TIME As the weather heats up, the urge to sink your toes in sugary white sand
This month, one lucky Points North Atlanta reader and guest will get the chance to sail into the sunset and be swept away on island time. This prize, valued at $886, includes two-night accommodations at Tradewinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach for two, a complimentary breakfast and a two-hour sunset cruise. While the prize is good for one year, redemption dates are subject to availability and are not valid during blackout dates including March, April and holiday periods. Winner will receive complete prize details and redemption instructions with certificates. To enter, register online at pointsnorthatlanta.com by May 31, 2014.
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and take in the fresh salty breeze gets stronger. The TradeWinds Island Resorts on St. Pete Beach, along with the gulf waters and warm Florida sun invite you to get away, let go and much more. First, the 20-acre Island Grand Beach Resort offers a tropical oasis full of family activities, water sports and flip-flop-friendly dining options. Just 200 steps away is the Guy Harvey Outpost, the perfect place to relax and renew your spirit, whether in a hammock or around the two pools. Guests can explore the shore, master a paddleboard, go fishing or dive in for an underwater adventure. As the sun sets, toast the day with a little umbrella in your drink and authentic seafood at one of the six onsite bars. Meanwhile on the mainland, the entire Tampa Bay area awaits as your playground with fun-filled theme parks, professional sports teams and a few things you might not expect, all just minutes away. 727-367-6461, tradewindsresort.com — Colleen Ann McNally
may 2014
GOOD VIBRATIONS Calling all teens: it’s open mic night at The Woodruff Arts Center! Well, all day, really. The second Voices and Vibes Festival kicks off Saturday afternoon, May 10 at The Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. Sponsored by the Wells Fargo Artsvibe Teen Program, this free program includes an afternoon of hands-on workshops and events for teens with performing in their blood. Wrapping up the day of entertainment is a showcase of more than 40 young people representing 12 different high schools and one university, singing, speaking, dancing and performing musical acts. These individuals, selected from more than 150 applicants, will train with professional artists until show time, unveiling one cohesive act that celebrates teen creativity and talent (everything from ďŹ rst loves to the joys of adolescence). For information and tickets visit artsvibe.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF TREVOR COCHLIN
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ANGLERINSPIRED ART
TO EAT PHOTO COURTESY OF
Local food lovers rejoice! In spite of the Sandy Springs Farmers Market’s many changes this year, its commitment to delivering diverse, naturally grown produce and specialty food items to the community remains the same. In fact, it may have just improved, now that you’ve got a super cute way to shop and store your goods. Handcrafted In Athens, the brainchild of Athens native Ivy Mason, is an online Etsy shop featuring the latest in ecofriendly fashion and reusable produce bags. Completely handmade from pre-shrunk cotton, mesh and drawstring, this tote is a cost-efficient, green alternative to your grocer’s plastic bags. Small enough to fit in your pocket or fold into your purse, the functional (and fashionable) accessory provides a clean, clear view of all your fresh fruits and veggies. Although newly named as the Heritage Sandy Springs Farmers Market and spearheaded by the nonprofit organization Heritage Sandy Springs, the market returns to its original location in the parking lot of a former Target store for the 2014 season. Expect the same high-quality goods and produce like pasture-raised meat, farm-fresh eggs, dairy products and a variety of prepared delicacies to round out a robust palate pleaser that has made the market a community staple for years. Stop by to chat with the 45-plus vendors, mingle with your fellow freshies, listen to live music and ultimately, soak up a piece of this local food-lover’s paradise. The Heritage Sandy Springs Farmers Market runs through November from 8:30 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit heritagesandysprings.org or sandyspringsfarmersmarket.com. To purchase a reusable produce bag from Handcrafted In Athens, visit HandcraftedInAthens.etsy.com. – LaTonya Darrisaw 10
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HANDCRAFTED IN ATHE
Travel up Scenic 197 Moonshine Highway, “North Georgia’s most beautiful drive,” and you’ll spot Grandpa Watt’s Old Gristmill nestled on a quiet, private section of the Soque River. Situated 10 miles north of Clarkesville, the former mill is now home to one of Georgia’s oldest craft shops. And other than art, preservation is their best skill. In an age of mass production, they offer uniquely crafted, functional stoneware made by artisan potters. The shop opened as a restored mill in 1969 and protects portions of the river, now filled with some of the state’s largest trout. In fact, Mark of the Potter’s prize pets were recently featured on an episode of Fox Sports South’s television show “Anglers and Appetites.” There’s no fishing at Mark of the Potter, but you can feed their “pet trout” when it’s warm and get a good look at some trophy-sized fish. Got the urge to submerge a hook yourself? Visit them online, or in-store, for a hint at established fishing spots nearby. Mark of the Potter is open daily from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. during the summer, with live craft demonstrations on Saturdays. For more information, call 706-947-3440 or visit them online at markofthepotter.com. – Christine Kirk
Dancing in the Streets Let the good times roll this spring, summer and fall at the Jazz in the Alley concert series. Historic downtown Norcross fills the streets with sultry notes from a variety of Atlanta-based musicians, including local favorite Phil West and the Phil West Project. Musicians will play their soulful tunes along Norcross’s charming Skin Alley as groups meander through the town, settle into lawn chairs and dig into picnic baskets. A perfect, free evening of family fun, it is a unique opportunity to get swept away in the rhythms of jazz and the quaintness of historic downtown Norcross. This event series is sponsored by Norcross’s Downtown Development Authority and features different artists on May 3, June 21, Sept. 27 and Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. For more information and a detailed concert calendar, visit aplacetoimagine.com. – Ashley Biscan
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK OF THE POTTER
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ATLANTA’S HOTTEST TOUR We know it’s “only” May, but hey, when it comes to getting in a good run, we certainly wouldn’t want you to miss out on what will surely become one of the city’s hottest tours. So hot, it’s downright cool. The inaugural HOTLANTA half marathon, taking place on August 24, will start at Underground Atlanta, taking participants on a journey through several treasured Atlanta icons. From the streets of downtown, runners are then treated to vista views of the city along the Beltline before cruising by historic Piedmont Park and the golden dome of the Georgia Capitol on their way to the finish line at Underground Atlanta. “The HOTLANTA Half gives residents and visitors alike the opportunity to experience Atlanta and a number of its landmarks,” said Rachel Langelotti of ORION Racing. “This race will leave every participant exhilarated and with an enormous sense of accomplishment.” Participants and spectators are invited to join the Underground Atlanta after party to celebrate with thousands of their closest friends. This world-class event will award finishers a HOTLANTA Half medal, race T-shirt and SwagFest bag. Start training now and be sure to stay in the loop. Catch the latest updates on Twitter @UndergroundATL, and Facebook by “liking” the Underground Atlanta and HOTLANTA Half Marathon fan pages. Parking is available at Underground Atlanta, but patrons are strongly encouraged to take MARTA to the Five Points station. MARTA will start running at 6:00 a.m. on the day of the race. For more information on the HOTLANTA Half, and to register to run, visit hotlantahalf.com. pointsnorthatlanta.com | May 2014 | Points North
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN HARRISON
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Cotolette di Maiale in Padella is a center-cut pork chop de-glazed with white wine and fresh rosemary
RAVE REVIEWS AT POINTSNORTHATLANTA.COM Need a recommendation about a new favorite or old standby for dinner? A local place to shop around the corner from home? A quaint neighborhood spot to see a live performance? Visit pointsnorthatlanta.com every month for new, local reviews! Here’s a little teaser, just in case you need somewhere to eat tonight. Cuoco Italian Table recently opened in Cumming, offering a unique perspective on dining the European way. Partner Anthony LoRusso and Chef Aaron Avers have created an interesting culinary concept with a tasting menu that takes your palate on a pleasing ride through Italy, with homemade sauces, breads, pastas and more. Our complete review is now available online. 1475 Peachtree Parkway, Suite C-5, Cumming, 678-807-7472, cuocoitaliantable.com
Correction In April’s Bucket List feature, we incorrectly identified one of the galleries in Roswell’s art district. Ford Smith Fine Art is available at Vinings Gallery, with locations in Smyrna and Roswell. We regret the error.
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AN EVER-GREEN INVESTMENT Q
uality of life isn’t the only value
increasing when owners choose to purchase their dream home in one of these exclusive Northside golf clubs. After enduring a nationwide economic stalemate in real estate, luxurious homes surrounding premier golf clubs across North Atlanta continue to thrive. Not only have many million-dollar homes managed to maintain strong value, they’ve increased. If you’re looking to buy a home or a lot to build your next home, we’ve rounded up a few clubs that don’t just make the cut – their grass may actually be greener. The clubs’ developers and real estate agents add their two cents on why these investments are well worth their pretty penny.
river club In 2000, Crescent Communities, LLC created an idyllic retreat for Atlanta homeowners in the private, gateguarded River Club. Located in North Gwinnett, the River Club is adjacent to the natural forest and quiet flow of the Chattahoochee River. The club’s 662-acre golf course is one of more than 70 designed by PGA champ Greg Norman, who has led the industry crafting golf courses with respect to their environment. For this Audubon-certified course, Norman took full advantage of the natural topography so that players can enjoy dramatic elevation changes with views of the Chattahoochee. The River Club’s commitment to the environment doesn’t end there. A part of the National Park Service, there are 1.4 miles of walking trails along the river, which is plentiful with catfish, bass, trout and more.
The peaceful setting continues to draw new members to the club. With the help of innovative opportunities making it easier to join, the addition of 40 members in the last two years has brought the total membership close to 300. Scott Dozier, Crescent Communities’ vice president of residential division for Georgia, is pleased to see other numbers increase as well. “In the last 15 months, we have sold 18 developer lots. We currently have about 20 homes under construction and half of those are sold homes,” Dozier said. Their homebuilders offer a portfolio of uniquely designed homes and are willing to work directly with buyers and architects to create your custom dream home. 681 Trinity Place, Suwanee, 886-839-4141, riverclub.com
THIS PAGE RIVER CLUB PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRILLIANCE PHOTOGRAPHY; CICCONI PHOTOGRAPHY ; DANIEL HENNINGER PHOTOGRAPHY FOLLOWING PAGE: PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHARLENE HORTON | BOTTOM LEFT: GOVERNORS TOWNE CLUB GOLF COURSE; TOP RIGHT: SEQUOIA GOLF
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governors towne club Governors Towne Club, a residential and golf community spanning 725 acres in Cobb and Paulding counties near Lake Allatoona, is another prime example. The golf course was a collaborative effort by golf legend Curtis Strange, acclaimed architect Michael Riley and master planner Kenneth G. Horton. The latter has stuck his developer’s equivalent of a green thumb in projects across metro Atlanta such as Country Club of the South, St. Ives, Riverside and Sugarloaf in addition to his own signature communities including Governors Towne Club, Sugar Mill and Crooked Creek. In the decade since Governors Towne Club’s 2004 opening, Horton said there have not been any new developments of this magnitude. Designed from a New Urbanism perspective, this community was set up a little differently with a commercial aspect, keeping green practices
in mind. Eco-trails preserve the land’s natural beauty and protect wildlife. At the entrance is a Publix and public area for community events, located conveniently close to home. The neighborhood offers homes at different price points, such as villas, perhaps for empty nesters, or estates for larger families. From his hands-on experience over the years, he said he knows one rule of (green) thumb in particular to be true: Historically, the facts will reveal that golf club communities in Atlanta — especially private golf clubs gated for exclusivity — always brought stronger retail value than those without golf. Security is a primary focus here thanks to technology packages that connect every home television to the guardhouse, allowing residents to view visitors at the gate. 4200 Governors Towne Drive NW, Acworth, 770-966-5353, governorstowneclub.com
the manor golf and country club Across town in Alpharetta, the real estate trend continues at The Manor Golf and Country Club. Julie Allan, an onsite realtor with Atlanta Fine Home Sotheby’s International Realty agrees that within the past two years she has seen quite a demand for people who want to be in securely gated golf communities, especially if those people are building a home. Within the past six months, Allan said she has seen demand shoot up tremendously; she has opened up new lots for sale and existing homes’ values have increased by about a third. She attributes this high demand to the limited supply — new communities are thriving because there are only a few opportunities. The look and construction of homes, as well as the nearby schools including the new Cambridge High School, also make The Manor stand out from the other premier golf clubs, Allan said. Established in 2006, new-home lots are not the only exclusive offering of The Manor. The club prides itself on world-class amenities, the only golf course in Georgia designed by six-time PGA Player of the Year Tom Watson and, as of March 2014, membership to the Sequoia Club. Within the last six months, Sequoia Golf acquired White Columns Country Club and Atlanta National Golf Club (both located in Milton) and most recently The Manor. While each of these North Atlanta private clubs will maintain their individual identities, Sequoia Club’s Marketing Manager Amy Fernandez said that members will be able to enjoy options from all three, a package deal one might find at a resort in Hilton Head but that is unprecedented in this suburban area. In addition to golf benefits, the Sequoia Club includes 30 tennis courts, three pools, two fitness facilities, more than six dining venues and a rustic lodge for entertaining out-of-town guests — not to mention the benefit this collaboration brings to home value. Fernandez added Sequoia is committed to improving the club and giving back to the community, which will naturally enhance the overall value. 15951 Manor Club Drive, Alpharetta, 678-366-3886, manorgcc.com — Colleen Ann McNally
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1
YOUR GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE
summer SAND-PROOF, SUN-PROOF AND WATERPROOF ESSENTIALS BROUGHT TO YOU BY LOCALS
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{ WRI T TEN BY J ENNIFER COLOSIMO }
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JENNIFER COLOSIMO; GEE GEE BABY; GAIAM
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1. Straw Hat | Keep your locks and your looks safe from harmful UV rays under a bright, custommonogrammed straw hat. It flops to a fabulous sunshade shape and adds the perfect amount of color (10 different options) to your summertime get-up. $26.50 at geegeegifts.com 2. Gaiam Metro Gym Bag | Stuff your goods into a dedicated beach bag that’s cute and practical enough to double as a purse. It has pockets galore, padded for safety and is sand-proof by design. $25 at Target or Amazon.com 3. Cover-Up Dress | Shine on the beach, literally. With the brand-new glitter monograms just released for the 2014 beach season, you’ve got a glitzy way to claim your apparel. Made from 100-percent cotton, it’s also the comfiest way to stay covered up. $33 on PoshPrincessBows1.etsy. com 4. Breeze on By Dress | No time to dry before your lazy lunch hour begins? Throw on this breathable, moveable, fast-drying tank dress that brushes up your look from water fun to the social scene. It’s also a trendy way to look fly if your idea of summer fun is getting fit. $55 on lucy.com
Suddenly, you’re in a whole different state of
“Giddy-up!” “Follow me!” “Hold on!”
The magic truly begins the moment you mix uncrowded, sugar-white beaches and turquoise water with a variety of family-friendly attractions and accommodations. Come be transformed. GulfShoresOrangeBeach
@alabamabeaches
GulfShores.com/PointsNorth 866-637-3483
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5 5. Beach Towel Lounger | This is the ultimate in beach gear. Stuff your accessories in the tote pockets before you head to the water and unroll your bed-in-a-bag onto your pool chair or sandy beach spot. It comes complete with a plush pillow and cozy, terrycloth towel, making it easy to carry, comfy to use and effortless to wash. $60 on shopaholicandbabies.etsy.com 6. Wonder Woman Headband | Fly-aways, frizz and sun-fried hair are only the beginning of beach season styling woes, so keep every strand in line with a patriotic headband that’s waterproof, sweat proof and absolutely adorable. $8 on iGlowRunning.etsy.com 7. Sand Cups | No more crying over spilled drinks. These guys grind right into the sand for a no-mess hold on your iciest beverages. They’re available in tons of fun colors and personalization styles, so pick out the perfect hostess gift or buy as beach party favors for your friends. $15.50 on AbigailLeeHome.etsy.com
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PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JENNIFER COLOSIMO
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Incredibles THE
ABOVE AND BEYOND THE CALL OF NURSING
Meet a few extraordinary nurses who took their calling to an even higher level { WRITTEN BY A MBER L A NIER N AG L E | PHOTO G R APHY BY AL AN B R O O K S }
From their gentle handling of seemingly fragile newborns to their quick, decisive actions in pulsepounding emergency rooms to their boundless acts of compassion at the bedsides of terminal patients, nurses show up to the frontlines of our healthcare system every day and take on a vast array of patient issues. We applaud all of the 2.7 million registered nurses employed in the United States (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2011), but we extend a standing ovation to those who’ve captured the true essence of nursing—those Nightingales who, when faced with extraordinary opportunities to serve, made astonishing choices and performed truly selfless acts in the name of duty. Meet three incredible local nurses whose passion burns eternal, placing them in a realm with the super heroes of our time.
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GIVING THE ULTIMATE GIFT
s
As Emory University Hospital registered nurse Allison Batson prepared to leave work one summer night in 2010, she learned that Clay Taber, a 22-year-old man in renal failure, was being transferred to her floor from Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ga. “I think that it shook me up a little,” Batson remarked. “My kids are his age, and so I felt a need to go to him and comfort him. I felt an instant connection with him and his mother.” She learned that Taber, a recent Auburn University graduate, had moved back to his family’s home when he became seriously ill. After five days of testing in Columbus, Taber was diagnosed with Goodpasture’s Syndrome, a rare and life-threatening autoimmune disease that attacks the kidneys and lungs. “His whole life was ahead of him,” Batson remembered. “He was interviewing for jobs, and he wanted to propose to his girlfriend. But all of that was on hold.” Taber began treatment at Emory for his illness — dialysis for his kidneys as well as plasmapheresis, a method of removing blood plasma from the body by withdrawing blood, separating it into plasma and cells and transfusing the cells back into the bloodstream. All the while, Batson took time to visit with the family, even when she was not the nurse assigned to Taber. “Clay had to eventually have a kidney transplant, but he had to be in remission for a year before that,” Batson said. “I knew that I had a compatible blood type, and I think that it was about that time something started speaking to me.” In August of 2011, Taber was deemed fit for a transplant and joined the thousands of people living in the United States waiting for kidneys. “I visited with them the day they were at the hospital having his mom tested
to see if she could donate her kidney to him,” she said. “As I left the room and walked down the hallway that day, I literally felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and walked back to his mom and said, ‘I’d like to be tested to see if I can donate a kidney to Clay — just in case you’re not able.’” When doctors determined that Taber’s mother was not able to donate a kidney to her son, Batson stepped forward and was tested. She learned that she was a match and healthy enough for surgery in mid-December. “I called and told his mother the news, but we kept it a secret,” she said. “My husband and I drove to their house in
Columbus to attend a dinner party. That night, I gave Clay a small box containing a single kidney bean. The note said, ‘Come to the hospital in January, and I’ll give you a real one.’” And on January 10, 2013, Batson gave Taber one of the most generous, selfless gifts one person can give to another — a healthy kidney. “It really wasn’t a decision for me: It was just the right thing to do. I feel honored that I was able to donate my kidney to Clay,” she said. “I hope my kidney gives Clay many more years of life, and I hope our story inspires others to consider live organ donation.”
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{ THE INCREDIBLES }
ALWAYS ON DUTY The celebration was just getting started as Stephanie Meisner, RN, BSN, CCRP at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta dropped off a big sheet cake at her daughter’s fifth grade graduation pool party in May 2013. “I was on my way to work that day, so I was only there for a few minutes,” recalled Meisner, a Clinical Research Manager at the Pediatric Research Center (PRC) of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. “The lifeguards on duty had already assessed all of the swimmers to determine which children were strong enough to swim in the deep end. All of the kids were excited, and as I turned to go, they were jumping in the water.” But as she walked out of the gate, she heard one of the lifeguards frantically blowing a whistle. “I turned around to see what was going on,” she said. “I saw all of the kids getting out of the pool, and I noticed that one of the lifeguards had lifted a little girl onto a flotation device in the deep end. I took my Mommy hat off, went into clinical mode, and rushed to the poolside.” Meisner, who has been a nurse for 20 years this month, spent 16 years as a bedside Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurse. She’s seen it all, and her experience proved to be invaluable that day. “As they brought her out of the water, I saw that she was gray and having agonal respirations, an abnormal pattern of breathing characterized by deep gasping breaths. I remember thinking, ‘This isn’t a drowning. This little girl is in cardiac arrest and needs CPR immediately.’” And that’s when Meisner got right in the middle of things and took control. “It is common to misinterpret agonal breathing as spontaneous respirations,” she said. “I explained to the lifeguards that it looked like she was breathing, but it wasn’t effective breathing nor did
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she have a pulse. I started resuscitative measures right away.” The community pool did not have an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), so with the help of another parent who was a physician’s assistant, the off-duty nurse started a series of life-saving chest compressions while monitoring the little girl’s pulse, which was nonexistent for a short time. Paramedics arrived a few minutes later and shocked her heart, which then returned it to a normal heart rate and rhythm. The little girl was rushed to the PICU at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and made a full recovery. She was later diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a genetic heart defect that can cause fast, chaotic heartbeats and even sudden death. As for Meisner, she shrugs at the term “hero.” “I think what some people label as extraordinary is just natural for us,” she said. “I’m a nurse, and it doesn’t matter if I’m at work or on my own time — I’m always a nurse.”
Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com
BEYOND THE BORDER When Sheny Hill RN, CMSRN at WellStar Cobb Hospital left for work on a breezy March day in 2012, she had no idea that her life would be forever changed by a 27-year-old Guatemalan patient. “Kendall was admitted into the hospital for abdominal pain,” Hill remarked. “Two weeks later, he was diagnosed with advanced gallbladder cancer and moved to the oncology unit.” Born in Guatemala herself, Hill felt an immediate bond with the young man, visited him often, and shared her personal memories of growing up in Central America with him, his brothers, his wife and his 2-year-old daughter. She also served as an interpreter between the young cancer patient and the hospital staff. “I kept in touch with Kendall and his family during his treatment, and I was there for them when Kendall was readmitted in May for complications with the chemotherapy,” she said. “After four weeks, the doctor called a family conference to explain that Kendall was dying and only had about two weeks to live. I was there and delicately translated the doctor’s words.” After hearing the diagnosis, the young man looked up from a tangle of tubes and monitor wires and said, “I want to go home.” He had not seen his mother in seven years. The doctor replied stating that Kendall needed constant medical care and could not fly to Guatemala without it. “And that’s when I volunteered to take him,” Hill said. “I was from his country. I knew how to take care of him. I knew how to travel there. I was the obvious person to escort Kendall home to see his mother one last time before he died.” Hill and the hospital staff worked tirelessly for the next few days to finalize all necessary travel and medical arrangements.
“I knew that it would not be easy,” Hill said. “We estimated that it would be a seven-hour process. I arrived at the hospital at 4 a.m., and said, ‘Let’s do this.’” Just before they boarded the plane, Hill witnessed her young patient doing the unimaginable — saying his final goodbyes to his brothers, his wife and his child. It is a moment she said she will never forget. They were airborne by 8:30 a.m. “Kendall was uncomfortable during the flight, and I suctioned out his stomach,” she said. “He laid down on my lap and tried to rest.” Fifteen family members, including Kendall’s mother, met them at the airport
before an ambulance rushed him to a nearby clinic. Hill showed the nurses how to perform the necessary suctioning procedure and how to administer meds through the central lines of Kendall’s port. And then she said her own goodbyes to her patient and his family and returned home. Kendall died a month later. “As a nurse, some days I’m a hand holder, some days I’m a cheerleader, and some days I cry with my patients,” she said. “I get to touch people’s lives every day, but Kendall touched my life, and the experience of helping him changed me. He reminded me why I chose to become a nurse in the first place.”
pointsnorthatlanta.com | May 2014 | Points North
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{ THE INCREDIBLES }
A PASSIONATE PROFESSION Nurses are special in many ways and though we can’t count them all, we can certainly share a couple more stories that warm our hearts. In 2012, Hanan Waite, RN BSN, an anchor nurse at Northside Hospital, founded a nonprofit organization designed to help moms and babies in impoverished areas. “Earth’s Angels is dedicated to eradicating maternal and infant mortality one mother and baby at a time,” said Waite, a native of Ghana who immigrated to the United States when she was 15. Her organization sends basic medical supplies, toiletries, diapers and clothing to clinics and communities around the globe. Learn more at earthsangelsgive.org When Kim Shay, MSN, RN, learned that a patient who had recently been released was stranded at the hospital without a ride home, she couldn’t turn away. Knowing her mother lived in the same neighborhood as the patient, she called her mom and asked for a favor. Her mother obliged and drove the patient home. And when the patient couldn’t get into his house, Shay and her mom took care of him for a little while longer. Above and beyond her responsibilities, it was all part of a day’s work for Shay. PN
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Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com
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OMEN’S H E A LT H
Specialists in COLON CANCER SCREENINGS Did you know colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women? The good news is that through early detection and removal of colon polyps, colon cancer can actually be prevented. Following American Cancer Society guidelines, the experienced physicians at Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates recommend screenings starting at age 50, or earlier if you have a family history of the disease. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Atlanta Gastroenterology Associates 1-866-468-6242 atlantagastro.com
Apply Sunscreen Daily 6pUiQJ iV Ć“Qally KHUH aQG aIWHU WKaW YHUy lRQJ ZiQWHU iWĹ?V JUHaW WR EH RXWGRRUV aJaiQ b:KilH HQMRyiQJ WKH VXQQy GayV GRQĹ?W IRUJHW WKH iPpRUWaQFH RI VXQVFUHHQ b1RW RQly IRU pUHYHQWiQJ VXQEXUQV VXQVFUHHQ FaQ alVR pUHYHQW pKRWR aJiQJ aQG VNiQ FaQFHU b DU *aEUiHllH 6aEiQi UHFRPPHQGV XViQJ VXQVFUHHQ Gaily aQG UHapplyiQJ iI RXWGRRUV IRU PRUH WKaQ WZR KRXUV b A ViPplH Zay WR UHPHPEHU yRXU VXQVFUHHQ iV WR lHaYH iW iQ yRXU FaU WHQQiV RU JRlI EaJ b
North Atlanta Dermatology 770-814-8222 | naderm.com
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Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com
ADVISOR
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
Treatment for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of infertility and irregular menstrual cycles, defined by abnormal hormones and multiple cysts in the ovaries. This syndrome usually results in high insulin levels, which cause the ovaries to stop ovulating and start producing follicular cysts. These small cysts produce a hormonal imbalance that causes problems such as acne, abnormal hair growth, darkening of the skin and weight gain. If your OB/GYN suspects PCOS, a pelvic ultrasound is recommended to observe the ovaries and lining of the uterus, followed by laboratory tests. Approximately 70 percent of affected women have high cholesterol and 40 percent have diabetes. Treatment depends on whether a woman wants to conceive. For women wanting to get pregnant, an insulin lowering agent and fertility medication is recommended. Pregnant women with PCOS are at a higher risk of miscarriage, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure and preterm labor. For women wanting birth control, oral contraceptive pills are recommended. Certain pills help regulate menstruation, while reducing acne and hair growth. Weight loss, even just 10 percent, helps in regulating menstruation and improving PCOS in overweight women by decreasing insulin and male hormone levels. Although there is currently no cure for PCOS, with treatment the symptoms can improve and ultimately resolve.
North Pointe OB/GYN Associates | 770-886-3555 | npobgyn.com
A SIMPLE LIFE-SAVING SCREENING FOR WOMEN Did you know that 90 percent of women are at risk for heart disease? Better heart health starts with knowing your risk factors and getting screened is the first step to making sure that any potential issues are addressed early. Here are some quick tips to help you achieve better heart health (which can also help you look and feel your best): • Know your family history • Eat balanced meals and exercise often • Get the sleep you need The experts at Piedmont Heart are here to help you know your risk of heart disease. Nearly half of the women who have participated in the new screening program so far have needed to follow up with a cardiologist despite the fact they had not experienced any symptoms. Visit them online for more information about the women’s heart health screening program.
Piedmont Heart 404-620-3005 piedmont.org/Red (piedmont.org)
W O M E N ’ S H E A LT H A D V I S O R
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
“The 3 Ps” of Spider Vein Treatment Spider veins on the legs are a common aesthetic concern, especially as warm weather approaches. Sclerotherapy and surface laser therapy are the two modalities that treat spider veins. Sometimes treatment of deeper feeder veins is recommended as well. When patients embark upon treatment of spider veins, VEINatlanta tells them to remember to the 3 Ps. The first P is for patience. After treatment, spider veins do not disappear immediately. Once the veins are closed down, the body must absorb the veins. It can take several months for the veins to fade away. The second P is persistence. Spider veins can be resistant to treatment. Sometimes several treatment sessions over a span of several months are necessary to get the veins to close down. If one treatment method is not working, a different method is used, such as switching from sclerotherapy to laser. Don’t get discouraged! The third P is for payment. Most spider vein treatment is for cosmetic reasons, and insurance plans don’t cover cosmetic procedures. Expect to pay out of pocket for most spider vein treatments.
Sometimes several treatment sessions over a span of several months are necessary to get the veins to close down.
VEINatlanta | 404-446-2800 veinatlanta.com
INNOVATIVE FIBROID CARE
WellStar’s Fibroid Care Coordinator refers you to, or works with, your dedicated gynecologist to explore the specific benefits of each treatment, and determine which is best suited to your needs. Options include:
Don’t let uterine fibroids keep you from enjoying a normal lifestyle. Uterine fibroids are common, benign (non-cancerous) growths in the uterus, which occur in 25-60 percent of women by age 50. African-American women are at least twice as likely to have fibroids compared to Caucasian women. The WellStar Center for Fibroid Care offers the most innovative treatment options and personalized care available, so you can get back to doing all the things you want faster. S\PSWRPs RI SUREOePDWLF ƓEURLGs • Heavy, prolonged or painful periods • Pain or pressure in the back, hip or legs • Pain during sexual intercourse • &onstipation or difƓculty urinating
Wellstar Center for Fibroid Care 770-644-1635
• Medical treatments including hormonal shots, Intrauterine device I8' , anti inŴammatory medications and more • Minimally invasive options including the non-surgical procedure, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) and more • Surgical treatments including myomectomy, endometrial ablation and hysterectomy
At the WellStar Center for Fibroid Care, it’s impossible to feel like just another patient. We match you with a Fibroid Care Coordinator who helps you every step of the way — from appointments and paperwork to gynecologist referrals. It’s all part of making your experience as comfortable as possible. Call to speak with a Fibroid Care Coordinator about your symptoms and available treatment options.
The WellStar Center for Fibroid Care offers the most innovative treatment options and personalized care available, so you can get back to doing all the things you want faster. pointsnorthatlanta.com | May 2014 | Points North
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W Lung Cancer Treatment OMEN’S H E A LT H
ADVISOR
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
When most people think of women’s cancers, lung cancer probably doesn’t come to mind. However, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women, killing more women each year than breast, uterine and ovarian cancers combined (American Cancer Society). While the incidence of lung cancer over the past 36 years has dropped for men (24%), incidence has significantly increased in women (100%), according to the American Lung Association. The reason for this is not clear. Lung cancer is the fourth most frequently treated type of cancer at Northside. As a southeastern leader in the treatment of lung cancer, the hospital’s survival rates equal or surpass national averages in every stage of the disease. Northside Hospital recognizes how vital prevention and screening are to good lung health. Northside’s Lung Cancer Screening Program offers high-risk patients the opportunity to participate in annual CT screenings. A low-dose CT scan can help detect lung cancer even before signs or symptoms are noticed. The hospital also has a seven-week Smoking Cessation Program, which offers participants invaluable tips on how to quit smoking, manage stress, avoid weight gain and cope with withdrawal symptoms.
As a southeastern leader in the treatment of lung cancer, the hospital’s survival rates equal or surpass national averages in every stage of the disease.
Northside Hospital | northside.com/lungcancer
Relieve Pregnancy Pain Chiropractic is a beneficial natural way to relieve pain associated with pregnancy and the nursing months. The increased pressure that is put on the lower back from the weight of the abdomen decreases the space of the disc in the lumbar region causing increased pressure on the nerves leading to low back pain and sciatica. Nursing an infant can also create upper back pain and spasms from looking down continuously. That increased muscle spasm in the muscles that attach to the base of the skull can cause headaches. Regular chiropractic care will also keep the pelvic region aligned allowing for easier childbirth. Chiropractic care offers a natural, drug-free solution to low back pain, sciatica, pain between the shoulders and headaches due to pregnancy.
Forsyth County Wellness Center 770-781-9050 forsythcountywellness.com 30
Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com
GASTROINTESTINAL
THERAPY
Take care of yourself. Forget the retail therapy for about an hour and treat yourself to gastrointestinal therapy. If you are over 50 and at normal risk, begin with a colonoscopy. Although most women are hesitant to schedule a colonoscopy, this is recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Cancer Society. Women need to understand that certain GI issues uniquely affect them, such as irritable bowel syndrome, acid reŴu[ and pelvic prolapse.
Dimple Raina, M.D., Advanced Gastroenterology Associates 678-475-1606 | advgastro.com
Fine Oriental Rugs Since 1931
SALES CLEANING RESTORATION Pick-up and Delivery Available! *Discount Offer Expires May 31, 2014 *Minimums Apply
368 West Ponce de Leon Ave. Decatur, Georgia www.Sharian.com Jim Garner | General Manager, Certified Rug Appraiser and Certified Master Rug Cleaner (Pictured with Pippa)
Sharian Garner | Showroom Manager (Pictured with Boss)
404-373-2274
pointsnorthatlanta.com | May 2014 | Points North
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UNTAMEABLE:
TURNING TRAGEDY INTO TESTAMENT Sherry Ajluni paves the way for parents [ WRITTEN BY CARL DANBURY ]
C PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF ROBIN HARRISON
SERIES SPONSORED BY BACARDÍ
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urled up on a comfortable sofa on her screened-in porch, cell phone muted, a sobbing mother struggles with incredibly dark thoughts that seep into her already besieged mind; her foundation shaken to its core by the 2010 suicide of her 21-year-old addicted son Brandon. Such debilitating, self-absorbed behavior was antithetical for Sherry Ajluni, a faithful, passionate, people-pleasing and driven real estate professional. But the plentitude of us whose lives have been exposed to addiction (regardless of what kind) understand that the crippling, often deadly, effects of addiction can often be as damaging to those who lend their love, support, care and concern as it is to the addicts themselves. Brandon’s Battles Brandon was an amiable, thrill-seeking athlete, a good-natured and playful guy, but one who struggled with addiction from high school into his college years,
Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com
altering some of those lovable traits. He had undergone extensive treatment, received tough love from his parents, but relapses were frequent. While he was attending Darton State College in Albany, Ajluni and her husband Rick were notified that Brandon was missing. Three days later, police discovered his body. After the funeral, months of constant tears, blaming herself and asking God to take her too, advice from her therapist helped snap Ajluni out of her unending grief. “She told me that wanting to die was sending a message to my other children, to Rick and the rest of my family that they weren’t important,” Ajluni said. “That changed my perspective quickly.” And it helped her embark on a passionate journey to help others, so that Brandon’s death could be used as a catalyst for drug awareness and helping others affected by addiction. “Brandon and I had discussed his desire to create a
Four out of ďŹ ve kids will try drugs or alcohol before they graduate high school.
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center in Forsyth County for those dealing with addiction. He wanted to help others too,” Ajluni offered. First, she enacted a contest for DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) marketing students at South Forsyth High School in the spring of 2012, and shared Brandon’s story to entice those students to develop a drug awareness and prevention campaign for their peers. The winners of the contest developed their “Give Me One Good Reason” campaign, which Ajluni applauded. “‘Should I use drugs and screw up the rest of my life?’ was the premise,” Ajluni said. The idea for the program was for teens to help other teens. “Teens that want to stay sober can have a much more profound effect on their fellow students,” she said.
SERIES SPONSORED BY BACARDÍ
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A Community Called to Action Nationwide, the statistics of addiction are alarming. Overdose is now the leading cause of injury death in the country among young people, more than those who die in car accidents, according to the Center for Disease Control. In addition, 90 percent of all people in treatment or active adult addiction began using drugs between the ages of 12-18, according to the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, and four out of five kids will try drugs or alcohol before they graduate high school, according to a National Institute of Drug Abuse study, “Monitoring the Future.” “Addiction can happen to anyone today,” Ajluni
Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com
said. “Parents are caught off guard because our kids look so normal to us. It’s such a preventable thing and I don’t want to see others go through what we did,” Ajluni added. Ajluni and her husband also contribute their time and energies to Segue Ministries “Pathways 2 Life,” which are drug prevention programs for high school students. Meetings are organized by Ryan Stringfield and Kim Michell, and are held Monday evenings at The Ed Isakson Alpharetta Family YMCA. While some schools have been slow to instill fullfledged drug education programs, Ajluni’s quest for a more complete and proactive fight against addiction received a significant boost from Cindy Jones Mills, District 4 commissioner of Forsyth County, and Sheriff Duane Piper. They were instrumental in establishing The Forsyth County Drug Awareness Council (FCDAC), with a stated mission to educate, advocate and empower the community to prevent substance abuse in the county. The county orchestrated two drug summits to assist in the education process. Ajluni tearfully told Brandon’s story to the more than 500 people that attended the first summit. In addition, the couple helped establish The Parent Recovery Network, an anonymous support group for parents of kids struggling with substance abuse. The group meets Thursday nights at 7 p.m. at Creekside Church in Cumming. “That’s what I feel God wants us to do, to help other parents get help faster and provide support for each other,” she said. For those who are reluctant to attend, Ajluni’s first-hand experience yields dividends. “The two most difficult, yet most essential things for parents to get past initially are the shame or guilt they feel, and the ultimate realization that they have absolutely no control over their child’s addiction. The parents can’t fi x the problem for their child — the addict has to want to fix it themselves,” Ajluni stated. One of the key ingredients of the support group is for parents to understand that addiction, like any disease, requires both treatment and concern. “That is one of the most important things for parents to learn, and for us as a group to educate others upon, that addiction is a disease. Realizing that their child has a disease is helpful because they tend to treat
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them differently, have less anger toward them and are more willing to assist the addict in getting the help they need,” Ajluni related. Ajluni also encourages parents and family members to help spread awareness by sharing stories through public speaking, blogs and social media. One example Ajluni cited is the Acworth-based blog, “No Heroin in Heaven.” In memory of Elizabeth Turner who lost the battle with her addiction in February of 2013, the site details not only her heartbreaking story, but also those of many other young adults, including hopeful stories of recovery and links to resources to help others. Revival through Real Estate When she’s not helping those affected by drug abuse, Ajluni is providing support in another area: to homeowners and potential homeowners. She made the decision to exit the corporate world after 10 years in marketing and advertising, which included international travel for weeks at a time. The mother of two and stepmom to her husband’s three children, Ajluni missed spending time with family and fulfillment was difficult to attain. A friend suggested she try real estate and Ajluni took a leap of faith. “I didn’t even know if I was going to like it,” she said. “But I’ve always believed that God will provide if I’m trying to do the right thing.” She originally thought it would be a part-time occupation, but when her untameable passion kicked in, she knew it would become a career. She and Maria Livingston, a neighbor and former school teacher, founded Sherry & Maria Team, a Keller Williams Realty Consultants real estate agency with six agents covering 12 metro Atlanta communities. In 2013, Sherry & Maria Team ranked as one of Keller Williams’ top teams with $38 million in transactional sales. This year, they have set a goal of $50 million. Ajluni enjoys the one-on-one time she spends with clients and is committed to providing them honest, sound advice. The growth of Sherry & Maria Team is a testament that clients appreciate the personal approach, as more than 70 percent of their client base comes through referrals. Livingston and Ajluni have shared more than just a business relationship for the past seven years. They have lived in the same neighborhood for six years, their pointsnorthatlanta.com | May 2014 | Points North
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husbands play on the same ALTA team and the two couples are regular trivia night players. “We met at the Keller Williams office and had an immediate connection,” Livingston said. “We became accountability partners. We both had our separate businesses, but began having weekly meetings on Monday mornings, and we still do to this day, to support each other’s efforts. Then, we began putting our clients together and decided to go into business together. Our friendship blossomed from there.” Last year, Livingston was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer, and it was Ajluni who was instrumental in helping her maintain a positive outlook as she faced numerous surgical procedures and long periods of recovery. “We are so intertwined, both as business partners and friends. She was the fi rst person I called once I received the biopsy results. I don’t remember exactly what she said, but she calmed me down and told me ‘we’re going to be OK’,” Livingston said. “She went to chemotherapy with me and was there for me through the entire process. I just didn’t know how the chemo was going to affect me, and I didn’t know how it was going to affect the business. Sherry did what she had to do to make it work.” Of course, Livingston did the same for Ajluni four years ago. “I have discussed the incredible relationship we have with other people and explain that while it was founded upon both of us wanting to help each other in business, it definitely has carried over into our personal lives,” Livingston offered. “It’s funny, even though we have a lot of fun together socially, our conversations seem to circle back to real estate,” Livingston laughed. “We’re always working!” In Ajluni’s case, her passion to please others comes with driven sincerity, whether for her vocation or her avocation. “She is such a strong person,” Livingston said. “She has endured such adversity and I just really admire her for her willingness to help others instead of keeping it to herself. To make such a positive statement about drug awareness in Forsyth County and beyond, out of a horrible tragedy, truly speaks to her character.” PN
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MAKING ITS
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LOUISVILLE’S CULINARY SCENE HITS ITS STRIDE { WRITTEN BY H E AT H E R K W B R OW N }
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on Louisville, I would have a glass of bourbon and watch the Cardinals play basketball. You’ve already read that one … and the one about bourbon and horses. This time the story starts unlike the others. Leaving the sanctuary of a small Unitarian church, I felt a slight twinge of guilt, but by the time I stepped onto the black and white checkered tile floor of the Choir Loft and stood in front of six taps beholding specialty and rare beers, any pang of conscience dissipated. ARY LIN “I’ll have the De Molen Bo & S U Luke,” I told the bartender. Waiting for the smoked imperial stout aged in Pappy Van Winkle bourbon barrels by local brewery Against the Grain, I looked around in awe. The church, built in 1905, still has devout people congregating on a regular basis, albeit instead of hymnals and pews the space is packed with menus and tables. Most surprising, is that in a town known for its bourbon heritage, not a single option exists. A beer geek at a bar called Holy Grale in the heart of Louisville’s Original Highlands neighborhood seemed like an anomaly - until the heavenly sliders arrived. Then it not only made sense, it confirmed what had initially led me to Louisville: the food scene is legit.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF JESSICA FEY PHOTOGRAPHY
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include Lilly’s - A Kentucky Bistro and Jack Fry’s, both revered for reasons that have everything to do with tradition. Chef/owner Kathy Cary has a mural of her childhood farm on a wall in her restaurant, which she named for her daughter Lilly. As a longtime steward of local and sustainable, Cary set the table for future chefs to continue the ever-important locavore movement. Fresh, innovative fine dining is what to expect from this signature establishment, along with occasional visits from her, as she emerges from the kitchen frequently. Beyond Southern born and Kentucky proud, Cary’s food is inspiring, down to the seared sea scallops, pimento cheese grits, Buffalo Trace Bourbon shrimp cream and crispy kale. The food at Jack Fry’s is delicious, but the black and white photos on the wall often steal the attention, especially since many of the stars are four-legged legends dating back to when the restaurant opened in 1933. Go for the history and the oldschool ambiance, just keep in mind this establishment has won 22 Best of Louisville awards for good reason. I vote for Jack’s burger and fries - simple, but perfect.
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF LOUISVILLE CVB
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NO PLACE LIKE NULU s I made my way through each neighborhood, I found myself playing favorites, with the majority of my visits ending in NuLu, also known as the East Market District. Minutes away from downtown, NuLu is a laid-back artsy community that has emerged as the city’s newest “Restaurant Row.” Cute shops like SCOUT, a home accessories store, and The Louisville Beer Store, where I found “souvenirs” for my husband, certainly did their fair share of keeping me captivated. This street, lined with distractions in an accessible four to five block area, is home to Harvest, the first of several farm-to-table stops where I unsuccessfully resisted both the artisan bread board and the cheese board, comprised of tye-dyed chevre and compote, aged white cheddar and chow chow, and smoked blue gouda and apple butter. Irresistible for a number of reasons, including the ping pong table atop wrecked cars, the Garage Bar sports a wood-fired Ferrara oven built by hand in Naples, producing a thin, chewy crust that is perfectly
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAGNUS LINDQUIST; GARAGE BAR
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CHOOSE ONE: ☐ WHITE COLUMNS ☐ ATLANTA NATIONAL ☐ THE MANOR ☐ ALL OF THE ABOVE Unprecedented country club lifestyle: Members at three of Georgia’s finest clubs now enjoy the privileges of all: Atlanta National Golf Club, White Columns Country Club, and The Manor Golf & Country Club have come together, for the first time, as the Sequoia Club. With three spectacular courses designed by Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and Tom Watson, the Sequoia Club provides the ultimate golf membership experience. Country Club living has never been more exciting, with amenities that include Junior Olympic-sized pools, kids’ pools, fitness facilities, indoor and outdoor tennis facilities, and outstanding venues to meet friends, conduct meetings, host special events, and celebrate life with those you love.
Visit us at www.thesequoiaclub.com or call 404.443.8564 to learn more.
COMING SOON
HOMES FROM THE HIGH $300’s Traditions is a lifestyle-centered community located in desirable Forsyth County. Move-in ready homes available in mid-2014. Traditions is located near top-rated schools and is less than two miles from GA 400. Residents will be a short drive to The Collection and many other popular restaurants shoppinJ and other entertainment venues. Traditions will feature playJrounds sports Ă˜elds tennis courts a siJnature pool and lakefront clubhouse as well as multiple parks and open spaces sprinkled about the community, all within walking distance to Fowler Park and Big Creek Greenway Trail. A grocery-anchored marketplace with pedestrian access from Traditions is planned adjacent to the community.
TraditionsATL.com
Feature your WEDDING in
SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
BARNSLEY RESORT
PICTURE PERFECT
Sarah & Nathan Roberson moments SEPT. 22, 2012 | barnsleyresor t.com P h o t o g r a p h y c o u r t e s y o f O N C E L I K E A S PA R K | o n c e l i k e a s p a r k . c o m
FULL-PAGE FEATURING PHOTOS FROM YOUR WEDDING 10 COPIES OF THE MAGAZINE DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR. GIVE THEM TO YOUR PARENTS, FRIENDS, AND RELATIVES. Full-page feature will showcase all the memorable moments of your wedding day. Whether you are the newlywed couple, mother-of-the-bride, or relative, now you can commemorate your memories in print.
CONTACT KRISTEN MOON FOR PRICING: 404-635-6862 kristen@pointsnorthatlanta.com
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Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com
Ceremony and reception at Barnsley Resort's Ruins and garden; wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses from Wedding Angels, Roswell; tuxedos from Savvi Formalwear; flowers by Edge Design Atlanta; cake by Frosted Pumpkin Gourmet, Alpharetta
Fall/Winter 2013 | THE NORTHSIDE BRIDE
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crisp on the outside. But it’s not all about the crust at Garage Bar, which chooses only seasonal, local ingredients from regional farmers and producers for the menu that changes often. Not many pizza joints can get away with a brussels sprouts pie, but when “From Farm to Garage,” is just as much a philosophy as it is a T-shirt phrase, it’s possible. Besides incredible pizza, Garage Bar also offers a ham bar, salads and oysters. Somehow, I was too full to dive into the Moon Pie custard and the Nutella pizza. Shameful, I know. Housed in a renovated 1870s building, Decca boasts a beautiful interior and a formidable chef in Chef Annie Pettry, who foraged for mushrooms and fished for trout as a child growing up in Asheville, N.C. With culinary stints in the South, on the West Coast and in NYC, Pettry’s style is a confluence of former experiences and past memories. The result is sincere but approachable modern American cuisine. I started with the wood-grilled asparagus, mousseline and Norwood gruyere, followed by ricotta cavatelli with braised
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rabbit, herb cream and horseradish gremolata and then moved along to a main dish of hay braised pork cheeks, couscous, Marcona almond and plum. Those of us lucky enough to visit and order the ice cream sandwich, made with honey gelato, oatmeal cookie, lavender caramel and pine nuts, left with fond memories. Speaking of sweets, I couldn’t resist popping into Please and Thank You, mainly because I loved the name. After all, it isn’t every day you can hang out in a record shop with a bevy of coffee and teas. Stronger drinks like the Revolver made from Bulleit bourbon, Chouffe coffee liquor and BD’s barrel-aged orange bitters are crafted further afield at Haymarket Whiskey Bar, which left an impression almost as indelible as the ink in my Urban Bourbon Trail passport.
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{ LO U I S V I L L E ’ S C U L I N A RY S C E N E } DETOURS AND DOWNTIME t’s true. I did it. I couldn’t resist flipping out my handy dandy passport at nearly every restaurant and bar. Research is research, after all, and a stint in Louisville without a flight of bourbon or exploring at least part of the Urban Bourbon Trail could almost be considered a compromise of journalistic integrity. Although several of my stamps included bourbon barrel-aged beer, I can proudly say I saddled up to the bar at places like Bourbons Bistro, Bristol Bar and Grille and the Old Seelbach Bar to sample bourbon flights. I tried to taste the difference between single barrel, small batch, bottled in bond and traditional bourbon, but aside from the burning in my chest, most sips didn’t warrant much of an epiphany. Turns out, I like my bourbon best in food recipes, and plenty of local chefs incorporate their passion for cooking with their love for bourbon. Taking it one step further is former chef Matt Jamie. The owner of Bourbon Barrel Foods created a product line of bourbon-aged sauces, spices, sugars, sorghums and most surprising - soy sauce. NFOR I Jamie is the first in the UR United States to microDespite being named brew soy sauce, which he after King Louis XVI, Louisville has no “lewis” said was his initial idea or “loey” sound when but since the process said properly. After all, if you’re going to eat like a takes 12 months to age, local, you might as well he launched Bourbon know how to pronounce “Lewa-vull.” Barrel Smoked Sea Salt, followed by barrel-aged Worcestershire sauce, and then expanded the company’s line to spices before adding a teriyaki sauce called ‘Kentuckyaki.’ Besides Bourbon Barrel Foods, housed inside a fun shopping destination called Work the Metal in the Butchertown neighborhood are shops for home decor, clothing, bath and body and gifts for everyone back in Atlanta. Eventually, even the overachieving among us need to rest and while Louisville comes equipped with plenty of pillows to call home,
ION
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21c Museum and The Brown Hotel are hard to beat. Rooms at the 1923 Brown Hotel are ornate and well-appointed, as expected, but impressive aesthetics aside, the property is significant for a sandwich and a room. The famous Hot Brown, an open-faced turkey sandwich with bacon and a delicate Mornay sauce first made its way to the plate here and is now a local tradition with worldwide appeal. The esteemed English Grill with its handsome wood pillars and stately decor presents itself as perhaps the finest dining in the city. Upstairs, the Muhammed Ali Suite, dedicated by the boxer himself during the premiere of the Will Smith blockbuster “Ali,” looks more like an apartment filled with signed memorabilia. New, modern and trendy, 21c Museum Hotel is the complete opposite. The über-cool hotel started as the brainchild of two contemporary art collectors from Kentucky and quickly turned heads as a boutique retreat. Exhibits rotate every six weeks. During my stay, the 4-foot tall RTH O “Red Penguins” found scatN O S tered in the lobby and on each floor were merely Read about my day trip art, until I realized that to Bardstown, better known as Bourbon Capital of intentionally or not, the World, online at part of the attraction pointsnorthatlanta.com. included relocating the birds. Then it suddenly became an interactive exhibit. This creative theme overlapped in its award-winning restaurant, Proof on Main, where the tastemakers stole the show when the chilled heirloom carrot soup with charmula, boiled peanuts, salted lime and yogurt arrived.
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{ LO U I S V I L L E ’ S C U L I N A RY S C E N E }
Although not paraded around town with wreaths of roses, Louisville’s culinary scene is making its mark down the home stretch, proving there’s more to love than bourbon and horses. PN F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N :
gotolouisville.com
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A DV ERT I S EM EN T
barter is smarter than you think...
Helping Owners Navigate the Ups & Downs of Running a Business
A
“ We’ve saved tens of thousands of dollars by using barter.”
DEBBIE MCGRAW, DIRECTOR SIX FLAGS
About TBC: The Barter Company is a recognized leader in the barter industry with offices in Georgia and Florida. TBC provides businesses with an alternative currency network by using barter dollars instead of cash to handle your transactions. TBC acts as a third-party records keeper, providing clients with monthly statements that reflect all barter purchases, sales and current barter dollar balance.
ll businesses have their ups and downs. It can be like a roller coaster. How can a business owner find the right path through all the twists and turns? One way is barter and a great example of how well barter can work is Six Flags Over Georgia & Six Flags White Water and their partnership with The Barter Company. For more than 10 years, Six Flags Over Georgia & Six Flags White Water have worked together with The Barter Company to stretch their budget dollars further to do more for less. Debbie McGraw, director of administration for the Atlanta area theme parks, describes how The Barter Company has helped. “Over the years, we’ve saved tens of thousands of dollars by using barter. We regularly use The Barter Company member businesses for transportation, employee gifts, printing, banners and signs, and dining certificates. Instead of paying with cash, we pay in theme park tickets.”
People have exchanged goods and services for centuries through a simplistic barter system. Today, barter plays an important role in the payments industry with businesses incorporating it into their system along with cash, credit, virtual payments, and loyalty cards. “Alternative currencies are trending for business,” explains Ric Zampatti, The Barter Company CEO. “More and more businesses are taking another look at barter and how it can benefit their cash flow.” Each year, Six Flags Over Georgia & Six Flags White Water relies on The Barter Company for items to trade that are vital to its business operations. McGraw continues: “If we need something new, I’ll ask my trade coordinator. The staff at The Barter Company is very knowledgeable and always willing to assist with finding a vendor for a service we need. I highly recommend The Barter Company to any business owner looking to make their budget dollars go the extra mile.”
1275 SHILOH ROAD, STE 2010 KENNESAW, GEORGIA 770-591-4343 • www.thebartercompany.com
The Barter Company...redefining commerce & trade.
Roswell HIDDEN HOMETOWN GEMS
the quintessential southern neighborhood restaurant
T
he Mill Kitchen and Bar is a down-to-earth spot where the casual vibe is heightened by mouthwatering cuisine and thoughtfully selected drink offerings. Take a quick look at the shelves behind the bar and you’ll promptly get a sense of the establishment’s authenticity. Chef Ben Castro’s menus feature Southern comfort food reborn as contemporary classics and change often to incorporate only the finest ingredients by local farmers and artisans, whether its black-eyed pea hummus, pimento cheese fritters, fried gulf oysters, Braised Short Ribs, Georgia pan seared trout, Georgia shrimp and grits. Located in historic Roswell, the farmhouse chic restaurant also offers a patio complete with lounge area and a fireplace, or a 2,100 square foot private dining room ideal for parties of 20 people to 75 people. Wherever guests prefer to sit, it’ll be a gathering spot to conjure up favorite memories and a place to make new ones.
590 Mimosa Boulevard | Roswell
23 & 27 Oak Street | Roswell
themillkitchenandbar.com
PXseFoƓQeart FoP
770-817-9345
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MUSE & Co. Fine Art owners, Donna McDonald, Sheila Grubb and Judy Goldberg, have spent the last three years striving to provide the highest quality contemporary art work from both emerging and established artists. Although art has been their first passion, the opportunity to create an event venue has been a close second. Muse & Co. Events is a beautiful and unique space with the same quality art work that can be found in the gallery. This modern gallery space is ideal for weddings and special occasions. Nestled in the charming SOCA village of Historic Roswell. Stop by MUSE & Co. Fine Art | Events when you stroll through the Roswell Arts District for the monthly First Friday Art Walk (except July 4th).
770-594-9511
HIDDEN HOMETOWN GEMS
a Smile is worth
Roswell
a Thousand Words
… so Make Sure You and Your Family’s Smile is Priceless! Specializing in General, Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. David Mastro is the right choice! Since graduating number one from Emory Dental School, Dr. Mastro has performed over 51,000 Cosmetic Dental Procedures! We would love to meet you. Come in and ask us about our New Patient Special! Dr. David Mastro
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destined for
GREATNESS
Out of one family’s loss, a daughter helps to create a new tradition in women’s golf W R I TTE N BY C O L L E E N AN N MC N AL LY
S
ometimes destiny feels out of our control, like when Jim and Beth Judson died in a small private plane crash in October of 2010. The couple was on a return flight from Memphis after watching their daughter Lauren, a collegiate athlete at the University of Southern Mississippi, compete in a golf tournament. For some, the course of life may have been to resent the sport altogether. Instead, Lauren was determined to honor their memory and has found a blessing in a passion for the sport she shared with her parents. “I felt as though it was part of a plan that I had no control over,” Lauren wrote in her blog last May, more than two years after the crash. “Of course, my life would be much easier if they were still here and, of course, I am upset they aren’t here with me, but I would not be who I am today without this experience.” To continue her parents’ legacy of giving back to the Atlanta community, she helped found the Judson Collegiate
PHOTOS COURTESY OF KELLY GRANT | JCI FOUNDATION; SUE MARTIN | EOS SNAPS; LAUREN JUDSON
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Facing page: Lauren Judson Clockwise from top: Legends Tour Host Rosie Jones; 2012 and 2013 Legends Tournament winner Alicia Dibos; Tournament volunteers and spectators
Invitational & Legends Pro-Am Challenge. Now approaching its third year, the annual event returns to the Country Club of Roswell on June 27–30. The tournament continues to grow exponentially, thanks to the addition of a women’s workshop with lessons for leadership both on and off the course. Teeing Off From initial brainstorming sessions, the vision for the tournament was to give women’s collegiate golf an audience that was on par with the Masters tournament in Augusta. With the help of family friends including PGA professional Jackie Cannizzo, director of instruction from the family’s home course at Country Club of Roswell, Lauren’s wish began to take shape. Cannizzo, a walking Rolodex with a huge smile, has known the Judson family
<
for 17 years, since Lauren and her brother Dean were in the club’s junior golf program. She was clearly the right choice to step into the role of tournament director, not only for her collegiate background and career in the sport, but also because Cannizzo has a passion for helping others. She had previous experience starting a nonprofit, The Esther Cannizzo Junior Golf Foundation, in memory of her own mother who lost a battle with cancer in May of 2008.
To continue her parents’ legacy of giving back to the Atlanta community, Lauren helped found the Judson Collegiate Invitational & Legends Pro-Am Challenge.
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Former Owner of WNBA Atlanta Dream Kathy Betty, retired CIO of Southern Company Becky Blalock and Lauren Judson at the 2012 Women's Leadership Workshop
Then, with less than four months before the first tee off, a stroke of genius helped the planning come together. Legends Tour Host Rosie Jones agreed to bring the senior tour and best in the history of the LPGA to play alongside the collegiate athletes. The winning collaboration made the event very memorable and the only one of its kind.
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Joining Jones this year in the LPGA Legends Tournament, held on Saturday, June 28, are big names including Nancy Lopez, Jan Stephenson, Pat Bradley and many more. Even better, legendary golf stars are spread throughout the weekend starting with the Pro-Am Tournament on Friday, June 27. Stanford University sophomore Mariah Stackhouse, originally from Riverdale, Ga., was one of five winners from last year’s sold-out Pro-Am and has been invited to play in this year’s Collegiate Tournament, which begins Saturday and runs through Monday, June 30. Student players representing schools nationwide will hit the links together for
the Collegiate Tournament. In fact, Lauren (now a senior with plans to graduate in May) said she usually brings along teammates from Southern Mississippi to play, as well as reunites with past coaches who work with teams across the Southeast. The winning title is up for grabs since the reigning collegiate champ Maribel Lopez Porras of Tulane recently turned pro and won’t be returning to reclaim her title. This One’s for the Girls The sense of mentorship that developed between the generations of golfers gave Cannizzo and Lauren a new idea for 2013. For the second year of the tournament, a test-run workshop featuring a panel of powerful females speaking on leadership was added to the program. This year, the Women’s Leadership Workshop now spans
{ D E S T I N E D F O R G R E AT N E S S }
Let’s See That Smile! • Serving the Dental Needs of Children Ages 1 to 21
half a day and will be held on Thursday, June 26 at the Double Tree Hilton Hotel on Holcomb Bridge. Anyone from the community is invited to attend (in fact, registration fees for high school and college students are waived), as topics cover far more than the game of golf. The workshop is designed to create a great learning environment to share powerful strategies and practices of women who are successful in the community and in their respective fields. The workshop includes both keynote speakers and breakout sessions, offering advice from some of Atlanta’s top female executives, including Karen Kaplan, president and CEO of Hill Holliday, Stephanie Miller, vice president of Coca-Cola and Becky Blalock, retired CIO of Southern Company, to name a few. Emerging is the theme of encouraging women to take responsibility for their own success by doing what they can to shape their own destiny, and to be fearless in the process. “It doesn’t mean you’re not going to fail,” Cannizzo said. ”But it’s better than the alternative.”
• State-of-the Art Facility • Internet Access & WI-FI • Teens Have Their Own Wing • School Forms • Board Certified Pediatric Dentist serving Atlanta’s Northside for 15 years.
Christy Haffner
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Dr. Haffner is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist specially trained to treat the dental needs of children. Dr. Haffner is also on staff at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Dr. Christy Haffner Pediatric Dentistry 3300 Old Milton Parkway Suite 250 Alpharetta, GA 30005
770-777-9400 www.drchristyhaffner.com
Pediatric Center | 3300 Old Milton Pkwy | Suite 250 | Alpharetta, GA, 30005
Up To Par The addition of the Women’s Leadership Workshop opened many new doors for Cannizzo in terms of networking and gaining support for the overall mission of the JCI Foundation, Inc. According to the website, that mission is to support nonprofit agencies that help young women achieve greatness in their lives through positive mentorship, education and sport, enabling them to build a lifetime of fulfillment. However, to continue growing the event’s success, Cannizzo said the tournament is still in need of more corporate sponsorships – and spectators. She hopes to see even more high school teams and pointsnorthatlanta.com | May 2014 | Points North
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{ D E S T I N E D F O R G R E AT N E S S }
From Italy and New York City to you in Atlanta’s Northside
alumni from college teams come to cheer on the players. “My goal is to know everybody,” Cannizzo deadpans. You’ll believe she can do it, if you listen to her describe visits to successful female executives’ corner offices to seek sponsors — and those women’s eager support of the cause. With the same gusto, she reminisces about how she felt when she first played the course at Augusta National, the historic site of the Masters and a club without female members until 2012. In her career, Cannizzo has been invited to play 10 times. Talk about fearless. Lauren also has big plans for the future. She currently is applying to graduate schools to pursue a Masters in Business Administration in hopes of learning more about what it takes to run a golf tournament and her foundation. Through the JCI Foundation, Inc. she continues to encompass many of her parents’ core values including faith, family and friends. “I am truly honored to share these values of raising money for charity, spending time with friends, and the legacy of sharing my parents with all involved in this tournament,” Lauren said. Someone get her an honorary Masters jacket — but make it orange instead of green. PN
HIT THE LINKS AND LINKEDIN Judson Collegiate & Legends Pro-Am Challenge Country Club of Roswell 2500 Club Springs Drive June 27–30
• Open for lunch and dinner Monday - Saturday • Dinner reservations recommended Handling all your customized catering needs for celebrations such as: GRADUATIONS, 1ST COMMUNIONS, BRIDAL SHOWERS, BAR MITZVAHS and MORE! 11730 A Jones Bridge Road • Johns Creek • 770.772.6456 • rosamiaitalian.com
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Women’s Leadership Workshop Double Tree by Hilton Hotel Atlanta–Roswell 1075 Holcomb Bridge Road June 26 judsongolf.com Read more of Lauren’s story at LifeTooShortForCheapWine.Blogspot.com
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Mother’s Day GIFT GUIDE MAY 2014
CHECK OUT POINTS NORTH’S PARTNERS FOR GREAT GIFT IDEAS TO CELEBRATE MOM ON MAY 11.
DRINK GLASSES WITH PEWTER MONOGRAM ACCENTRICS DESIGN
3719 Old Alabama Road Suite 300 A&B Johns Creek • 678-867-0310 accentrics-home.com
MOTHER & CHILD JEWELRY COLLECTION SHANE CO.
Give Mom an elegant gift that captures the special bond with her children. See Shane Co.’s Mother & Child Collection of heartwarming sterling silver and 14k gold jewelry, including exclusive styles with diamonds and natural sapphires. Prices range from $100 to around $350. She’ ll wear her title “Mom” just as proudly. Gwinnett, 770-623-3660 Alpharetta, 678-393-0701 Kennesaw, 678-355-1144 ShaneCo.com
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Who wouldn’t want sophisticated glasses with their monogram in pewter? Made in Georgia by two enterprising ladies, choose from four styles. Sold in sets of four for $60 or individually for $16. Great gifts for mom abound at Accentrics!
LUXURIOUS MOROCCAN OIL KERA VIE SALON
Give your mom the gift of a luxurious Moroccan Oil hair or body treatment from Kera Vie Hair Salon. Complimentary gift wrap and salon gift certificates are also available.
3005 Old Alabama Road #160 • Johns Creek 770-777-2313 • keraviehairsalon.com
CONSIGNING MADE EASY CLOSET EXCHANGE
Consignment shopping is a simple and upbeat experience at Closet Exchange. This shop is perfect for busy working women (like moms!). Find contemporary styles from the top designer names in fashion and jewelry. Or get mom a gift card to shop for herself — and maybe find inspiration to clean out her own closet.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY EARTHMAMA PHOTOGRAPHY
3005 Old Alabama Road Suite 40 • Johns Creek 770-645-0657 the-closet-exchange.com
FRESH AND UNIQUE ARRANGEMENTS
FUNKY MOUNTAIN FLOWERS & GIFTS She gave you roots and wings... Let Funky Mountain Flowers & Gifts help you thank mom for raising a free spirit! Shopping for unique gifts here is an unexpected adventure, dripping with creativity, good mojo and twinkle lights on the ceiling. Funky Mountain supports Georgia artists. 515 Peachtree Pkwy #608 Cumming • 770-781-4616 funkymountain.com
THE PERFECT GIFT COMES IN THE SIMPLEST FORM Y O U T H T O P I A M E D S PA
May is finally here with warmer weather, warm thoughts and warm memories for those very special moms and mother figures in our lives. Treat that special lady with one of our very special Mother’s Day offers, designed especially with her in mind. Call us today for more details. Youthtopia has been named one of the top spas in Alpharetta for the last 7 years. 3665 Old Milton Parkway Alpharetta 770-772-4806 youthtopiamedspa.com
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HISTORIC BANNING MILLS OFFERS
AWARD-WINNING
OUTDOOR EXCITEMENT
{ WRITTEN BY K ATHL E E N STE VE N S MO O R E }
Hurling through thin air at 60 mph
was not as bad as I thought it would be. I felt like a bullet, a comet even, racing 250 feet off the ground. The Screaming Eagle zip line, at half a mile long and most appropriately named, was the end of my six-hour, eco-canopy tour at Historic Banning Mills. I’d embarked on the outing like Gilligan, peppy and naïve — only to return wide-eyed, awed and slightly freaked out in a good way. Tucked 45 minutes southwest of Atlanta, Historic Banning Mills is a 300acre campus of outdoor adventure straddling both sides of Carroll County’s Snake Creek. The vibe is not rustic elegance; it’s pure rustic with basic accommodations and no mints on the pillow or elevated thread counts. But, visitors don’t seem to mind. Instead, they rave. Not only has the property bagged Trip Advisor’s 2013 Certificate of Excellence, but loads of personal endorsements as well. The bulletin board in the lobby is smothered with handwritten thank you notes from legions of happy campers, Boy Scout troops, youth groups and families that enjoyed their experience
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ORIC
HIST
NING
S
MILL
BAN
OUR
TO C
PHO
OF TESY
Clockwise from top left: Steve Solano of Cumming readies himself to zip down the Screaming Eagle; John and Hoffman Moore set out for a day of zip line adventure; one of the instructors showing newbies how to do it. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF KATHLEEN STEVENS MOORE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED
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tremendously. Seeing who signs up for these adventures is all part of the fun. Clockwise from top left: Steve Solano works a sky bridge; girls’ weekends go over big at Banning Mills; Gurgling Snake Creek Gorge; rustic decor of the Main Lodge includes a stuffed cougar; Nicole Solano enjoys the day out in nature.
Wild at Heart Let’s start with my group. As a suburban mother of three, and self-proclaimed safety zealot, I reckoned I’d be the eldest of my eightperson party (because in my mind, God created zip lining for dudes in their 20s), but as we geared up, I noticed a couple celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary, a husband and wife team in their 60s and a posse of four gal pals giggling their way into the harnesses, celebrating their friend’s 50th birthday. “This is what you wanted to do for your birthday?” I asked the pretty blonde as she buckled her helmet. “Sure,” she replied, Chanel-glossed lips smiling. “Enough with drinks and dinner. I want adventure!” She got it. Our canopy tour turned out to be a jampacked afternoon of hurling down zip lines and lunging over sky bridges. Sky bridges, by the way, are not for the faint of heart, and assume the term “bridge” loosely. In many cases
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each plank was spaced about two feet apart, morphing into a single line of steel wire (a.k.a. tight-rope walking). The whole adventure seemed suspiciously akin to six hours of aerial Shoots and Ladders, all part of the skill-building challenge. Flight of the Falcon Without a doubt, the hiking, picnicking, kayaking and horseback riding at Historic Banning Mills are musts, but the world-class zip lining is what truly reels in visitors. I’m not talking about a single line of stainless steel strung from tree to tree. No, this adventure arena maintains more than 80 zip lines and 50 sky bridges, ranging in height from 20 to 300 feet. They cross the Snake Creek Gorge high above sparkling shoals and rushing water. Some, like one of their most impressive zip lines aptly dubbed Flight of the Falcon, run for 3,400 feet head-first, Superman style, if you’re a pro. In addition to the zip lines, a monstrous wooden structure stands 150 feet in the air. They’ve named it Adventure Power Tower and it rises from the forest canopy like something straight out of “Avatar,” looking foreign, daunting and totally thrilling. It’s not a bungee jump, but a controlled free fall,
{ H I S TO R I C B A N N I N G M I L L S } •
allowing a person to plummet 100 feet through the air without the harsh yank at the end. Not into free fall? The backside of the tower dares climbers to tackle its 140-foot height. I stood on the ground and looked up … way up … at a climber working his way to the top. A red-tipped hawk sailed past and, for a moment, it was hard to tell which was higher. Traveler’s Choice Back on eye level, the property’s defining building is its lodge, an airy log structure with a high regard for both taxidermy and wagon wheel light fi xtures. My favorite was the mountain lion draped across a ceiling rafter. After all, nothing says you’ve left the city like 150 pounds of stuffed cat. The lodge is important, too. In this building you will check in, buy postcards and dig into any pre-arranged meals. It’s also where organizations hold conferences, workshops and retreats. The three-story facility is handsomely appointed to meet any of those needs, but the best reason to schedule a work trip here? Once class is dismissed an outdoor paradise awaits. Or, perhaps, the spa. That’s the thing about Historic Banning Mills. It can be anything you want it to be: an action-packed day trip, teambuilding weekend or romantic B&B getaway. Big groups are housed in a block of hotel-like rooms sitting shotgun to the lodge, full country breakfast included. Folks needing more elbowroom can book one of the cabins located on either side of the creek, or try one of the brandnew Tree House rooms that boast king beds, back porches and killer views. During my visit, I chatted with Sharon and Jeff Pell of Marietta. With one last daughter almost out of the nest, they admitted being ready for more adventure in their lives. By the time we met, they had kayaked, hiked and zip lined to their hearts’ content. They had also dined at the
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380 Pleasant Hill Rd. Dulauth, GA 30096 (Between Peachtree Industrial & Buford Highway)
3331 Hamilton Mill Rd. Suite 1106 Buford, GA 30519 (Across from the Kroger Shopping Center)
3370 Paddocks Pkwy. Suwanee, GA 30024 (Off Peachtree Parkway in Suwanee)
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{ H I S TO R I C B A N N I N G M I L L S }
lodge several times and taken advantage of one of the property’s romantic packages.
FROM
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to Classic Italian Dishes with
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A Heritage Worth Preserving Though the aerial adventuring is the big draw, Snake Creek Gorge has a melancholy side. There’s a reason they stick the word “historic” into the Banning Mills title and the history is fascinating. Co-owner Donna Holder explained the historical significance of her property, starting with how the 19th-century landscape down by the water looked much different than it does now. Then, the bustling town of Banning Mills sprawled along its banks, miles of pulp, paper and gristmills. In its heyday, 10 mills cranked away, providing a welcomed hit of prosperity for the rural economy. Now nothing but whispers remain. That and just one building, a hauntingly beautiful red brick cotton mill perched on the water’s edge. Holder said she and her husband dream of turning it into a museum. As I walked the trail leading to it, I tried to imagine the vibrancy of industry in a place now dominated by hushed forest and soaring hawks. Finding a boulder, I peeled off my shoes, sunk my toes into the water and listened. Only the stream’s heavy rush and the far-off happy yelp of somebody swooshing down a zip line filled the air. Clocking in a little more than an hour’s drive from the Northside, Historic Banning Mills is a special destination for any size group. Pack your hiking boots and don’t forget your bravado as this place will keep you on your toes. Check that. More than likely, it will whisk you off of them. PN Historic Banning Mills historicbanningmills.com 770-834-9149 205 Horseshoe Dam Road Whitesburg, GA 30185
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The Non-Surgical Solution… TO HERNIATED DISCS, SCIATICA & LOWER BACK PAIN
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FORSYTH COUNTY WELLNESS 564 Lakeland Plaza • Cumming • 770-781-9050 www.forsythcountywellness.com Call for an Appointment Today!
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calendar
C OMP IL E D BY L ATON YA DA R R I SAW Calendar submissions should be sent to calendar@pointsnorthatlanta.com two months prior to the month in which the event will occur. Please note that dates and times might change.
Francine Reed will perform. W Hotel, Midtown Atlanta, 404-733-5186, alliancetheatre.org/atonyevening
soundtrack from the film “O Brother, Where Art Thou.” Riverside Park, Roswell, roswellgov.com
A PRAIRIE HOME C O M PA N I O N
AT F I R S T S I G HT
[May 17] The popular on-air public radio show returns to Atlanta for a live broadcast performance with Garrison Keillor and special guest Suzy Bogguss. Fox Theatre, Atlanta, 855-285-8499, foxtheatre.org
A D I F F E R E NT WO R LD
[ MAY 3] Wild Weekend Autrey Mill Nature Preserve
PERFORMING ARTS H A I R S P R AY
[May 1 - 4] Relive all the glory of this renowned musical, featuring lovable teen Tracy Turnblad who goes from a misfit to an overnight celebrity. Tackling societal injustices of the 1960s, this eight-time Tony Award-winning production is fronted with laughter, romance and dangerously high coiffures. The Milton Center, Alpharetta, 404-543-2381, cytatlanta.com
P E TR I F I E D F O R E S T [May 1 - 18] Written by Robert E. Sherwood and directed by Mike Carroll, this play tells the story of Gabby Maple who wants to see the world but has to work at the family restaurant instead. Lionheart Theatre Company, Norcross, 678-938-8518, lionhearttheatre.org
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GEORGIA SENIOR F O LLI E S – TH E G O LD E N AG E O F TE LE V I S I O N [May 2 - 18] Enjoy an evening of music and laughter for the entire family, celebrating the actors of the golden age of television. The cast will pay tribute to Lucille Ball, George Burns, The Golden Girls and Ed Sullivan. The Cumming Playhouse, Cumming, 770-781-9178, playhousecumming.com
A TO N Y E V E N I N G [May 10] The Alliance Theatre presents a starstudded affair for its sixth annual gala benefitting the organization’s educational programming for youth and families. Victoria and Howard Palefsky will be honored, and Atlanta’s own
Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com
PHOTO COURTESYE OF AUTREY MILL NATURE PRESERVE
[May 29 - June 8] Onion Man Productions and Lionheart Theatre Company present a collection of original short plays by local playwrights imagining the world in a completely new light. Lionheart Theatre Company, Norcross, 678-938-8518, onionmanproductions.com
ARTS | EXHIBITS HIDDEN HEROES: TH E G E N I U S O F E V E RY DAY TH I N G S
[Through May 11] MakerBot and MODA team up to showcase 3D printing. Casting an eye on the history of industrial design, MakerBot will show the future of everyday household items. Museum of Design Atlanta, Atlanta, 404-979-6455, museumofdesign.org
SUZANNE COOPER MORRIS, S A R A H W E LLM A N A N D H U G H M AC K AY [Through June 1] Experience Suzanne Cooper Morris and Sarah Wellman’s use of mixed media as well as Hugh Mackay’s oils and printmaking at this Spectrum exhibit. Gallery 4463, Acworth, 770-485-8554, gallery4463.com
[May 9 – 24] Help celebrate the Polk Street Players 35th anniversary with loads of laughs and fun for their comedy, “At First Sight,” by Anne Pie and directed by Lane Teilhaber. Stellar Cellar Theatre at St. James’ Episcopal Church, Marietta, 770-218-9669, polkstreetplayers.com
S P E N C E R DAY [May 10] Sponsored by Doubletree by HiltonRoswell LIVE!, this Roswell series will feature vocalist, songwriter and pianist Spencer Day and his multidimensional sound. Roswell Cultural Arts Center, Roswell, roswellpresents.com
W E ’ V E G OT M AG I C TO D O [May 31 - June 1] Conducted by Wes Stoner, this Cherokee Chorale’s Pops concert will boast the Broadway music of Stephen Schwartz. Falany Performing Arts Center at Reinhardt University, Waleska, 678-439-8625, cherokeechorale.org
CHARITY EVENTS IN HARMONY FOR CANCER
[May 3] This second annual outdoor concert fundraiser features artist Banks and Shane benefitting CanCare, an organization that matches newly diagnosed cancer patients with other trained survivors dealing with cancer. Johns Creek Church, Johns Creek, 404-310-0469, inharmonyforcancer.com
CONCERTS | COMEDY RIVERSIDE SOUNDS CONCERT SERIES
FA M I LY P R O M I S E M O U NTA I N M U D RUN 5K
[May 3] Roswell Riverside Sounds kicks off its annual outdoor concert series with Chris Thomas King, known for his folk, blues and rock music as well as his popular song on the Grammy-winning
[May 3] Run for a good cause in the second annual race sponsored by non-profit organization Family Promise of White County. Funds raised support Family Promise’s mission to support
low-income families. Far Winds Farm, Cleveland, familypromisemountainmudrun.com
ROSE GARDEN GALA [May 3] A beautiful, lush setting of the gardens collection serves as the perfect backdrop of this fourth annual fundraising event. Enjoy dinner, cocktails and live and silent auctions that support science and nature-based education programs. Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Kennesaw, smithgilbertgardens.com
B OW S A R T S S B A S H [May 3] Join Art Sandy Springs for its fourth annual fundraiser to support visual and performing arts. The evening includes supreme cuisine and jazz music along with original artwork, photography, jewelry and sculptures for sale from local artists. Motorcars of Georgia Showroom, Sandy Springs, artsandysprings.org
H A R R I S JAC O B S DREAM RUN [May 4] The 21st annual race will feature a 5K road race, one-mile fun run and walk and a special needs one-mile walk for youth and adults to benefit vital programs and services of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta (MJCCA). MJCCA Zaban Park Campus, Dunwoody, 678-812-4151, atlantajcc.org/HJDR
SPRING B A R G A I N ATA [May 9-10] The Atlanta section of the National Council of Jewish Women hosts its annual spring sale with affordable designer clothing for men and women, shoes, purses, accessories and housewares to fund programs for Atlanta women, children and families. Hilderbrand Court Shopping Center, Atlanta, 404-843-9600, ncjwatlanta.org
A N N A DA LE ’ S JA Z Z Y TH I N G [May 10] The 21st annual event offers a night of exquisite cuisine, world-class casino games, an arts bazaar and more under the stars. All proceeds support Annandale Village’s award-winning efforts of helping men and women with developmental disabilities to lead quality lives of self-worth and achievement. Lillian Webb Park, Norcross,770-945-8381, annandale.org
K E N N E S AW GRAND PRIX 5K SERIES [May 10] Get ready to race tough and finish strong at the fifth annual Swift Cantrell Classic road race. Part of the Fit City Kennesaw initiative, The Swift Cantrell Classic is one of six races in the series, each benefitting city facilities and projects. Kennesaw First Baptist Church, Kennesaw, 770-429-9733, kennesawgrandprix.com
WO N D E R FA R M [May 10] Nonprofit organizations WonderRoot and Community Farmers Market join together for an evening of delectable fare featuring more than 10 of Atlanta’s best chefs, art installations, interactive demonstrations, performances and a silent auction. Krog Street Market, Atlanta, wonderfarm.org
C O LO R S F E S TI VA L OF ARTS [May 10 - May 11] The 24th annual festival returns again for Mother’s Day weekend. Presented by Roswell Junior Woman’s Club (RJWC) and Roswell Visitors Bureau, the twoday event includes original art and crafts for sale, live entertainment and food. Historic Town Square, Roswell, 770-317-1375, roswelljuniors.org
D U C K D E R BY R AC E A N D F E S TI VA L [May 17] Let your beard hang low during the “Duck Dynasty”-themed festival. Adopt a rubber duck and watch as thousands race down the Etowah River to win the grand prize of a new car. All proceeds benefit Advocates for Children’s many programs. Riverside Park, Cartersville, AdvoChild.org
G O LF I N ’ F O R TH E LO D G E [May 27] The fifth annual golfing tournament is back to raise money for Bald Ridge Lodge’s programs for young men. Hit the greens with 18 holes of golf, participate in team competitions, putting contests, a special auction and a raffle. A lucky hole-in-one winner will score a car for the grand prize. Polo Golf and Country Club, Cumming, 770-887-1220, baldridgelodge.org
SPECIAL EVENTS M AY M A R K E T AT R O S E L AW N
[May 3] A new springtime tradition is pointsnorthatlanta.com | May 2014 | Points North
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calendar underway on the grounds of the legendary Rose Lawn Museum. Guests can partake in handmade arts and crafts, locally-grown food, a guided tour of the Rose Lawn House Museum and live entertainment at the festival. Rose Lawn Museum, Cartersville, 770-387-5162, roselawnmuseum.com
W I LD W E E K E N D AT TH E M I LL [May 3] Celebrate Earth Day with Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center as they host their annual Wild Weekend, a celebration of all things wild from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All activities are free with paid admission: $5. Autrey Mill Nature Preserve and Heritage Center, Johns Creek, 678-366-3511, autreymill.org
R E CYC LE E LE C TR O N I C S [May 3] Get rid of your old, unused electronic devices and keep the environment safe and beautiful at the same time. Hosted by Keep Forsyth County Beautiful.
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Cumming Fairgrounds Parking Lot #3, Cumming, 770-205-4573, forsythco.com
Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell, 770-992-2055, chattnaturecenter.org
tasty s’mores. Swift-Cantrell Park, Kennesaw, kennesaw-ga.gov/pkrec
D R U M C I R C LE
FULL-MOON SUSPENSION BRIDGE HIKE
YO UTH F I S H I N G DAYS AT B U C K S H OA L S
[May 14] Enjoy a 1.5-mile hike taking you down the stairs across the suspension bridge to the rim of the gorge under the full moon. Tallulah Gorge State Park, Tallulah Falls, 706-754-7981
[May 17] Bring your own bait, cast your own rods and keep your catch at this fishing event every third Saturday of the month. Smithgall Woods State Park, Helen, 706-878-3087
D O G G I E S O N TH E C AT WA LK
D I N E A N D D I S C OV E R
[May 9] Experience the sights and rhythmic sounds of professional drum leader Chuck Cogliandro under a blanket of moon and stars. Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell, chattnaturecenter.org
F L AVO R S O F F O R S Y TH [May 10] Fun-filled entertainment and a sampling of tasty dishes from local eateries is on the menu at this fifth annual event that supports United Way of Forsyth County. Forsyth Conference Center, Cumming, 770-781-4110, unitedwayforsyth.com
R O C K I N ’ AT TH E RIVER GALA [May 10] Dance under the stars at this year’s “Light the Night” gala. Surrounded by a 127-acre riverfront setting, join the Chattahoochee Nature Center for live music, food, drinks and a silent and live auction.
Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com
[May 16] Fashionado and the Atlanta Humane Society bring high fashion, celeb models and furry pets to the runway. A themed after-party will follow the event, much to the delight of Fido. Dekalb-Peachtree Airport (PDK) Atlantic Aviation, Atlanta, 404-974-2828, atlantahumane.org/ events/featured-events
B AC K YA R D C A M P O UT [May 17] Perfect for young campers, the evening will be filled with campfire entertainment, including backyard games, field activities, professional storytelling, stargazing and roasting
[May 22] Food and fun galore! Join the Nature Club for a potluck dinner where you can learn from naturalist experts and enthusiasts. Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell, chattnaturecenter.org
ATL A NTA F O O D & W I N E F E S TI VA L [May 29 - June 1] Eat, drink and explore the South’s greatest offerings in food and beverage. This four-day culinary experience features tasting tents, cooking and cocktail demonstrations, panel discussions and seminars. Midtown, Atlanta, atlfoodandwinefestival.com
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FIVE
things
W R IT T E N BY C OL L EEN A N N M C N A L LY
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Get Down and Derby. Who says you have to go to Kentucky for bourbon and horse races? Just an hour east of Atlanta, the picturesque city of Madison, Ga., comes alive each spring with azaleas, dogwoods and Derby Day! Held at Goose Creek Farm, this annual fundraiser for Madison-Morgan Conservancy on May 3 offers Derby enthusiasts a chance to sport their best hats while enjoying southern fare and a horse race of its own. It beats cheering from the couch – although the real thing will be broadcasted live, too, of course. mmcgeorgia.org Feel Jazzy. The only thing better than jazz is 31 Days of Jazz! This month, discover live music at MARTA train stations, in theaters, museums, schools and restaurants throughout Atlanta. All the fun leads up to the 37th annual Atlanta Jazz Festival held in Piedmont Park on May 23–25. Grooves from international and local talent spanning three stages begin on Friday this year so the park reopens for normal public use on Memorial Day. Did we mention KidZones and free admission? atlantafestivals.com
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Go Wild. Zoo Atlanta and The Fox Theatre are causing an uproar in Midtown. For the first time ever, children and young-atheart adults can enjoy “Spring Fling with Wild Things,” a guided tour through the halls of the historical Arabian-themed venue featuring special guests from Zoo Atlanta. Play hopscotch on the theatre carpet and operate the flying elevators while learning biofacts about the live animals. The hour-long adventure takes place every Saturday at 10 and 11 a.m. through May 17. For tickets, visit foxtheatre.org.
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Dance in the Moonlight. When the moon comes out at Lake Lanier Islands Resort, it’s time to party. Whether you arrive by car or boat, Sunset Cove’s monthly Full Moon Party is a sight t see. This month’s féte takes place on May 17, and for a $15 to cover charge, you can enjoy magical live entertainment including music from “Excite! The Party Band,” stilt-walkers and fire breathers. Watch the spectacular fireworks in lawn chairs circled around outdoor fire pits or from the beach before heading home. ilovethecove.com Harvest Some Fun. If the mountains are calling you, take a drive to Historical Hayesville in western North Carolina. Get a breath of fresh air and a taste for the locale at the Evening Harvest Farmers Market on the Square. This town-wide event offers much more than high-quality produce and farm products. Every Thursday between May 22 and September 25, you’ll find row after row of excitement for the whole family with cooking demonstrations, live entertainment and local art. eveningharvestmarket.com PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF MADISON-MORGAN CONSERVANCY; ATLANTA JAZZ FESTIVAL; BOB HUGHES | BRILLIANCE PHOTOGRAPHY; GENE PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHY; EVENING HARVEST MARKET
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Points North | May 2014 | pointsnorthatlanta.com