The Current Hub November 2020

NOVEMBER 2020

PIVOTING FOR THE GREATER GOOD NORTH TOLBERT YILMAZ GEORGIA SCHOOL OF WINERIES DANCE

Awesome Alpharetta

LEAPING FORWARD

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contents featured on page 20 Leaping Forward.

life & style

food & drink Movie theaters are back open!

A review of The War With Grampa.

PHOTOGRAPHER Daniel Rivera arcanevisuals.ga@gmail.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Tara Gary Malika Bowling Di Chapman Joe Duffy Britt Argo

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SOCIAL MEDIA Tricia Morris tricia@thecurrenthub.com Main Phone Number 678-524-8414 thecurrenthub.com

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health & wellness

Joe Duffy shares his review of Carson Kitchen.

8 up your gratitude and reach for 17 Fire the joy!

Flu vs.

Covid-19 in kids.

Pivoting for the greater good.

6 Live like a tourist in Alpharetta.

6 North Georgia wineries you have got to check out.

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19 Inspired Senior Living Hugs.

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Transform your kitchen & bath into a beautiful and functional environment.

Visit our extensive gallery to choose your stone and cabinetry. Our design team will help you craft your vision.

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4

life & style

THE WAR WITH GRANDPA (PG)

by Britt Argo

Playing in Movie Theaters now!

T

he War with Grandpa— “Old School vs New Cool” is a dramedy with heart for the whole family to enjoy.

It’s a good mix of “Home Alone” like slapstick pranks with a more sincere message of the importance of family. It’s worth sharing on the big screen with your kids or catching it soon on streaming later this year.

What It’s About

Based on the award winning book by Robert Kimmel Smith, The War with Grandpa stars Robert De Niro as Grandpa Ed, a recently widowed man, who is begrudgingly coaxed to move in with his daughter (Uma Thurman) and family to recoup from an injury. With limited space, he is given his grandson Peter’s room, forcing Peter to bunk up in the unfinished attic. Unhappy with the situation, Peter declares war with Grandpa and aided by his 6th grade friends, unleashes pranks and pratfalls to pressure Grandpa to give him the room back. Ed, needing a distraction from mourning his wife, accepts the challenge and “plays along” with this war, retaliating with his own pranks. Ultimately, he hopes his grandson will learn his lesson, and give up this war.

Along the way, Ed tries to win him over by bonding with a fishing trip, and spending time with him. The war game becomes less about matching wits and winning, and more about doing something together until they get caught.

Old School vs.

New Cool

Why You Must Watch It

Robert DeNiro is the “Godfather” of playing the surly curmudgeon dad/grandpa who reacts to all the chaos around him. (Little Fockers, Dirty Grandpa, The Big Wedding).

It’s nice that in this one, his character is a bit more

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Recommend

This is a PG family comedy film targeted at the elementary/ middle school group, but parents will enjoy this one too for the cast. If you liked Parental Guidance ( Billy Crystal & Better Midler), Cheaper By The Dozen ( Steve Martin & Bonnie Hunt), Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day ( Steve Carell & Jennifer Garner)—then you will enjoy The War with Grandpa. ** Check www.Fandango.com for a list of local theaters playing the films and showtimes. To watch trailers and learn more about upcoming movies, check out: www.IMDB.com l Britt Argo, an avid movie fan for more than 30 years, sees an average of 150 movies a year in movie theaters. She is the marketing cooordinator at Area 51: Aurora Cineplex and The Fringe Miniature Golf-5100 Commerce Parkway in Roswell. 770-518-0977. auroracineplex.com & a51fun.com.

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

mellow, and shows a softer side when trying to win over his grandson. The tone of this movie isn’t mean spirited.

They make sure that whatever they do to each other, it won’t harm them, or affect the other family. Through out the movie, even though there are silly moments, it keeps its heart, and focuses on the grandpa and grandson bonding and getting to know each other better.

The supporting cast is fun to watch too. Robert De Niro (Grandpa Ed) brings in his heavy hitters to help with some of the battles. The highlight is the very funny Dodgeball game at Sky Zone—the 6th graders against De Niro, Christopher Walken, Jane Seymour, and Cheech Marin. The best parts of the film are the buddy sessions with his friends.

Walken especially enjoys playing the courageous adventurer of the group.

It was also a delight to catch the familiar places around Atlanta that they filmed the movie at. Another “Made in Georgia” film, the exterior of the family’s houses were filmed in the gorgeous tree-lined streets of Grant Park. The guys walk around the Beltline along Piedmont Park.

Ed meets up with Jane Seymour, a cashier at Frye’s Electronics in Milton, and they battle at a local Skyzone trampoline park. I enjoy spotting scenes in movies where I have been to before, and with so many filmed here in GA and MetroAtlanta, it’s an easter egg to find these sights.

Come

PLAYwith us!

VOLUNTEER!

We desperately need volunteers! All About Cats Rescue & Adoption is a Roswell-based charity that rescues cats & kittens from high-kill north Georgia shelters. Please help us with: Cleaning and socializing with our cats inside PetSmart Assisting with weekend adoptions inside PetSmart Fostering (all expenses paid) Participating in fundraising/special events

ADOPT!

Looking to adopt? All of our available cats can be viewed on our website, Petfinder or Adopt-a-Pet. Weekend adoption events are held every Saturday at 1-5 p.m. in the Roswell PetSmart at 625 W Crossville Rd. We also do adoptions during the week by appointment. Please call Kristy Grieco at (404) 401-6793.

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit all-volunteer based organization which operates solely through your generous contributions. 100% of donations go directly to the cats.

CONTACT US allaboutcatsrescue.org aacatsrescue@gmail.com Roswell PetSmart (678) 352-8138

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NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

6

life & style

PIVOTING FOR THE GREATER GOOD How one restaurateur is serving up community relief

by Malika Bowling

T

he hospitality industry has arguably been one of the hardest hit industries from the global pandemic.

Restaurants already facing tight margins, saw them shrink exponentially. Many restaurants were forced to close for good, not being able to make it much longer than a couple months.

One restaurant group in North Fulton, RO Hospitality headed

by Ryan Pernice (Coalition Food and Beverage, Table & Main and Osteria Mattone), has continued to fight the fight, and even found a way to help those facing hunger.

How were they able to do it?

The public received scattered, inconsistent, and often conflicting guidance from city, state, and federal levels. That made long term planning extremely difficult for businesses, especially restaurants. To compensate, Pernice and his team committed to two week planning cycles. They figured at least staff could commit to something for 14 days.

But Pernice, ever the philanthropist, still wanted to find a way to help those in need.

Early on in the pandemic, they transformed Table & Main into a soup kitchen donating meals to the newly food insecure. To date they have fed 9,750 people during this difficult time.

The team accomplished this while making sacrifices of their own. Managers graciously agreed to at least a 25% pay cut, and Pernice

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brainstorm idea to make money if they had to shut down again, but he found that having a fun side gig is a useful diversion from the everyday stress of running a restaurant.

“We entrepreneurs put on a brave face, but make no mistake...we were terrified as we sought a way forward for our employees who depend on us, to say nothing of the fear of losing our business. At this point, many of us are simply exhausted. But the fight continues!”

Ryan Pernice has lived in Roswell for 25+ years, graduating from Roswell High School. After receiving a degree in hospitality from Cornell University he moved to New York City to work for acclaimed restaurateur Danny Meyer, before moving home in 2011 to open Table & Main.l

ATLANTA’S BEST MINI GOLF IS OPEN FRI - SAT - SUN

Malika Bowling is editor at Roamilicious.com and the author of Food Lovers’ Guide to Atlanta. She’s been featured on HGTV and the Huffington Post. She has been a contributing writer to USA Today, Beer Connoisseur and Chowhound. You can find her on social media: Facebook/Twitter @MalikaBowling and on Instagram @roamilicious.

Aurora Cineplex The Fringe Miniature Golf Roswell Town Center 5100 Commerce Parkway (770) 518-0977 www.auroracineplex.com

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

reduced his salary by 50%. Two thirds of the employees were laid off in March. Now they are back to nearly 70 percent of pre-march numbers.

Table & Main, which had closed to consolidate the takeout program at Osteria Mattone, was turned into a food shelter, serving an average of 152 meals a day, Tuesday through Sunday. Even their suppliers pitched in, donating literal truckloads of product. There was widespread financial support from the community to make this happen.

Additionally, Table & Main recently used its 9th birthday to raise funds to purchase laptops and educational support materials for The Drake House and Children's Development Academy in Roswell.

“We're leaner. We're more disciplined. We know who our friends are. We grew so much closer as a team and to our community. We will continue to hone all those skills so that when COVID is in the past, we'll be a vastly better organization for it,” says owner, Ryan Pernice.

Pernice even found time for a new side-hustle called www.hospitaliteeshirts.com, selling apparel with curated restaurant industry callouts for industry insiders. It began as a

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

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food & drink

CARSON KITCHEN REVIEW As one of the biggest food snobs on Planet Earth, I’m interrogated continually for restaurant guidance. When the desired genre is daily breakfast (the list gets lengthier for weekend brunch), there is a clearly defined top two: the previously examined Hen Mother Cookhouse in Johns Creek and Gracious Plenty Bakery & Breakfast in Roswell. Just as HMC is run by a husband and wife chef team, Gracious Plenty is directed by betrothed Jasmin Willis and Conner Slewitzke.

by Joe Duffy

“B

old and opinionated is how we like to describe our cuisine,” says Carson Kitchen GM Molly Barlow. The Alpharetta City Center newcomer is one of three locations from Woodstock, GA native Cory Harwell, the Chef and President. Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are the two others. When I heard the announcement of its City Center launching, onward to Google I went.

Quite impressed by the reviews from the Sin City original, my anticipation was piqued. The Downtown Las Vegas locale is rated No. 21 of 3,489 restaurants in Vegas by Trip Advisor.

Considering that over the last dozen or so years, the city in the desert is invariably cited “Bold and high on nearly every plausible opinionated is how best food city list issued, such exaltation is lofty. Far from an we like to describe outlier, the noble evaluation our cuisine” is heavily corroborated elsewhere.

Carson Kitchen fancies to mingle and balance the gustatory system in many of the small plates/tapas sized entrees. Savory, sweet, tart, and acidic the bacon jam with havarti, which is “far and away the most popular item at all three locations” is emblematic of that. Cheese, which has no sugar, has long been paired with marmalades and jams, perfectly complementing each other. And bacon? Come on man! It mates well with just about everything. This signature appetizer is served piping hot with accompanying toasted baguette.

Your life is incomplete unless you’ve consumed roadside pork cracklings in South Louisiana or at least pork rinds somewhere other than off a

supermarket shelf. Carson does a great version via the poultry parallel to that: crispy chicken skins.

Crackly, crunchy, and tasty, it’s made harmonious by sweetly counterbalancing with smoked honey served on the side. Following Molly’s counsel, I dipped it the aforesaid jam, a recommendation I will second.

The killer shrimp has a light coating and covered with creamy Amarillo pepper sauce. Yet again, the temperate dressing is intensified with fresh jalapeno peppers. Yes, the dish stands out minus the peppers, but don’t be one of those “but can I order it without” people here with this dish or any. Clearly each ingredient is integral for equilibrium and you are doing yourself an injustice to diss the chef. Order everything “as is.” This rivals East Cobb’s Seed Kitchen & Bar’s shrimp sambal is my favorite shrimp appetizer in Current Hubville.

Even the “devil’s” (not a typo) eggs surpass the one’s your aunt reliably creates and brings to the annual family cookout. The crispy pancetta and caviar toppings are central for both texture and taking it to the next level flavor.

The chicken thighs may be quintessential of how each dish is developed with so much more profundity than a mere glance at the menu would imply. Deboned and flattened thin like pressed meats in many Latin American cuisines, these are as tender as any yardbird I’ve ever had. The mayo-based Alabama white sauce boosts this dish with complex flavor. It packs some punch but shouldn’t intimidate those timid of food being too spicy.

Within the last year somebody asked me on Twitter (@calvulcan) for a guidance where to relish the foremost bread pudding. It was an infrequent example of me not responding with at least one if not several

Carson Kitchen | 4 S Main St. Alpharetta, GA 30009 | carsonkitchen.com/atl | (770) 696-1752

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enjoy the Wisconsin interpretation on a burger.Other than for allergy or miscellaneous other healthcare reasons, the consideration of heading off to a top-shelf restaurant and seeking to exclude an ingredient in incomprehensible to me. If you are wolfing at a selected enterprise such as any endorsed by me (ahem), put your faith in the chef. (S)he knows what she/he is doing to have attained that prestige.

Carson Kitchen loves to fuse the flavors, tastes, and textures as much as any restaurant. Ordering unaltered is always a canon to follow but it’s an even grander cardinal sin here to do otherwise.

This American food exemplar features fearless and bolder flavor most frequently experienced in “ethnic” cuisine. It’s not too avant-garde to intimidate those who relish familiarity, but much more intrepid than you ordinarily encounter in American cuisine.

Often menu portrayals are written

by PR wordsmiths rather than foodies.

Empty buzzwords and cliches are seldom validated by what arrived from

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

suggestions. Now I have one. The glazed donut interpretation is crowned with a three-rum caramel topping. It’s substantial enough for sharing, but luscious enough that you may want to obtain your own.

Harwell states the menu is inspired by his grandmother’s food in nearby Woodstock. It was originally a partnership with celebrity chef Kerry Simon, who was taken away much too early at age 60, a victim of MSA, a degenerative neurological disorder.

Both Harwell’s grandmother and the highly decorated chef Simon should be quite proud.

There is more for me to test for future visits. Within taunting field of vision, I observed several orders of macaroni and cheese being dispensed.

So far, everything I embraced proved at least as good as it appears if not better. That’s a good omen for said delectable looking southern staple.

There is no shortfall of stupendous burgers in AlphaRoz, but Carson serves a butter burger giving them a distinguishable attribute. No need to sojourn to a middling burger chain to

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NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

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food & drink the kitchen. But when CarsonKitchen.com declares they serve, “reimagined comfort food prepared with approachable fine-dining ingredients,” the author nails it.

I’m insanely jealous of anyone who dwells along the newfangled Alpha Loop, which unites downtown Alpharetta to Avalon. The number of presently prevailing quality eateries within walking distance of each would have been pure make-believe when I wore a younger man’s clothes. But here we are. Carson Kitchen is another formidable addition.

Carson Kitchen Atlanta 4 South Main St Alpharetta, GA 30009 (770) 696-1752 SOUND BITES I aspired to vex the new Vertigo Café in the former Mellow Mushroom (same owners) at Haynes Bridge and Old Milton. In addition to the clear reasons, hunting new cafes is how I roll, I’m eternally captivated by both house specialties and items I seldom see on a list of options. Ziva, an Israeli dish is “our signature delicacy,” which transforms to “I’ll order that” for me.

Plus, from the ghost of Newtown Rec sports parenting past, I recognized the proprietors are pleasant individuals whose success is easy to root for. The Yemen layered dough, filled with three ingredients (mine had bacon, feta, mushrooms) was undeniably extraordinary. Whether or not everything is as standout as their very forcefully declared forte, I don’t know. Yet. But I prized losing my ziva virginity. https://www.vertigo-cafe.com...

Not enough pizza alternatives is an archaic dilemma in my review mirror. Still, I’m a big fan of upscale Restaurant Holmes, so when they premiered a pizza joint in the Halcyon food hall, no way in H-E double hockey stick I would bypass the occasion to investigate. Interesting, there was less char on the bottom of the crust than other Neapolitan pizzas I had, but it included a decent amount on top. The four family members not away at college harmonize it’s very good. Covid and all, we brought it home cognizant that the only infallible review would be if I ate it at Halcyon. I mean almost-in-Cumming to Roswell isn’t around the block. My daughter and I shall make a reappearance and devour a pie right out of the oven. During off hours, on a pleasant day where open-air feasting is a likelihood, social distancing is no issue in the food hall and the nearby common space. There are ample outdoor tables spread out to regulations. Oh and grab a beer at Cherry Street while you are at it.

Images courtesy of Daniel Rivera.

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NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

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life & style

Awesome Alpharetta LIVE LIKE A TOURIST IN ALPHARETTA

By Janet Rodgers, President and CEO, Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau Alpharetta’s hospitality industry is open for business and invites you to be a tourist in your own community!

Prior to March 2020, Alpharetta’s tourism industry was robust and strong. With nearly 3,600 guest rooms, our 28 hotels were thriving with business travelers and face-toface corporate meetings during the week, while flourishing with large weddings and sports tournaments on weekends. Our restaurants hosted a packed house of diners during lunch and dinner each day.

Our attractions welcomed lines of patrons to be entertained. Our shops replenished their stock weekly after selling out products from consumer purchases. Live music and concerts could be heard in the city each week. And our annual events? Well, anyone who has attended an Alpharetta festival or event can tell you they rival against some of the best events in the nation. Taste of Alpharetta, Arts Streetfest, and Wire & Wood Music Festival to name a few event staples in our city. Alpharetta’s hospitality industry is working toward getting stronger every day but has a long way yet to go…which is why our tourism partners need you more than ever!

As the official destination marketing organization for Alpharetta, we at the Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau have seen the passion Alpharetta residents have for the fabric and charm of this community. That local enthusiasm exudes into the ambiance of the city that entices thousands of visitors to come each year. People want to visit where the residents love their community.

Alpharetta’s shops, restaurants,

attractions, events, and hotels make up the foundation of the city we’ve all grown to love so much. These businesses have a tremendous economic impact to the Alpharetta community. The residents of Alpharetta and surrounding communities can make the most immediate impact on our local economy until business and leisure travelers return to our destination. In an effort to welcome us back in a new environment, these establishments have adapted to include inventive ways of serving guests and patrons – preventive guidelines, curbside pickup options, more outdoor seating options, enhanced cleaning

measures, and social distancing practices. Right now, you are the most important asset to these businesses in our city.

You ask, “How can I help?” The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau has curated a list of ways you can “nearcation” as a local to find fun and enjoyment while supporting these vital small businesses.

• Start checking off your holiday gift list! Alpharetta has over 250 shops so you can purchase something for everyone on your list in these local shops.

• Everyone loves food! Gift cards from local restaurants make great gifts. Alpharetta has over 200 restaurants.

• Go out to eat tonight and treat your family to a night away from the kitchen.

• As corporations return to their offices in Alpharetta, partner with an Alpharetta restaurant to cater in a “welcome back” lunch for your team.

•

•

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Make the holidays easier on yourself and order some of your dishes and desserts from an Alpharetta eatery.

Don’t know what to get your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day this year? Buy a spa certificate from an Alpharetta spa for a day of pampering and relaxation.

Know a friend or family member who could use a getaway? Book an Alpharetta hotel room and invite them to visit for the weekend. It’s fun to play tour guide and host guests in your own backyard!

Looking for something to do this weekend? Live music has resumed. Cooking schools are hosting demonstrations. Santa has been sighted around town.

Check out our calendar of events at awesomealpharetta. com/calendar to see which ones you would like to attend.

We are all looking for a little

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then, we hope you enjoy exploring the hospitality experiences you can find close to home all while driving the local economy to be strong once again. Our return to normal begins right here in Alpharetta!

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merry to make the last month of 2020 brighter. Wrap up your holidays at the city’s districts of Avalon, Downtown, and North Point Mall with shopping, dining, visits with Santa, and socially distanced festive events. • Find a family-friendly attraction to entertain the kids. Check out our list of Alpharetta attractions at awesomealpharetta.com/play.

Alpharetta is home to the only conference center in North Fulton as well as 28+ hotels with meeting space. Need to host a small meeting, wedding, or event sometime soon?

Our hotels are eager to work with you with preventive and enhanced cleaning measures in place to ensure a successful event. Not sure where to begin in planning your event? Let our sales team at the Alpharetta CVB help you. Our services and resources to planners are complimentary.

We know our travel adventures will return to normal one day. Until

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

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food & drink

NORTH GEORGIA WINERIES MORE THAN MUSCADINE - NORTH GEORGIA WINERIES HAVE QUIETLY BECOME A COVETED DESTINATION FOR OENOPHILES

By Malika Bowling "You are drinking a time capsule,” said Eduardo deVelasco, a certified American Wine Expert, and our wine guide for the afternoon as we sipped on an appropriately named red wine, Majestic, at Serenity Cellars. Located in Cleveland, Georgia about an hour north of Roswell / Alpharetta, it is one of more than 60 wineries in Georgia. deValasco leads tours for inquisitive wine enthusiasts for Vip Southern Tours. For him, each time he savors wine, it is the combination of food, company and ambiance that he relishes - never being the same experience, hence likening our afternoon to a distinctive moment.

The secret may be out among wine lovers, but here’s your cheat sheet for the best wineries to visit in North Georgia along with must try wines.

CHATEAU MEICHTRY (TALKING ROCK, GEORGIA)

It is rumoured that Stephen Meichtry brought rootstock with him when he came to the United States in 1925 and that is what is planted at Chateau Meichtry, which has remained a family business for generations.

While many wineries’ tours are average, Chateau Meichtry (pronounced “my-tree”) is a must do.

Why? For starters you’ll get to see the mural that was painted in their wine production room when they used to have murder mystery dinners.

Must try wine: Albarino - the 100 percent estate grown grape has a citrusy finish. Take home a bottle for $25.

5-sample wine fight is $10 chateaumeichtry.co/

BOOK THE FTE FOOD TRUCK FOR NEIGHBORHOOD AND CORPORATE EVENTS! The FTE Food Truck offers a mobile kitchen as well as our incredible beers for your next get together. We will bring our crowd pleasing culinary skills and craft brews and bar options anywhere in Metro Atlanta* to serve you! Contact us as you begin to plan your events this football, Fall, and holiday season!

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SERENITY CELLARS (CLEVELAND, GEORGIA)

A charming courtyard beckons, as

Hours of Operation Monday: Closed Tuesday - Thursday: 11:30am - 9pm Friday - Saturday: 11:30am - 10pm Sunday: 11:30am - 9pm

food & drink

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MONTALUCE (DAHLONEGA, GEORGIA)

Nestled on the foothills of the mountains, is Montaluce, an Italian style winery with rustic villas on site for rent. The food at Montaluce is out of this world, so any foodie should plan on staying for dinner. Bonus: hikers will love a short hike before their wine tasting.

Must try wine: Petit Verdot - a true standout for any red wine lover. It is big and bold for Cabernet lovers but still balanced for those who prefer a tame Pinot Noir.

5-sample wine flight is $30 montaluce.com/

ENGELHEIM (ELLIJAY, GEORGIA)

Engelheim is German for “Angel Home” and their German design is apparent throughout the winery. The wine has won several gold and silver medal awards from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, beating out over 7,000 other applicants.

5 sample wine flight is $12 Must try wine - Engel Weiss - the award winning combination of their four whites, it is both nutty and floral. engelheim.com/

COTTAGE VINEYARD & WINERY (CLEVELAND, GEORGIA)

People flock to this winery for the panoramic, insta worthy photo ops.

The wines aren’t just an afterthought

though, a collaboration with Joe Smith of Serenity Cellars. If you aren’t coming with a wine tour, make sure to make your reservations in advance (at least 3 days according to the website).

5 sample wine flight is $11 Must try wine: Viognier with citrus and a crisp finish, it is the perfect kickoff to your tasting. But don’t miss out on the Cabernet Franc. cottagevineyardwinery.com/

SYLVAN VALLEY LODGE AND CELLARS (SAUTEE NACOOCHEE, GEORGIA)

If you are truly looking to get away for a weekend and happen to love wine, make sure to snag a room at this lovely lodge. Your stay includes a locally sourced hearty breakfast (even cream from a local creamery).

The Frolicking Faerie (no that’s not a misspelling) line of wines you’ll find here have collected an abundance of awards from the Georgia Trustees Wine Competition.

6 sample tasting is $12 Must try wine: Frolicking Faerie Freyja, a medium bodied Cabernet Franc versatile with both light and heavy dishes. sylvanvalleylodge.com/

PLAN YOUR VISIT

Check with each winery to see if you need to make a reservation. Many wineries close at 7 pm and some as early as 5 pm. A wine tour is the best way to experience the wineries of North Georgia (especially for first timers). Not only is it safer, but you don’t have to bother with parking or navigating to a different winery. VIP Wine Tours offers visits to 3 Georgia wineries on luxury motorcoaches and includes lunch from a local purveyor.

Prices start at $129 per person. VIPSouthernTours.com Each winery has its allure. So explore, find your favorite and make your own time capsule with loved ones.

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

you drive up to the property and plenty flock here on the weekends to get a prime seat for the live music.

Yes, they even have a stage for performers. Open since 2013, owner Joe Smith crafts incredible blends and lends his knowledge to other nearby wineries helping them to develop their own blends.

Must try wine: La Famiglia Rosso this Zinfandel blend has lovely notes of jam and caramel.

5-sample wine flight is $10 serenitycellars.com/

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16 NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

We Take Care of Moms & Dads

Angie, Sales Director, and her mom Kathy

Our resort-style community in Alpharetta was designed to provide comfortable living and enjoyment every day.

While Inspired Living will never be the home that was left behind, we hope that you or your loved one will find comfort, ease, and happiness in our community.

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life at 50+

17

Fire up your gratitude and reach for the joy.

by Di Chapman

Good heavens, y’all. Have we been in deep doo-doo or what? We’ve been through pure lunacy, pestilence, uncertainty, mass confusion and one of the most tense elections ever. Dorothy, we aren’t in Kansas anymore. But let’s put on the waders and slog on through it. We can get to the other side of this with what I call resurrecting some joy with an attitude of gratitude. Because....

IT’S NOVEMBER FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, AND IT’S TIME!

Di with her neighbors’ new family member from BarkVille Dog Rescue.

We’ve been clutching our sanity, trying to keep our at-home children educated, and stopping them from killing each other, determined as they might be. We’re exhausted from keeping ourselves employed as well, and wanting to run away to a secluded beach. But we’ve stayed the course, stayed safe and been respectful of others’ preventative wishes.

Now, I’m not the smartest person in the room, and my husband will grin ear to ear as he tells you that I’m his impulsive, goofy, and unpredictable wife. I cop to being no expert on, well, anything, so I’ll wax poetically about joy and gratitude this Thanksgiving. Why not? If I can do it while it’s so nuts out there, you can do it.

Are you with me?

When I wrote my book Rekindle Your Purpose, I believed a chapter on gratitude and joy was a must because through the process of finding thankfulness and simple appreciation you can find joy. It’s there if you want it, and Thanksgiving is a good time to feel it. There isn’t a limited supply. I

can have it, you can have it. Everyone can have it. You don’t have to earn it.

Just reach out and take it. Go ahead!

My gratitude and joy comes from years of enjoyment of my husband’s sense of humor and his appreciation of mine as well. He is also accepting of my Inspector Clouseau clumsiness, watching me suck up drapes or the bedskirt with the vacuum cleaner, getting stuck under a desk, or forgetting one shoe when I jump in the car. He supervises my driving exit from, and entrance into, the garage.

(Okay, okay, I DID run over his toolbox once.) Our constant laughter amid this demented year has been a blessing.

Then there’s the enormous gratitude I have for family and friends. So very many important rewarding relationships in my life all of them - that bring me great joy.

I asked my friends around the country to tell me what gratitude they have felt during this year of lockdowns, masks, fires and uncertainties. I was thrilled that most had gratitude at top of mind.

Karen, my lifelong friend and resident of Oregon, is grateful for the firefighters who protected them in the maelstrom of fires, and so much more. “We have gratitude for a quieter and simpler life since COVID. We are grateful for the sweet hug of a child, our neighbors’ greetings on evening walks, and watching blue jays pecking the seeds from bright yellow sunflowers.” I am grateful for the times Karen has calmed my tantrums on every road trip we’ve taken. (Don’t ask.)

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

What? It’s November? It’s Here?

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

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life at 50+ My girlfriend Verona is grateful for “The peace that God gives me, my ability to weather any storm, and many years of friendships. They aren’t about the color of skin, but beauty inside and out. I feel loved from friends of many walks of life, many countries, church, and family.” We feel mutually thankful for our special Tuesday “oatmeal klatch.” I use the opportunity to suck down java, just to make the “klatch” official.

My friends Nick and Charlene, a couple in Vermont, are “thankful to be living in a state with such a low number of COVID cases; and going back in time when traditions and spending nonelectronic time was important.” Their kid actually converses with them. His face, normally buried in devices, has appeared, and his parents now know what he looks like.

Cheryl, a longtime girlfriend who just transplanted herself from California to Texas had this to say, “I’m grateful for my family. I’m grateful for my friends who give me an opportunity to be who I am and love me despite all of my flaws.” Ahhhh! The flaws. I hear ya, sister!

There was heartbreak this past year but the gratitude still flows. Like many, my family lost someone we loved dearly: my mother-in-law, in an assisted living home in Arizona. My sister-in-law Eileen could no longer go into her room to sit next to her and give her hugs. My husband and I could not visit her. She passed away days before her 104th birthday.

Eileen told me, “I’m grateful to have had such a wonderful mother and that she doesn’t have to deal with being torn away from her family any more.”

My mother-in-law had a great sense of humor and we spent many hours enjoying our time together, laughing and reminiscing about our families.

A Retirement Community for

All Seasons

St. George Village, Roswell’s premier senior living community, is truly a community for all seasons…even a season of life that is uncertain.

Our community, with its spectacular outdoor campus and constantly evolving activities schedule, encourages and inspires our residents to be healthy, happy and thrive in every season of life. Plus, our nonprofit status as a Life Plan community provides an additional layer of security with its protection of financial assets and guaranteed access to a continuum of care, if ever needed.

Learn more about all of the aspects that make St. George Village a retirement community for all seasons, even in times of uncertainty. Call 678-987-0409 for information.

Take a virtual tour of our community without leaving home! Log on to stgeorgevillage.org and click on the video on our home page. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Voted Best Senior/Adult Living in North Fulton Family Life magazine’s 2020 Best of Life Awards Roswell’s first senior living Life Plan retirement community 11350 Woodstock Road, Roswell, GA 30075 (678) 987-0410 | stgeorgevillage.org

I tease my husband and Eileen about how much I know about their lives. I laughed at many a diaper photo with their mother.

Judy, a girlfriend I met in Atlanta, gives gratitude for “My family, my friendships, and my friendships that are family. In these difficult times they are the sanity in my life. They are there no matter what. I’m extremely grateful for my health. I’m also grateful for my beautiful kitty!”

Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s raise a glass. It’s November! Thanksgiving month, in case we’ve forgotten amid the baloney! Here’s to friendship, family, health and pets! The staples of staying sane during a gosh-awful time. Here’s to dog antics and cat’s facial expressions. Here’s to long walks and saying “hello” to neighbors out doing the same thing. Here’s to seeing your kids’ faces.

Here’s to saying, “We conquer you with gratitude and joy, oh beserk 2020!

You are soon to be history!”

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!l Di Chapman is an inspirational author and speaker, and a branding consultant.

Di’s latest book is Rekindle Your Purpose: Break through your disappointments, discouragements, and detours to resurrect your purpose and live it!

By Dr. Hebah Pranckun, pediatrician at Wellstar Avalon Health Park Does my child have a cold, the flu, or COVID-19? During typical flu seasons, this question has often had an easy answer. This year, the question has become much more daunting for parents with the added confusion of the COVID-19 pandemic. How do you make a wise decision whether to keep your child home, send them to school, or isolate them? While this may seem like murky water, Wellstar Avalon Health Park Pediatrician Dr. Hebah Pranckun shared health tips to help parents make a safe decision.

COVID-19 and the flu share many overlapping symptoms, which can make it difficult to discern or diagnose. However, two symptoms stand out for COVID-19: a loss of sense of taste and/or smell, though these are not the most common symptoms of the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), while the flu and COVID-19 may have a variety of symptoms, children with COVID-19 most commonly experience a cough with or without fever. Compared with children with the flu, research has also revealed those diagnosed with COVID-19 more commonly reported symptoms such as headache, body ache, diarrhea, vomiting, and chest pain.

According to the CDC, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) can cause different parts of the body to become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs. Many children with MIS-C may carry the virus that causes COVID-19, though MIS-C may also be present in some flu cases for children.

Because of the significant overlap in symptoms, it is important to consider additional risk factors to determine if your child may have the flu or COVID-19. First, determine if you or your family have had any known recent contact with anyone who has had either one of these illnesses. Next, identify any travel to or time spent in areas with increased spread or high prevalence of COVID-19. Knowing these two risk factors can provide important information to medical professionals for further treatment.

health & wellness

INSPIRED SENIOR LIVING HUGS

by Tara Gray Inspired by their residents needs to reconnect with loved ones Inspired Senior Living facility in Alpharetta opened a “hugging station” for its residents. After months of isolation Executive Director of Inspired Senior Living Armando Cardenas said he could see some residents becoming depressed and in need of reconnecting with family and loved ones. What once was a normal gesture of affection had become a danger, especially for the elderly community.

The station keeps a shield of plastic between the recipients of hugs, both of Everyone whom are wearing plastic gloves, to misses getting keep one another safe from potential contamination. The hugging station to hug their loved allows a safe environment for son one and the hugging James Jacobs to give his mother Mary station is a way to Jacobs a real embrace. James was accustomed to visiting his parents often do so. but he hadn’t seen them in months since the beginning of the pandemic. Once Jacob had his mother in his arms she laughingly said,” You know you can hug tighter if you want to.”

“Everyone misses getting to hug their loved one and the hugging station is a way to do so. There’s nothing like it.”, added Mrs. Jacobs. The hugging station has literally been welcomed by residents with open arms.l

"HUGGING STATION REUNITES LOVED ONES AT ALPHARETTA ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY"

What should you do if your child shows any concerning symptoms?

Until the possibility of contagious spread is ruled out, your child should stay home from school or child care. Contact your local pediatrician who can help assess the symptoms, diagnose the illness with an examination and appropriate testing, and provide helpful guidance on the next steps.

Remember, prevention is key! All family members 2 years of age and older should always wear a mask in public. Encourage frequent handwashing. Participate in social distancing. Now more than ever, it is crucial for everyone 6 months of age and older to also get vaccinated against the flu to help them stay healthy.

Scan to see the Fox 5 story

19 NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

Flu vs COVID-19 in Kids: Wellstar Shares What Parents Should Know

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

20

LEAPING FORWARD TOLBERT YILMAZ SCHOOL OF DANCE

by Tara Gary

F

or decades now Tolbert Yilmaz School of Dance has been an attributing factor to the arts and culture of the charming city of Roswell. If you have attended the Roswell Arts Festival, local festivals, and community events you have most likely seen a performance by the schools gracefully talented dancers. Attendees of the Roswell Youth Day Parade are sure to remember the tumblers tumbling and waving down the street announcing the schools whimsical float adorned with classic theatrical characters interacting as they throw candy to the eager crowd. The float has been a high lite and award winner of the parade for over 40 years now. A treat and annual holiday tradition for the community’s residents for over 30 years is TYSOD’s professional production of The Nutcracker, performed annually at the Byers Theater at City Springs. I remember taking my daughter to see the performance. She was enamored with the magical transition of each scene. The costumes, design set, music, choreography and dancers kept us both mesmerized. It was truly an experience to cherish.

Images courtesy of Staff Photos.

musicians, 10 staff members as well as the Roswell Dance Theatre, its resident performing arts company, will now enjoy the amenities of the new facility. As impressive as the dancers who are produced within its doors, the facility was mindfully created to enhance the ability for its students and faculty to reach their full potential of artistry. It includes 7 spacious custom-built studios with sprung floors, high ceilings, and state-of-the-art sound systems, a physical therapy suite, which is operated by Atlanta Dance Medicine, rooftop café with lounge seating, as well as a convenient costume shop.

Studio 1, a.k.a. “the big theater” features productions with retractable seating, accommodating 202 people.

However, post Covid 50 people with social distancing measurements in place. There is something for everyone with 130 classes available for Beginners starting as early as age 2 to Advanced Professionals. What more could a dancer or parent ask for? It makes me want to return to my youth and take up dancing again. With such attention to detail the facility also focuses on its top priority, the well-being and safety of each of its students. It is equipped with internal closed-circuit television, which is also a convenient way for parents to monitor their dancers.

A designated carpool lane provides a safe and convenient drop off and pick up area alleviating the tension typically associated with picking up your child.

With safety being the top priority, 2020 presented itself with the need for major adjustments. After having an 8-month delay on opening the new facility, due to the heavy rain season, the studio was faced with a bigger obstacle, Covid-19. Although the school abided by the quarantine and COVID guidelines, canceling performances as well as closing their studio doors, their students were not forgotten nor was the faculty.

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Co-founded in 1979 by Nancy Tolbert Yilmaz and Mary Lynn Taylor, the original dance studio was located on Canton Street. Nancy remembers tag teaming the phones with Mary, while rotating the instructing of classes. In 1982 Nancy and her husband Tolbert Yilmaz opened the Dance Fashions Superstore on Canton Street in Roswell.

In 1985 Dance Fashions SuperStore moved to the current location on Alpharetta Highway, just south of Holcomb Bridge Road. You can’t miss the huge blue sign above the entrance. The store is indeed a “Superstore” full of dance, cheer, and gymnastics wear, leotards, costumes, and dance shoes. In 1985 the Roswell Dance Theatre, a 501c3 nonprofit was founded by Nancy and Mary. The dance studio moved from Canton Street to a spot nestled behind the Dance Fashion retail store. It was there for decades until the space was no longer large enough to accommodate the needs of the ever-expanding student population.

With such success I asked Nancy what inspires her most, “The students who love love love what they are doing. I have been given the opportunity to watch them grow from a three-year-old baby ballerina to a young adult who has made her dreams come true. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to do a job that I absolutely love with some of the most gifted, hard-working people there is”. “My greatest joy is to see the accomplishments of my students.

We have dancers who are performing and working all over the world.

It is no wonder the dance school has leapt forward from its once humble beginnings of a few students in a small house on Canton Street to a brand-new spectacular state-ofthe-art 24,000 square foot facility.

The new dance theater is located at the corner of Houze Road and Houze Way. 1000+ students, 29 faculty, 2

21

NOVEMBER 2020 THECURRENTHUB.COM

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Image courtesy of Richard Calmes.

Image courtesy of Abigail Photos.

Image courtesy of Kim Kenny.

Image courtesy of Kim Kenny.

The school kept all their staff during the quarantine without having to reduce their salaries.

TYSOD provided virtual classes to their students.

Focusing on continuing training, keeping the students engaged and conditioned was important to Nancy. The faculty taught more than 50 classes per week using Zoom. They even provided various videos on conditioning and uploaded past performances to keep the spirits and wellbeing of their students alive. I can only imagine the mental as well as physical outlet these classes provide to students coping through this difficult time.

As the community begins to re-open so too are the doors of the studio but this time the doors are to the state-of-the-art facility. In-studio classes have resumed and with that appropriate measures of social distancing have been taken such as marked spaces on the dance floors. Temperature checks are required before entering the building, masks are required by everyone entering the building (all students, faculty and staff ), hand sanitizer is given to each student and enter only/ exit only doors have been established. If this is not enough, each studio is sanitized between each class with disinfectant. I asked Nancy her opinion about students returning to the studio, “I think during these unprecedented times, dance and the arts are more important now than ever. Dance, if done safely, by following all of the precautions (mask, distance, temperature checks, etc.) is one of the best outlets of expression for children and adults. I’ve seen so many of our students who were so happy to be back in the studio and be able to see their friends and dance.�

I am happy the students are able to reconnect safely. I am sure they are thrilled to return to the new studio! We will hopefully be able to attend performances by these young, talented, artistic athletes very soon. Thank you to all the contributors of TYSOD. It is an honor for our community to have you.l

Image courtesy of Emily Hall.

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