Simply Buckhead November/December 2016

November/December 2016 ISSUE 43 • FREE

YOUR GUIDE TO LIVING WELL IN ATLANTA

5 TALENTED ACTORS WHO CALL OUR COMMUNITY HOME

FASHION: HEAD-TURNING TEXTURES

HOLLYWOOD

IN BUCKHEAD n n

CLIFTON POWELL n AIDEN TURNER n LAURA LUNDY WHEALE PETER ZIMMERMAN n ERNESTINE JOHNSON

BERT WEISS IN MALTA BONUS: THE BEHIND-THESCENES TALENT WHO MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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SIMPLY BUCKHEAD® |

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

Photos: Sara Hanna Photography

[ C OV E R S T ORY ]

73 HOLLYWOOD IN BUCKHEAD 5 talented actors who call our community home

Contents [ F E AT U RE S ]

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[ DE PA RT M E N T S ]

TRAVEL NEAR: WINSTON-SALEM WHIRLWIND A three-day study on the best of this North Carolina town

26

TRAVEL FAR: ALLURING ARCHIPELAGO

46

WELLNESS: GOAL GETTER

54

The Bert Show’s namesake shares how he fell in love with Malta

14 EDITOR’S LETTER

53 SIMPLY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

17 SIMPLY NOW

61 SIMPLY DELICIOUS

37 SIMPLY STYLISH

83 SIMPLY HAPPENING

FASHION

38 WINTER WOW

Set goals you can make realities in the new year

A FORAY IN FILM UGA student and Buckhead native eyes career as a producer

62

SMALL PLATES, BIG FLAVORS Saltyard offers a lesson in worldly comfort food

Turn heads this season with mix-and-match textures

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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YOUR GUIDE TO LIVING WELL IN ATLANTA

Serving Buckhead, Brookhaven and Sandy Springs NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 | ISSUE 43 P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355 simplybuckhead.com For advertising rates call: 404.538.9895 Publisher and Founder

[ F E AT U RE D C ON T RI B U T OR ]

Joanne Hayes Chief Financial Officer

Sonny Hayes Editor-In-Chief

Giannina Smith Bedford Contributing Editor

Karina Antenucci Creative Director

Alan Platten Vice President, Sales & Marketing

Cheryl Isaacs cheryl.isaacs@simplybuckhead.com Account Executives

Kyle Wilcox Garges kyle.garges@simplybuckhead.com

Alyson Myerson alyson.myerson@simplybuckhead.com

LaNetra Butler C U R AT ED P L E A S U R E O B J EC T S | A R T I S A N L E AT H ER | LU X U RY FO R LU S T

Give to receive.

LaNetra Butler is a freelance fashion and wardrobe stylist, film/ television key set costumer and lifestyle blogger for the upcoming relaunched blog The Style Maven Life. Butler has been in the fashion and entertainment business for 10 years. She has been a featured contributor for Simply Buckhead and has served as fashion stylist for three covers and a fashion feature. Some of her recent costuming work can be seen on the BET television series “Being Mary Jane,” Starz’s “Survivor’s Remorse” and WGN’s “Underground.” She is currently relaunching her lifestyle blog around fashion and style, beauty, inspirational editorials, home decor and healthy lifestyle. Her goal is to share her God-given gift to inspire and educate women and men to own their personal style with confidence.

Director of Audience Development

The Wells Marketing Agency Website Development Management

BHG Digital Contributing Writers

Kate Abney Jill Becker Wendell Brock H.M. Cauley Carly Cooper Jessica Dauler Jim Farmer Sarah Gleim Mickey Goodman Angela Hansberger Maggie Haynes Kelly Jordan Jordana Klein Abbie Koopote Nicole Letts Amelia Pavlik Bert Weiss Mark Woolsey Chief Photographer

Sara Hanna sarahanna.com Photographers

Ninh Chau Lynn Crow Scott Reeves Stylist

We welcome all contributions, but we assume no responsibility for unsolicited material. No portion of this publication can be reproduced in whole or in part without prior written permission.

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

Copyright © 2016 by Simply Buckhead ®. All rights reserved.

Printed by Walton Press, Inc. Distributed by Distributech and Distribution Services Group.

LaNetra Butler Fashion Intern

Abbie Koopote Graphic Designers

Layal Akkad Gwantsa Giorgini Copy Editor

H.M. Cauley Legal Counsel

Scott I. Zucker

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[ B E H I N D T H E C OV E R ] On a crisp fall afternoon, the Simply Buckhead team and five film and TV actors gathered in The Regent Cocktail Club, American Cut’s rooftop bar. While taking in the skyline views, we noshed on bites from LDV Hospitality, took selfies and, oh yeah, did a photo shoot for the cover of this issue. The entire affair was so laid back and seamless, Producers: Sara Hanna, Giannina Smith Bedford, Joanne Hayes it barely felt like a workday. While the Chief Photographer: Sara Hanna camera clicked, the actors radiated their Photo assistant: Scott Reeves most professional personas, and when Stylist: LaNetra Butler the shutter stopped, face muscles relaxed, Stylist assistant: Brandon Butler Makeup: Sarai Trammell, Ashlee Douglas, and jokes and conversation ensued.

Chandler West, NARS Cosmetics Veteran Hollywood actor Clifton Powell Hair: Richie Arpino and Casey Ehlers, kept the ambiance spirited by playing Richie Arpino Salon Shot onsite at American Cut’s The Regent Motown tunes and bantering with the group Cocktail Club, The Shops Buckhead Atlanta that he was actually Denzel Washington.

Ladies Laura Lundy Wheale and Ernestine Johnson glowed in designer dresses and heels, while the gentlemen portrayed the definition of “cool” in their tailored ensembles, all expertly picked by stylist LaNetra Butler. The talent in the room was powerful— just one look at the cover image, and we think you’ll agree.

Interested in Advertising?

Read Simply Buckhead online at

For information, email us at advertising@simplybuckhead.com or call 404-538-9895

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SIMPLY BUCKHEAD® NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016

[ E DI T OR ’ S L E T T E R ]

Although I’ve matured a bit since then, I still get flustered when I see a celebrity. And while I always expect to see famous faces on the streets of New York or L.A., the glamour of Hollywood has made its way to our hometown, thanks to the enticing Georgia Film Tax Credit. Buckhead in particular has become a favorite hangout of movie stars while they work in town. Now, it’s not out of the ordinary to hear about Ryan Gosling noshing on Maytag blue cheese chips ​at the Buckhead Diner (how did I miss that!?) or Robert DeNiro enjoying tuna tartare at Le Bilboquet.

Besides making for fun celebrity sightings, the local filming frenzy has meant more job opportunities for local actors and demand for those behind the scenes, from agents and stylists to prop companies.

In this issue, we explore Buckhead’s ties to “Tinseltown” and the homegrown talent that is helping put our community on the movie-making map. From Brookhaven resident Laura Lundy Wheale, whose resume includes roles in big-screen films such as Sully and Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, to Buckhead’s Peter Zimmerman, the new heartthrob on “The Walking Dead,” we chat with a group of locally rooted actors who have chosen to make the Peach State their home base. We also profile longtime talent agent and casting director Shay Griffin, a heavy hitter who played an important role in establishing the Georgia Film Tax Credit that got all this movie madness going.

Today, I barely bat an eyelash when I see film crews staked out at a mansion on West Paces Ferry or setting up camp at a local park. Just don’t put me at a table next to Ryan Gosling, or you might see a grown woman swoon.

Giannina Smith Bedford editor@simplybuckhead.com

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

Photo: Sara Hanna Photography

T

he first time I visited Los Angeles almost 20 years ago, my family and I took a tour of Paramount Studios, and I had an out-of-body experience when we walked by Tom Cruise.

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THE MOST DELICIOUS WAY TO GIVE BACK: JOIN THE NO KID HUNGRY ATLANTA SOCIETY

No Kid Hungry Atlanta Society membership provides an enriching experience through fundraising projects and exclusive invitations to society events. This fall we are accepting nominations for our inaugural No Kid Hungry Atlanta Society 2017 and would love to make you an official member.

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

N E W S | L O C A L S A L U T E | T R AV E L | A P P R O V E D | P E T S | A D AY I N T H E L I F E

SIMPLY NOW

TRAVEL NEAR

Winston-Salem whirlwind  P24

Winston-Salem has spent the last two centuries growing into a city rich in diversity, both in arts and business.

The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel is housed in the historic R.J. Reynolds building designed by the same architects of the Empire State Building.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead 

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

SIM PLY NOW

SIMPLY NEWS STORY:

Nicole Letts

NEW BLOW DRY BAR BLOWS INTO BUCKHEAD O

pening late fall, Cherry Blow Dry Bar is bringing blowouts to Atlanta just in time for holiday soirees.

Located at Buckhead Exchange just off Peachtree Road, the salon is the franchise’s debut Georgia location and features 15 chairs where groups are welcome to socialize. The beauty services

include blowouts, dry styles, updos, braids and makeup applications.

“Our goal is to create a place where women can leave looking and feeling beautiful without breaking the bank,” says Managing Partner Christan Pillat.

Blowouts start at $39, while membership pricing starts at $59 for two

blowouts per month. For a little extra pampering, customers can add scalp massages to their services for $12. In addition to hairstyles, look for express eye and lip services including lip gloss or smoky eye applications to give you the perfect touch of glam for any occasion. n

Cherry Blow Dry Bar comes to Buckhead Exchange late this fall.

CHERRY BLOW DRY BAR 3167 Peachtree Road N.E., Suite D1 Atlanta 30305 770.988.7441 cherryblowdrybar.com

NEWS CLIPS Now through Dec. 31, the Atlanta History Center’s exhibit “Atlanta in 50 Objects” showcases items that make our city unique. Curators solicited ideas from the public then narrowed the nearly 300 entries down to the final 50.

An unconventional range of items fill the space, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech manuscript and an 11-foot-long Chick-fil-A bill-

board cow. Admission is $16.50 for adults, $13 for students and $11 for children ages 4 to 12; free for children 3 and younger.

Atlanta History Center 130 West Paces Ferry Road N.W. Atlanta 30305 404.814.4000 atlantahistorycenter.com

TAVERNA MAKES DEBUT The Shops Buckhead Atlanta is poised to welcome Texasbased Taverna as a part of the bustling restaurant scene.

Its first venture in the Southeast, Taverna prides itself on being an authentic Italian experience with a menu featuring a variety of risottos, homemade pastas and wood-fired pizzas for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. The restaurant is slated to open late fall and will be located in the former Thirteen Pies space.

Photo: Joy Zhang

A UNIQUE TWIST ON ATLANTA’S PAST

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

S I M P LY NOW

LOCAL SALUTE BY:

Mickey Goodman

The Ultimate Volunteer Before selling her website, entrepreneur Chloe Wilbert packaged and mailed jewelry to her customers.

Elegant Elf Marketplace supports Sandy Springs nonprofits

Inspired by “Shark Tank” Sixth-grader creates and sells business Eleven-year-old Buckheadresident Chloe Wilbert has already achieved every entrepreneur’s dream: to develop and sell a business. With the help of her parents, Caroline and Tony, the precocious Pace Academy sixth grader launched a website called Periwinkle.me that sells subscription earrings suitable for young girls.

It was so successful that six months later, a Portland, Maine, company, Ironplane, made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.

The idea for Periwinkle grew out of Wilbert’s affinity for ABC’s popular show “Shark Tank” and an afterschool class called Juniorpreneurs where the kids learn how to design logos, run a business and market their products. “The company I worked on made more money

than any other group and donated it to the Food Bank. That’s when I told my parents I wanted to start my own company. We launched it in February 2016,” she says.

Once the website went live, orders came in from across the country and as far as Grand Cayman. “I learned that running a business is a lot more work than I thought it was,” Wilbert says. “It’s not always fun.”

When the owner of Ironplane, the company that ran the e-commerce end of Periwinkle, made an offer to buy the business, Wilbert was thrilled. The proceeds will help fund her college education—with some leftover for spending fun. l For more information, visit periwinkle.me.

Valerie Love joined the 10-yearold Sandy Springs Society in 1998 and was soon tapped to head up “Give Your Heart to Art,” an auction that netted $75,000 and drew a crowd of 250. It set the stage for future events and sealed Love’s reputation as someone who could get things done.

Quick to downplay her role, Love credits members: “We have an exceptional group of dedicated volunteers who have helped raise $3 million over the years,” she says. “One-hundred percent of the net proceeds from all our events is reinvested in the community.”

Since that first art auction, Love has served in nearly every capacity, including president of the organization and chair of the annual Elegant Elf Marketplace, which donates money to the Sandy Springs Community Assis-

Light The Night Buckhead resident raises funds to cure blood cancers BankSouth Mortgage CEO Kim Nelson, a Buckhead resident, had more than a passing interest in raising funds for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light The Night Walk on Oct. 8.

Having had loved ones in her life affected by lymphoma, she views the fight to find a cure as one that must be continually pursued. “Thanks to advancements in chemotherapy, the once fatal disease now has a 95 percent cure rate,” Nelson says.

“However, there are still many advances to be made.”

With Nelson at the helm, BankSouth formed a team and partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to raise more than $15,000 and sponsor the Team Tailgate Zone. “This is a great way for BankSouth to get involved, not only to help raise funds, but to actively participate in the cause,” she says. “We’ve had a few people on staff who were directly affected by blood

Valerie Love plays a major role in the continued success of the Elegant Elf Marketplace.

tance Center, homeless women's shelter The Drake House, senior services and more. This year, she is serving as the advisor for the event that takes place Nov. 5 and 6 at Lake Forest Elementary School.

Approximately 4,000 shoppersfor-a-cause are expected at the two-day event that has netted $450,000 for 25 local charities.

Highlights include New York Times best-selling author Emily Giffin and radio host Walter Reeves who will sign their latest books, as well as cooking demonstrations and a fashion show.

“It’s been a joy to watch the Marketplace evolve” Love says.

“The needs of the community are so great, and we feel fortunate to be part of the solution.” l For more information, visit sandyspringssociety.org.

Led by Kim Nelson, BankSouth partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to raise funds at the Light the Night Walk.

cancers, so this made our efforts extra meaningful.”

LLS’s Light The Night Walk funds treatments that are saving the lives of patients today and pioneering promising cancer research. Participants were joined at the recent fundraiser by friends, families, co-workers and corporate sponsors from communities throughout Georgia. l For more information, visit lightthenight.org/ga.

Want to nominate a volunteer, company or nonprofit that makes Buckhead, Sandy Springs or Brookhaven a better place to live?

Please contact: editor@simplybuckhead.com

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S I MP LY NOW

LOCA L SA LUTE

Free to be me Camp Twin Lakes provides respite for kids with challenges

F

or the last four years, 18-year-old Buckhead resident Morgan McGahan has attended Camp Twin Lakes (CTL), a safe, welcoming refuge for kids with serious illnesses, disabilities and other challenges.

“It’s my favorite place in the world,” she says. “At Camp Twin Lakes, no one makes me feel different because I have a rare syndrome called Apert that affects my face, feet and hands.

Since the bones in my face don’t grow normally, it’s hard for me to pronounce things. When I go to public places, people stare at me. At camp, no one stares.

At camp, I realize that I am not alone in the world and that people are there for me.”

Morgan’s enthusiasm mirrors that of the 100,000 Georgia children that CTL, which is accredited by the American Camp Association, has served since 1993. Through week-long summer camps and year-long weekend retreats at three fully

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

accessible and medically supportive campsites, day camps and hospital-based programs, the organization gives kids a break from the challenges they face daily.

“Every year, we serve more than 10,000 campers,” says Dan Mathews, director of camping services. “We provide a safe space, a boost in self confidence and independence and, most of all, the freedom to experience the joys of childhood.”

Mathews knows all too well the challenges campers face. His daughter was born with a cleft palate and deals with issues similar to those faced by Morgan. “At ‘Camp Courage’ [CTL’s nickname], everyone looks one another in the eye, and no heads turn when kids with cranial facial differences enter the dining hall. It’s a far different experience than the kids face at school,” he says. “Many like Morgan are even willing to perform in talent shows,

STORY:

Morgan McGahan points to all the activities she loves at Camp Twin Lakes.

Mickey Goodman

something they would never do at their home schools.”

Every week during the summer months, 350 campers and at least one counselor for every three campers enjoy activities such as swimming, zip lining, horseback riding, mini-golf, arts and crafts and organized sports at sites in Rutledge, Winder and Warm Springs, Georgia. Referrals come through CTL’s collaboration with nearly 60 nonprofits that each serve a different illness or disability, such as children with cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes and more. Programs are then tailored to their specific medical needs.

To ensure safety for all attendees, a medical coordinator is on staff, and programming is overseen by a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. In addition, every staffer is specially trained in adaptable and accessible programming.

As an extension of the camps for kids, CTL offers year-round

weekend retreats for families, siblings of campers, teens and children too young to attend.

Other retreats include programs for caregivers, Wounded Warriors and the kids of service men and women. n l For more information, visit camptwinlakes.org.

DONATION INFORMATION Camp Twin Lakes receives no funding through the government or United Way, and relies heavily on donations to produce each camper’s experience that costs approximately $1,000 per week.

Interested in contributing? Buy a Partners Card for $60 to receive a discount of 20 percent at more than 400 shops and restaurants from Oct. 28 to Nov. 6, or purchase a ticket to or a table at CTL’s 25th Anniversary Gala at the Georgia Aquarium on Jan. 28.

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S I M P LY NOW T R AV E L NE A R

Winston-Salem whirlwind

Above: The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel features stunning Art Deco details and charming historic architecture.

Top Left: The Katharine Brasserie, named for the Reynolds' family matriarch, serves up French fare with local influences.

A three-day study on the best of this North Carolina town

W

ith a history that dates back to 1753, Winston-Salem has spent the last two centuries growing into a city rich in diversity, both in arts and business. The numerous attractions make it a more than worthwhile 5-hour drive from Buckhead. Here, we share an itinerary jam-packed with arts and culinary highlights. We dare you to keep up with the pace.

DAY 1 Noon After the drive, get a caffeine boost and a bite at Camino Bakery, bustling with college students and locals enjoying the baked goods and small-batch roasted coffee.

1 p.m. Visit the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (SECCA).

Located on the historic estate of the Hanes family, it’s now an entity of North Carolina’s Department of Natural Resources. Now through February, SECCA, in partnership with the Pulitzer Center, is showcasing a multi-platform exhibit called Dispatches that features the work of contemporary artists, Pulitzer-prize winning photojournalists and new media artists.

2 p.m. Stroll through Reynolda House garden and village. The bungalowturned-art museum is the former home of tobacco baron R.J. Reynolds and his wife, Katharine. The house and collection, opened to the public since 1967, is filled with fine art, including works by Jasper Johns, Georgia O’Keeffe, Mary Cassatt and Gilbert Stuart. Grant Wood and the American Farm, along with works by Andrew Wyeth, Winslow Homer and Arthur Dove, are currently on display

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in the gallery. Don’t miss a walk through the property’s public gardens that showcase many rose varieties, native plants and flowers, as well as a thriving vegetable and herb garden.

In 2017, the estate celebrates its 100th anniversary and the museum its 50th with special events, experiences and major exhibitions.

4:30 p.m. Check-in at The Kimpton Cardinal Hotel located in the historic R.J. Reynolds building, the "architectural muse" for the Empire State Building. This pet-friendly property has a grand Art Deco entrance, and every piece of art and furniture (including rugs and carpets) was purchased or commissioned in North Carolina.

5:30 p.m. Kick back with a glass of Trinity Oaks cabernet sauvignon during the hotel’s Wine Hour in the library.

7 p.m. Enjoy dinner at The Katharine Brasserie & Bar, the hotel’s French restaurant named for the Reynolds’ family matriarch. I feasted on a fig and arugula salad, and salmon with coffee crumb and parsnip puree before finishing with honey pecan tart and homemade salted caramel ice cream.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

DAY 2 9:30 a.m. Fuel up with breakfast at Mary’s Gourmet Diner, a funky restaurant and unofficial art museum in the downtown arts district. Run by Mary Haglund and her two daughters, the eatery sources local, mostly organic ingredients. While devouring my farm-fresh egg scramble and biscuits, I chatted with Haglund about the restaurant’s commissioned works, including a sky ceiling mural depicting the Garden of Eden and a series of paintings called Culinary Warrior Women.

10:30 a.m. Spend some time at the Art Council’s Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts. It’s an elegant, multi-purpose performing arts and events venue housing the Hanesbrands Theatre, Sawtooth School for Visual Art, two galleries as well as exhibition and rental spaces. The Winston-Salem Festival Ballet, four annual Triad Stage performances and River Run film festival, take place in the 244-seat black-box space. On the second floor Sawtooth offers classes for all ages in drawing, painting, glass, metals, wood, fiber, ceramics, photography and digital arts.

12:30 p.m. Eat lunch at Mozelle’s Fresh Southern Bistro located on W. 4th Street. The tomato pie and creamed succotash was comfort food at its best.

2 p.m. Explore the antiques and art

STORY:

Joanne Hayes

of Graylyn Estate, once the home of the Bowman Gray family. Now an international conference center owned by Wake Forest University, it features original wooden wall panels from France and Turkey and gorgeous marble fireplaces throughout.

6:30 p.m. After a workout in the hotel’s recreation space and another visit to Wine Hour, head to dinner at Spring House Restaurant in downtown’s last remaining mansion on “Millionaire Row.” After a painstaking historic restoration, it opened in 2012 as a restaurant featuring signature Southern dishes with a twist. I dined on fried green tomatoes with “low and slow” pork and Sriracha aioli that melted in my mouth. The seared, spice-crusted pork chop was also a delicious and generously cut. The meal was complete with a house-made pineapple sorbet—a perfect complement to the savory flavors of the entrée.

DAY 3 9:15 a.m. Savor a pour-over coffee and homemade muffin at Twin City Hive with its co-owner Joey Burdette, whose enclave houses a permanent art display from Univerity of North Carolina’s School of the Arts.

Coffees are curated from roasters all over North Carolina, and baked goods are made fresh.

10 a.m. Indulge your sweet tooth at Black Mountain Chocolate, chosen

Left: Visitors to SECCA, one of only two contemporary art museums in North Carolina, peruse the works on display.

Below: The author creating her vase at The Olio Glassblowing Studio.

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11 a.m. Peruse the shops and galleries in the Downtown Arts District, including Piedmont Craftsmen Gallery and Earthbound Arts.

Noon Try your hand at glassblowing with a private workshop at The Olio Glassblowing Studio. Despite being an “A” student who got a “C” in art, I was proud of the fluted vase I created with the help of my instructor, Sarah.

1 p.m. Stop for lunch at the colorful, mural-filled Tex-Mex restaurant Porch Kitchen and Cantina where owner Claire Calvin’s Houston roots influence the menu. The Three Amigos guacamole, salsa and queso dips (Calvin’s grandmother’s recipe) had a great kick, and the Asian steak salad hit the spot.

2:30 p.m. Take a stroll in Old Salem, where the Moravians’ history comes to life, and costumed men and women carry on the daily tasks of living just as they did in the late 18th and 19th centuries.

3:30 p.m. Depart Winston-Salem laden with souvenirs, including Moravian cookies and sugar cake, chocolates and coffee, and, like me, vow to return to this vibrant community, where art and business meld beautifully. n

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S I M P LY NOW

TR AV E L FA R

Below: A typical narrow, romantic street in Malta’s capitol, Valletta.

Above: Along the dry cliffs of Malta and Gozo you’ll find numerous seaside caves.

Above: The view from Valletta overlooking Grand Harbor.

ALLURING ARCHIPELAGO THE BERT SHOW’S NAMESAKE SHARES HOW HE FELL IN LOVE WITH MALTA

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hen people asked me why I was going to Malta for a vacation, they were, in fact, answering their own question. The archipelago is one that few people visit, making for a very attractive escape. I enjoy going to destinations that aren’t necessarily on the mainstream tourist map, and I was inspired to add Malta to my Travel Bucket List years ago while watching ESPN’s “World’s Strongest Man Competition.” It took place in Malta, and the network highlighted the island through mesmerizing scenes of its coastline that drew me in. I just had to go.

Sitting in the Mediterranean Sea between Italy and Libya, Malta’s isolated location offers rich history and tremendous nationalism. The Maltese say they have taken the best from all the cultures surrounding them and created their own unique blend— some parts Italian, some parts English and a small part Arabic.

So why go? It’s an incredibly charming little place where the

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largest main island, also named Malta, is only about 17 miles long and 9 miles wide. Despite its size, the number of archeological sites sets it apart from any other place I’ve been to. At every turn, there seems to be another ruin.

Some of the ruins on Gozo, one of the three main islands, date back to 2500 B.C. Malta’s capitol, Valletta, is a classic maze of skinny, cobblestone, European-style streets dotted with restaurants, shops, bars and tiny apartments where you can see clothes drying out an occasional window. It’s grand and quaint at the same time. It felt like the bells from Valletta’s 25 churches were singing persistently, and the sunsets were magnificent paintings of oranges and reds over the vast blue ocean. It was easy for me to fulfill the Maltese people’s insistence to depart their homeland with a passion and love of their country.

Ferry (or walk) across Valletta’s grand harbor to be awed by the tiny town of Vittoriosa. Its history

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

dates back to the 1500s. Get lost in the sheer beauty of its miniscule, historic alleys.

The coastline of Malta rivals Italy’s beloved Amalfi Coast. I found it breathtaking. Every time I put my phone away to enjoy the view, I uncovered another striking beach, or a multi-colored cliff and got the urge to capture a photo of the Mediterranean Sea changing color from azure to mint. Another must-see site is The Blue Grotto, a cliff of limestone boasting caves that offer dazzling light reflections and a superb spot for diving.

In addition to the historic ruins, Gozo, a short ferry ride from Valletta, offers small, deserted beaches and an intoxicatingly slow pace. The water around Gozo is a deep blue in some areas along the coast and emerald green in others. Most of the island is made up of small rolling hills, fishing villages and the aforementioned beaches. I fancy myself a beach connoisseur, and Ramla Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches I

STORY AND PHOTOS:

Bert Weiss

have ever come across. The towering rock formation of the Azure Window will make your jaw drop.

Comino is an even smaller island than Gozo. I made one stop at the miraculously clear water of its Blue Lagoon, but if you want to stay the night, there is just one island hotel, appropriately named the Comino Hotel.

If you’re looking for an offthe-radar destination, Malta is the place. Any European I asked about Malta before arriving said the same thing: “That is a really interesting place!” Now I understand why. It’s so distinctive that it defies comparisons to any other European site I have visited. If you love the sea, romance and history at a low-key, slow pace, then Malta is perfect. It will remain in my heart forever. n

Bert Weiss, morning radio show host for The Bert Show, has been an influential figure in Atlanta on Q100 since 2001. He is also a philanthropist and an avid traveler.

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S I M P LY NOW

STAYCATION

Above: The hotel's sleek rooms have a clutter-free design centered around comfy beds with fluffy duvets.

Below: The designer shops and boutiques of Phipps Plaza are just a short stroll from the hotel's front door.

Right: The hotel hosts fashion events in conjunction with its neighbor, Phipps Plaza.

SHOP, DROP, REPEAT

Photo: T. Opdyke III

Above: The recently-opened AC Hotel Atlanta Buckhead sits on the edge of Phipps Plaza.

New hotel offers a revival oasis between binges

T

he sun begins to edge around the corner of the dark drapes covering two picture windows. The crisp linen sheets and the fluffy duvet are hard to leave, but there’s a coffee pot nearby waiting to wake your taste buds. Better still, what sits just a short stroll from this sleek hotel room is worth getting out of bed for. Toss back those drapes and luxuriate in the view: Nordstrom’s looms just a few yards ahead.

A sweeping view of Phipps Plaza is the first thing many guests awake to after a night at the AC Hotel Atlanta Buckhead. The sleek, European-style boutique hotel in the Marriott chain opened its doors on Wieuca Road in April to cater to busy business travelers and laid-back leisure guests. And if your leisure is shopping, it’s hard to beat AC’s location.

The 166-room hotel nestles up to the city’s premier, designerpacked mall, and the geography hasn’t been lost on the hotel’s management. Already, execs have established ties to the retail center through a series of fashion events that have included a Saks Fifth Avenue fashion show

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and a Trina Turk shopping event accompanied by peach Negronis and appetizers.

“Our partnership with Phipps Plaza has been tremendously beneficial in the opening of our hotel,” says Jamie Krueger, AC’s director of sales. “Atlanta is a very fashionable city, and our proximity to luxury shopping is something we are proud to offer our patrons.”

Full disclosure break: In a previous life, an HR career with a department store just about killed my desire to spend any more time than necessary in a mall.

But I have family members who fantasize about having unlimited time to roam the hallowed halls that Giorgio Armani, Tory Burch and Lilly Pulitzer call home. And a few wouldn’t mind idling away a weekend at Legoland, either. So with both perspectives in mind, we booked an overnight stay.

From the outside, the hotel radiates an all-business approach.

Its glass-and-steel exterior opens to a lobby with an uncluttered, contemporary edge highlighted by a gas fireplace and seating areas. No frou-frou throw pillows or overstuffed armchairs here.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

STORY:

H.M. Cauley

The same style continues across to the chic bar, where drinks and tapas are served in the evenings, and beyond to a small dining area of pale-wood tables where a continental breakfast buffet is loaded with hard-boiled eggs, thinly-sliced meats, yogurts, granola mixes and fruits. A 24-hour fitness center and small, heated pool are also on the main floor.

The average-sized guest rooms reflect the same European-inspired design. The white duvets and plump pillows are inviting; the flat screen connects to your personal Netflix account when you’re ready to put your feet up and unwind. Each space reflects the minimalist approach: Instead of chunky dressers and nightstands filling up the wood floors, suitcase racks, bedside tables and desk areas are supported by metal brackets.

In the bath, towels and amenities are stacked on a silver, roll-out cart below the sink. The coolest room feature has to be in the two-headed shower, where the floor slants ever so slightly toward a metal bar that is the drain. Gross shower drain problem solved!

It’s all very comfortable, but why linger when a world of exquisite shopping awaits nearby? Anyone who’s ever battled for a parking space during the holiday season may want to try a new approach this year. Leave the car with the valet, check in for a shopping stay and stroll over to Phipps and Lenox to check off that gift list.

Even with a 5 o’clock break at the AC bar for a Manhattan and a few nibbles, there will still be time to squeeze in a bit more shopping before heading to dinner at one of the many terrific options nearby: Davio's and The Tavern are in Phipps, while St. Cecilia and F&B Atlanta are minutes away. While the mall crowd is still fighting its way through traffic on Lenox Road, you’ll be sinking into the softness of an AC bed, your job as Santa just a bit less stressful this year. n

AC HOTEL ATLANTA BUCKHEAD AT PHIPPS PLAZA 3600 Wieuca Road, Atlanta 30326 470.231.3030 achotels.marriott.com Average weekend rate: $159 Average weekday rate: $249

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S I M P LY NOW

A PP ROV E D

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CACAO CONFIDENTIAL If you have a passion for chocolate, indulge your sweet tooth with confections from some of Buckhead’s leading chocolatiers. Discover

STORY:

Jessica Dauler

PHOTO Sara

Hanna

everything from bark to balls with this innovative mix of melty delights.

1. DiAmano Chocolate: Almond, Orange Peel, Sea Salt Bark ($14 for 6 pieces) This small, family-owned gourmet confectioner is known for a variety of mouth-watering chocolates, including truffles and swanky bark, all made in-house.

The bark combines chocolate with roasted and salted almonds, and cashews with bits of orange peel topped with a sprinkling of fleur de sel sea salt. The ingredients paired with the intense flavor of dark chocolate dissolves effortlessly on the tongue, delivering a rounded sensory experience with fruit flavors and a pleasant, tangy-bitter finish.

1100 Hammond Drive N.E. Atlanta 30328 770.730.9770 diamanochocolate.com

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2. Sugarfina: Mint Chip Malt Balls ($7.50 for 8 balls) It's hard not to feel like a kid in a candy shop in this boutique sweets store for adults, where sensory overload trumps decision making. Originally on the gourmet candy map for their famous Champagne Gummy Bears, chocolate fans now swoon over the Mint Chip Malt Balls. Just like a scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream, this melt-in-yourmouth malt center is dredged in rich chocolate and then coated with refreshing mint cookie crumbles.

3393 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30326 470.344.3440 sugarfina.com

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

3. River Street Sweets: Chocolate Fudge

4. Godiva: Dark

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Step inside River Street Sweets and back to the days when candy was always handmade.

The creamy Southern fudge recipe is made at the store in small batches with fresh cream and butter. It’s perfectly blended with chocolate for a rich and dense, not-too-sweet taste. This old-fashioned candy is offered in a variety of flavors, including peanut butter and maple.

Chocoholics will revel in the consistently rich and creamy selection of Godiva’s super-premium chocolates, including their signature ultra-smooth truffles. Savor the Dark Chocolate Truffle collection, a rich, decadent mix of sweet, savory and spicy truffles in flavors such as Aztec spice, Key lime and Black Forest cake.

Chocolate Company: The Epiphany Collection ($36 for 12-piece box)

3500 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30326 404.364.0810 riverstreetsweets.com

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Made-from-scratch concoctions at Cacao combine exotic ingredients and flavors from all over the world, including beans from Venezuela and Peru. The Epiphany Collection is best for an all-around decadent tasting experience. Dark chocolate covers exciting combinations of ganache blended with flavors such as honey ginseng, peppermint, rosemary cardamom, bourbon espresso and more.

3035 Peachtree Road N.W. Atlanta 30305 404.228.4023 cacaoatlanta.com

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Bright Horizons® at Buckhead is a new child care center serving children 6 weeks through 5 years old with Infant – Kindergarten Prep programs in addition to drop-in care.

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Bright Horizons at Buckhead 3565 Piedmont Road NE Building 3, Suite T-100 Atlanta, GA 30305 (404) 467-9628 brighthorizons.com/buckheadsb

© 2016 Bright Horizons Family Solutions LLC

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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PE TS

ith the holidays right around the corner, many Buckhead families are making both travel plans and arrangements for their beloved family pets. In the past, this meant boarding the dog or cat at a pet daycare facility or kennel, hiring a private pet sitter or begging a favor from a family member or friend to check on them. But there’s another option: Online businesses such as Dogvacay.com and Rover.com are the Airbnbs of pet-sitting services. Lucky for us, they offer sitters in the Buckhead area.

The sites work like booking a hotel room for your pet: Go online, look for a nearby pet sitter, read reviews on the sitters and choose the best fit based on your needs. Drop your pet off at the sitter’s residence for a loving homestay, or have the sitter come to your house to check up on Fluffy and take Fido on his daily walks. Some sitters will even pick pets up and take them to their home. These sites make it a breeze to compare reviews and rates for sitters in your neighborhood, offer secure payment options and have full customer-service teams standing behind them. Plus, they work very fast: You could sign up today and book someone tomorrow, just like Airbnb.

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Barking

B&Bs PET-SITTING SERVICES OFFER LOVING HOMESTAYS DogVacay has about 250 pet sitters, and Rover boasts more than 1,000 in Atlanta. Both companies have a healthy concentration of pet sitters around the Buckhead area. Peachtree Battle resident Christopher Lipman is one of them. He has been dog sitting with DogVacay for two years and hosts pups in his home, lovingly dubbed “Happy Hounds Bed and Breakfast.” Sometimes, as many as five dogs at a time sleep with him or in the adjacent spare bedroom and often get perks such as homemade dog treats. “I began working with DogVacay out of a deep love for

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

STORY:

Above: DogVacay began when its two founders were sick of leaving their dog at the kennel. Today, dog sitters open up their homes to local pets through their online service.

Right: Rover's online portal makes it easy to book and pay local dog walkers.

Maggie Haynes

dogs,” Lipman says. “Over the years I’ve probably watched a few thousand pups … they deserve nothing less than unconditional love.”

Everyone who applies to work for DogVacay and Rover goes through a rigorous vetting process that includes background checks and in-person interviews with animals. Should anything happen, such as an injury or unexpected medical emergency while an owner is away, both companies offer premium pet insurance up to $25,000 for vet visits on all booked services. While they’re away, nervous pet owners can also ask for

updates including photo documentation of requested belly rubs.

Sitters set their own prices, but payment goes directly through the site, removing the need for cash.

On Rover, an overnight stay in Atlanta is typically around $30 per night; DogVacay’s Atlanta average is approximately $27. Daily dog walks on both sites are typically $15.

With animal lovers opening up their homes to give pets extra TLC while families are away, you can now leave town with the peace of mind that your furry friend is being well cared for. n

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S I M P LY NOW

A DAY IN THE LIFE

Using her trusty Chinese compass, Rochel Parker (below and right) performs a feng shui makeover on client Meredith Williams' Buckhead condo.

SPACE SAVER VETERAN CONSULTANT ROCHEL PARKER SHARES THE FUNDAMENTALS OF FENG SHUI

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n a nondescript meeting room at the back of the Sandy Springs library, Rochel Parker is holding court in front of a projector, clicking through slides on topics like chi and the four pillars of destiny. It’s one of her “Introduction to Feng Shui” seminars that she’s been giving at the library about once a quarter for the last 10 years on the ins and outs of the ancient Chinese practice of arranging objects to promote positive energy.

Attendees would be wise to pay attention, for if you hire Parker through her company, Feng Shui Technology, she typically charges $300 an hour for her services. This class is free.

The veteran consultant, who’s studied all over Asia and has been certified by six classic feng shui masters, has been “auditing” the homes and offices of Buckhead residents for almost 20 years. “I’ve been fascinated with invisible energy since I was a kid,” admits the 64-year-old, who began her career as an environmental engineer working for both the Navy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Her fascination with feng shui didn’t begin until her 40s, when she found herself divorced, broke and miserable. “Then I saw a short piece on CNN about a builder who couldn’t sell houses to Asians in a predominately Asian marketplace until he found feng shui,” she says.

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“And it just resonated with me.” She borrowed the money to hire her own feng shui consultant. “I did everything she told me, even if it was sort of crazy,” like burying a donut-shaped magnet in her neighbor’s yard.

Before long, she was attending her first feng shui class. “I was a total sponge,” she remembers.

Today, her services are sought out by clients from Sandy Springs to Savannah. “We’ve become trained to be oblivious to our environment,” she laments. “But if the environment doesn’t support you, you’re going to struggle. It affects health, finances, relationships, productivity and overall well-being. But I have a trained eye to look at certain things, like a doctor.”

Parker is quick to point out that she’s not a decorator—a common misconception. “It’s not interior design. It’s not space clearing. It’s not organization,” she explains. “I’m good at space planning, but not throw pillows.”

What she does is based on physics.

“Feng shui is a 5,000-year-old science.

It’s cause and effect, like gravity. It’s about how your own physiology responds to your unique environment.”

The process starts with a brief phone consultation. On inspection day, her work begins before she even pulls up in the driveway. “On the way to the house, I’m already looking and studying,” she says. “Is the house

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

STORY:

Jill Becker PHOTOS: Sara Hanna

close to a school, a cemetery, highpower tension lines?” Once she arrives, she focuses on the landform to see how the yard and the lot are laid out, even down to the landscaping.

Once inside, Parker has a sit-down with her clients to determine why she’s needed. She gets the birthdates and sex of everyone in the household to “discern their compass directions.”

Then she begins her inspection at the door they use the most to enter the house. “That’s the single most important thing in your household,” she notes. “It’s the mouth of the house, where the majority of energy enters your space.” Parker then checks out all of the other rooms.

As she goes, she’s gathering intel on everything from the occupants’ health problems to their marital status just by looking at their space. (She told one couple their marriage was in trouble after her walk-through. “There were indicators everywhere,” she says.)

Armed with a floor plan and using an elaborate Chinese tool called a lo pan, she uses a series of calculations to come up with each occupant’s individual compass direction. “That tells me how the energy flows and the quality of the chi. I mark on the floor plan the compass directions and the influence they have on each individual; I also write my suggestions, as well as explain them verbally. The floor

plan is like an energy map of a space.

It’s a crucial part of my consultation.”

In most cases, Parker has to work with what’s there, but clients also hire her when they’re looking to buy a new house or office space.

A luxury Buckhead condo complex once retained her services after a failed real estate transaction. A deal on a $1.5 million unit was contingent on the buyer bringing in a feng shui consultant (not Parker) who ended up advising against the purchase. The management brought Parker in to explain why. One of the main reasons was that the view from the unit was of a building shaped like an X-ACTO knife, with a sharp edge aimed right at the unit—a feng shui no-no.

No matter the client, Parker’s ultimate goal is to help people improve their environments and their lives. “We are the sickest developed country in the world,” she claims. “I believe it’s because of the way we live. We don’t think about how our environment affects our physiology.

If we can’t see it, taste it or smell it, we often ignore it. It doesn’t mean it’s not having an impact.” n

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

FA S H ION | B E AU T Y | W E L L N E S S | TA S T E M A K E R

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Get party-ready by layering on funky floral and geometric prints.

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Winter Wow P38

Photo: Sara Hanna Photography

Forget “less is more” because this season, the more texture, the better.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S I M P LY S T Y LISH

FA S HION

COZY AND CHIC These two outfits allow you to transition seamlessly from shopping and brunching with the girls to grabbing an evening cocktail with that special someone. Slip on a playful printed dress and keep the fun flowing by layering on a fur vest or textured coat. Keep your legs warm with a pair of suede thigh-high boots or patterned tights with leather booties.

Dress, Derek Lam 10 Crosby, $695; Vest, Cinq à Sept, $1,595; Highland Suede Boots, Stuart Weitzman, $800; Bag, Rag & Bone, $695; Wool Hat, Sensi Studio, $180; Earrings, Gas Bijoux, $275 Dress, Alice and Olivia, $330; Jacket, L’Agence, $675; Tights, Spanx, $32; Peep Toe Wedge Booties, Pedro Garcia, $550; Necklace, Fairchild Baldwin, $415; Bag, Presmer, $875; Ring, Alexis Bittar, $135

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Abbie Koopote

PHOTOS: Sara

Hanna

Abbie Koopote and Sara Mixon of Tootsies

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

M

om always told you to layer-up on cold winter days, but now we’re showing you how to do it in style. It’s time to pair contrasting textures with one another because, as you’ll see, it most definitely works. From elegant velvets to jaw-dropping furs, these getups are sure to blow you awayaway. Forget “less is more” because this season, the more

texture, the better. And since wintertime is all about making a statement, we chose to shoot and style these looks at a quintessential Buckhead boutique known for its eye-catching fashions. Stop by Tootsies to pick up one of these ensembles or create your own with the help of a friendly and experienced stylist. Either way, you’ll walk out dressed to the nines.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S I M P LY S T Y LISH

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FA S HION

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

FUNKY AND FAB Be the life of the party with these two outfits that are perfect for a night on the town. All eyes will be on you, thanks to layer-after-layer of funky floral and geometric prints.Don’t be afraid to add some different textures through accessories, such as a daring fur shawl, or pump up the volume of your hair with wild curls.

Romper, Red Valentino, $795; Fur Shawl, Paule Ka, $1,125; Thigh high suede boots (pictured page 37), Stuart Weitzman, $800; Heels, Aquazzura, $795; Clutch, Lizzie Fortunato, $550; Earrings, Alexis Bittar, $135 Dress, Red Valentino, $1,695; Blouse, Alice and Olivia, $295; Clutch, Perrin, $995 Art: Paul Chelko, The Chelko Foundation

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead 

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FA S HION

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

BUCKHEAD GLAMOUR With the holidays come parties, so why not strut in like you’re walking the red carpet?

Ditch the sequins because this winter, it’s all about velvet.

These gowns are ideal when paired with your most fluffy, glamorous accessories, such as a bright fur collar or a cozy shawl. To top the look off, add bling with a jeweled statement evening bag or embrace the popular jewelry trend with a crystal choker.

Gown, Badgley Mischka, $750; Shawl, Jocelyn, $395; Choker, Lisa Freede, $95; Evening Bag, Sondra Roberts, $125 Gown, Theia, $795; Evening Bag, Sondra Roberts, $125; Heels, Aquazzura, $785; Fur Scarf, Paule Ka, $450; Earrings, Gas Bijoux, $315

SHOP: Tootsies Shops Around Lenox 3400 Around Lenox Drive Suite 219 Atlanta 30326 404.842.9990 tootsies.com

S I M P LY S T Y LISH

BE AUTY

DREAM

CURLS ADD THIS DAZZLING HOLIDAY HAIRSTYLE TO YOUR BEAUTY REPERTOIRE STORY:

Karina Antenucci

S

tep out of your usual hairstyling routine and glam it up a little this winter. ’Tis the time of year, after all! “An Old Hollywood look is perfect for the holiday season because it offers bombshell, sophisticated waves that are great for a night out on the town,” says Tiara Gandy, assistant manager and stylist at DreamDry. The blowout and hair styling salon co-founded by celebrity fashion designer and stylist Rachel Zoe opened this summer in Buckhead. Here, Gandy provides step-by-step tips to get this wavy retro style (at right).

Not into DIY styling? Don’t fret; you can always get the look at DreamDry, along with a menu of other trendy styles including braids and buns.

Start with the hair at the top and use a 1-inch curling iron to curl this area towards your face. All of your curls should be wrapped around the iron in the same direction: For example, if your part is on the left, all of the curls should be twisted towards the heavier side of the part on the right. Treat every curl with hairspray before moving onto the next.

4. Roll with It. Gather each curl and roll it in the direction you just curled it.

Use bobby pins to secure each ringlet, so it can cool off and set.

5. Bottom Out. Move on to the bottom section of your hair, curling in the same direction as the top. You do not have to pin this area.

EXTRA, EXTRA! INSIDER TIPS THAT MAKE HAIRSTYLING A CINCH

1. Hair Prep.

Day-old hair that has a little “grit” is best to hold this look. If you wash your hair beforehand, make sure to prep it with a volumizing product that also offers hold, such as Oribe Volumista ($42), before blow-drying.

6. Get Centered.

Finally, work on the middle section and repeat the curling technique, still making sure all the curls are going in the same direction.

Want to cut your blow-dry time down significantly?

Try DreamDry’s DreamTurban ($30), a wrap worn after washing that’s designed to absorb water from hair to reduce blowout time.

7. Final Touches.

2. Part Ways.

Decide which side you want to part it on. A deep-set side part is best to really achieve this glam look.

3. Curly Cues.

With part in place, separate into three sections using clips or hairbands: top, middle and bottom.

44

Remove the pins from the top section. Using a paddle brush, lightly brush through all your curls, making sure not to disturb the part. The curls should have a soft, wave texture as the rows come together. Complete the look by misting Oribe Superfine Strong Hair Spray ($37) to ensure your style lasts. Time to party! n

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

n Make your waves stay

DETAILS: DreamDry 3722 Roswell Road N.E. Atlanta 30342 404.549.8007 dreamdry.com

in place for the long haul.

Prep dry, clean hair with a light sea salt spray such as Kérastase Spray À Porter ($36). This product is designed to give your strands some “tackiness” to help your hairstyle stay put longer.

n Are there annoying, tiny

hairs around your face that don’t want to stand down?

Depending on the hair texture, spritz either a light or firm-hold hairspray, and gently comb back these face-framing hairs. If that doesn’t do the trick, smooth them with a fiber paste such as Oribe Fiber Groom Elastic Texture Paste ($34).

All products available for purchase at DreamDry Buckhead.

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45

S I M P LY S T Y LIS H

WE LLN E S S

“Personal goals help us focus our intention and action so that we truly take care of ourselves right now.”

SET GOALS YOU CAN MAKE REALITIES IN THE NEW YEAR STORY:

Amelia Pavlik

– Nancy Scheel

Goal GETTER F

rom adopting a gluten-free diet to working out five days a week, it’s that time of year to start thinking about what you’ll do differently come Jan. 1. But how do you go about creating—and commanding— your wellness goals for the new year?

“Wellness is something we often take for granted, especially if we’re under 40,” says Nancy Scheel, executive and career coach for Jody Michael Associates, a coaching organization with offices in Chicago and Sandy Springs. “It’s easy to ignore minor problems or physiological imbalances until the stakes become too high. Personal goals help us focus our intention and action so that we truly take care of ourselves right now.”

Scheel, who came to the coaching field 10 years ago after a career as an instructional designer working across multiple industries, adds that the greatest challenge most people face when it comes to goal setting is wishful thinking.

“We think about it, talk about it, hope for it, pray for it and make excuses for why it doesn’t happen,” she says. “But we don’t actually get to the details of what we are going to achieve and exactly how we will do it.”

46

Start with one modest goal—something that will be meaningful and feasible. Then build on that success to set your next goal, Scheel says. This is an approach that worked well with one of her clients who was burnt out at work, in an unhappy personal relationship and determined to leave the city that had been her home for years.

“We didn’t set any goals related to these big questions. Instead, we set personal goals for increasing self-care, emotional intelligence and aligning actions to commitment,” Scheel explains. “Within six months, this client began enjoying her job again, even though nothing at work changed, and she met a man who later became her husband. She didn’t leave town then. But she says that if she does in the future, she’ll move to somewhere desirable, not just away from where she is.”

The Jody Michael Associates approach to goal setting generally follows these steps: n Describe your goal in a measurable way. n Specify in detail the new thoughts, moods and behaviors you’ll need to adopt to be successful. n Anticipate ways that you (or

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

other people in your life) are likely to sabotage your efforts, and develop strategies that will allow you to stay the course.

“Be honest with yourself about whether it’s really the right time for you to make this change,” Scheel adds. “Also, avoid doing something you’ve done before. For example, if this is your third year in a row to try and lose 20 pounds, and it doesn’t happen, your method of setting goals and planning sustainable action isn’t working for you.”

Last but not least, make sure you have support to hold you accountable.

“Find someone you trust to be truthful with you, and ideally, someone who has an aptitude for setting goals and planning execution,” Scheel says. “Ask them to help you think ahead to what obstacles you will face and how you will handle these challenges.” n JODY MICHAEL ASSOCIATES 750 Hammond Drive N.E. Building 15, Suite 350 Atlanta 30328 678.276.7286 jodymichael.com/atlanta-coaching

FIT GOALS Whether you’re a fitness newbie or an athlete, Derek Snowden, head trainer at Buckhead’s Witzlib Training, has an attainable exercise goal suggestion for every level in 2017: BEGINNER: You want or need to move better but don’t know where to start. n Find a trainer who focuses on quality movement. If a trainer is more concerned about your form than how many reps you can do, hire him or her.

INTERMEDIATE: You make exercise a part of life but aren’t getting results from what you are doing. n Try a new class like TRX or yoga to switch up your routine.

ADVANCED: You live and breathe a healthy existence and might be training for a triathlon or other fitness goal. n Use heart rate data to help shape your training regimen.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead 

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S I M P LY S T Y LISH

TA S TE M A KER

In Living Color A local lifestyle guru keeps things chic on her website STORY:

Kate Abney

M

eet Kelly Page, the bubbly, business-savvy woman behind Bluegraygal.com, a one-year-old website featuring decorating, fashion and lifestyle content as well as an online shop. A full-time, stay-at-home mom to a 9-year-old daughter and 6-year-old identical twin boys, Page, who lives on the edge of Sandy Springs, balances her maternal duties with her TV appearances, product development, shop keeping, marketing and promotions for brands ranging from Calico to The Shade Store. She also often partners with retailers such as Buckhead’s Huff Harrington. In her past life, her professional gigs included TV news reporter for a Comcast affiliate in Rome, Georgia, marketer and producer and national advertising guru for AT&T. She describes Bluegraygal as a lifestyle destination with decorating and dressing-up ideas from a regular “gal.” Below, we find out more.

Why did you launch Bluegraygal when you did?

[The idea] came from a woman and mother’s need to express herself. Everyone I talk to is looking for something of their own. I think we’re all trying to figure that out. I stumbled upon [my something] last year, and it’s been amazing. I think readers can sense that I’m having a blast.

What sets your brand apart from the rest?

I think most bloggers prefer to be behind the computer. I’m one of the rare birds that feels more comfortable in front of a live camera. I talk just as I do in person. I have a regular lifestyle segment appearance on an NBC Atlanta morning show called “Atlanta & Company.”

I go on-air with them every three weeks.

The videos add a lot of depth to your site, too!

I consider myself a visual storyteller [rather than a blogger]. I believe words and photographs can only tell so much of the story.

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

There’s something emotional about seeing a real person in front of you. It’s important that my readers feel connected to me and what I’m saying to be invested in the journey.

You’ve collaborated with many major brands.

Do you seek out these partnerships yourself?

I’m a mom of three who’s used and tried everything along the way. So this is my authentic, honest opinion about what works for me. I only write about brands I believe in.

Companies are beginning to find me, but I’m still very choosy about who I work with.

You have another big collaboration coming up this season, don’t you?

Yes, I recently signed on with Target, which is very exciting. I’m going to be working with [the company] on how to incorporate home trends on a budget, especially for the holidays.

Does Bluegraygal’s web store only sell products made by women?

Yes, and all of the collaborations have happened very organically, based on a mutual love for what we were creating. The porcelain pieces are by a girl in Nashville; the plush pumpkins are made in Minnesota. I designed

my own set [of plush pumpkins] in an exclusive color palette based on what I have in my home. I looked over swatches for months to make sure it was a true reflection of my taste. You can only buy them through the site, but Pottery Barn recently invited me to do some local pop-up shops at The Avenue East Cobb location.

Any advice for other moms who might be considering dipping their toes back into the working world?

There is no such thing as the perfect balance. You will always feel guilty one way or the other, like you’re letting down your company, your children or your husband; there’s always somebody not getting your full attention. Every week I learn something to help with my workflow and BLUEGRAYGAL POP-UP SHOP ways to adjust so I can be more Nov. 12, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. available for my Pottery Barn at The Avenue East Cobb company or my 4475 Roswell Road Suite 600 family. It’s a balMarietta 30062 ancing act, but bluegraygal.com so worth it! n

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SIMPLY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Saturday morning painting class at Abernathy Arts Center has been meeting for more than 15 years.

ART VIEW

Photo: Scott Reeves

Still painting after all these years P56

“It’s a special, very tight group.” – Laura Martin, Abernathy Arts Center director November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S I M P LY A & E

ON S TAGE

A foray in film UGA student and Buckhead native eyes career as a producer STORY:

Jim Farmer

A

s Rachel Beavers entered her sophomore year of college at the University of Georgia, she looked into her future and didn’t like what she saw. She’d been studying accounting but realized she’d be “absolutely miserable” in that field. She promptly changed her major to something that seemed more alluring.

Now a senior, Beavers, who grew up in Buckhead and went to The Westminster Schools, is an entertainment and media studies major. When she graduates in 2017, she wants to produce films. For a long time, she wanted to write scripts, but a class during her junior year convinced her to be a producer, leading her to take an internship at Weed Road Pictures in Los Angeles earlier this year. “I like the idea of being the person who brings it all together,” she says. “A lot of producing is finding the script, the director, the actors, and building it from nothing.”

Beavers helped do just that last spring when, while studying abroad in London, she and three colleagues made a 4-minute documentary called FOMO (Fear of Missing Out). It deals—ironically—with students studying abroad embracing all that is offered academically and culturally.

After it was entered into the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) Abroad Film festival in April, it was chosen from a field of 70 entries as one of the top five submissions. The grand prize winner was selected by the public in August, and FOMO placed second.

It was the first documentary and second film Beavers worked on. Her first was a 3-minute narrative short called The Ambush about friends planning a surprise party. No one on the set had worked on a film before and there were mistakes galore, yet they all problem-solved and got through it. “You could tell it was the first film we ever made, but we were happy with how it turned out,” she admits.

Beavers’s venture into documentaries has required a unique approach. “It’s a different kind of planning. You are asking

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

questions, and you don’t know exactly what you are going to get,” she says.

“It’s about losing control a bit.”

In her next documentary, the filmmaker wants to talk to women of all ages about what they wanted to be when they grew up and how that changed over the years.

She is tracking down interviews now for the still-untitled work.

Beavers has fond memories of growing up in a “fun neighborhood with lots of kids to play with” in her family home near Howell Mill Road and Northside Drive.

Her father, Chris, is a consultant, and her mother, Gail, is a stay-at-home mom. Both are UGA grads themselves. Beavers also has two younger brothers, Lyle and Cree.

Her parents were fully behind her decision to change career paths. “I think it’s

scary when your kid who is an accounting major comes to you and says, ‘I want to go into film,’” she says. “But they did not balk. They realized I needed to do my own thing.”

Beavers, 21, is a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority. In her free time she loves going to the beach, traveling and reading. She’s an avid concert-goer and, of course, movie lover.

After graduating in the spring of 2017, she plans to relocate to Los Angeles. It will be her first time not calling Georgia home. “I have lived here my whole life, and I want to do something different,” she says. “For now, I am going to Los Angeles, but I can’t say that I won’t be back in Atlanta someday because there is so much production going on here now.” n

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead 

55

S I M P LY A & E A RT VI E W

Still painting

Members of the Saturday morning class work without an instructor, hire their own models and offer critiques and support to each other.

after all these years Local artists establish attendance streak

S

ome marriages don’t make it to the milestone a group of 15 artists at the Abernathy Arts Center have marked.

Their notable accomplishment doesn’t lie just in the artworks they produce. They’re also a remarkable ensemble that has met faithfully every Saturday morning for more than 15 years.

For almost 3 hours, they set up their easels in an art room of the Sandy Springs center to hone their painting skills, offer encouragement and camaraderie, and catch up with the latest in each other’s lives.

“It’s a special, very tight group,” says Laura Martin, the center’s director. “They hire their own models and pay a reduced rate of $34 every eight weeks for using the space. And it’s gone on like that year after year.”

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The roots of the class dates back to the late 1980s, when Sandy Springs portrait artist Jim Schell began teaching at the center. Students came and went, but a group of regulars took shape about 15 years ago. Schell, whose work was honored by Arts Sandy Springs and the Portrait Society of Atlanta, died in 2013, but his group of loyal followers refused to dissipate.

“We enjoyed being together and stayed together to honor him,” recalls Tim Beacham, who after a year’s wait finally snagged a stool in the class in 2003. “Jim Schell had been recommended to me as a teacher, and everybody wanted to work with him. He knew his art so well, and I don’t have an art education; I was in the mortgage business but always wanted to paint.”

Part of Schell’s legacy is what the group calls “Schell-isms”—

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

STORY:

H.M. Cauley PHOTO: Scott Reeves

mostly terse commentary on their work, says Beacham. “We knew we’d gotten a compliment if Jim said, ‘That’s damn good.’

Everybody was looking for a ‘damn good’ from him.”

Despite being very good painters, few of the members are working on marketable pieces. “What we do in class is more or less practice,” Beacham says. “Most of us paint over what we paint, though occasionally we’ll carry it through to a finished piece. In the process, we critique each other and bounce ideas off each other.”

Karen Bradshaw’s time with the Saturday session dates back to 1988. The Saturday morning class suited her schedule; at the time, she was working for her sister who owned the old Carbo’s Cafe in Buckhead.

“People have come and gone,

but we’ve had a core group for a long time,” says Bradshaw, who also teaches art out of her East Cobb home. “I’m not into selling anymore, but occasionally our group will do a show, and I’ll put my work out there. But that’s not what drives me anymore. I just like that this is a crazy, fun group that’s stayed together all these years.”

In honor of Schell’s memory, the class worked with Fulton County to plant a ginkgo tree on the grounds. “We placed a plaque beneath it,” Bradshaw says. “It reminds of us of who started this really good thing.” n

Information about the variety of classes at the Abernathy Arts Center is online at fultonarts.org/index.php/ art-centers/abernathy-arts-center.

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

57

S I M P LY A & E

LITE R A RY

Above: Author Jeffrey Toobin is one of the well-known writers speaking at the festival.

Photo: Jennifer Sami

Left: Co-chairs Deborah Jacobs (left) and Dee Kline oversee more than 200 volunteers working on this year’s festival.

BOOK ’EM

Local and international authors converge for 16 days of literary thrills

D

ee Kline describes herself as an avowed book lover who has been enraptured by reading since she was 4 years old. That life-long passion has paid off, providing the background needed to orchestrate one of the metro area’s largest literary events, the Book Festival of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the writtenword celebration that takes over the MJCCA in Dunwoody from Nov. 5 through 20.

As co-chairs of the festival, Kline and colleague Deborah Jacobs, both of Sandy Springs, oversee a small army of 200 volunteers who read and recommend books to feature, recruit authors to appear and handle the details of staging the 16-day event.

Kline got involved with the project five years ago as a volunteer reader on the author selection committee. “I read everything from history to nonfiction and current events, but my favorites are literary, historical and science fiction,” she says. “That’s what’s so wonderful about this festival: We cover all the genres—comedy, fashion, sports. And

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

Above: Author Alice Hoffman’s Faithful is the festival’s book club selection.

STORY:

it’s not just for the Jewish community, but for the broader community as well.”

Jacobs, who marks her second year organizing the event, also got involved years ago by serving on the author selection and the patron committees. “I found it was a very rewarding way to use my time to bring culture and art into the community,” she says. But it’s a volunteer gig that’s as intense as a full-time job, she notes: “When we end in November, we take the month of December off, and then we start back up again in January, building a program.”

The result of their efforts is one of the largest literary events around, drawing more than 13,000 booklovers who attend author forums, book signings, panel discussions, literary activities for kids and teens and even film screenings. Much of the attraction is the star power of the writers who will be on hand; this year, the lineup features such well-known names as Alice Hoffman (Faithful), Grammy Award-winning artist Kenny Loggins (Footloose), CNN senior legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin (American Heiress: The Wild Saga of the Kidnapping,

H.M. Cauley

Crimes and Trial of Patty Hearst) and Carson Kressley from “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” (Does This Book Make My Butt Look Big?).

“Most of these authors are in conversation; it’s like sitting on a couch and just talking,” Jacobs says. “It brings out their personalities and thoughts on their books. We also have a book club night when clubs can read Faithful, buy discounted tickets and come as a group to hear Alice Hoffman and ask her questions.”

This year, a particularly poignant part of the festival is the Esther Levine Community Read to honor Atlanta’s best-known author escort and long-time festival volunteer.

“Twenty-five years ago, Esther saw other Jewish community centers doing book BEHIND THE COVERS: MJCCA 25TH BOOK festivals, and she FESTIVAL said we needed one in Atlanta,” Nov. 5 through 20 5342 Tilly Mill Road Jacobs says. “We Dunwoody 30338 have a reception 678.812.4000 just to honor her atlantajcc.org for that.” n

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead 

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SIMPLY DELICIOUS

RESTAURANT REVIEW

Small plates, big flavors P62

By way of small plates, Saltyard gives a lesson in palate-pleasing food that knows no boundaries.

Saltyard’s menu is full of approachable comfort food that thrills, such as this s’mores bread pudding with banana ice cream.

Photo: Sara Hanna Photography

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

61

S I M P LY D E LICIOUS

R E V IE W

Right: Crispy skin of duck confit with tangy mustard jus and Southern fried cabbage.

Below: There are international touches throughout the menu—a Moroccan vibe with tender octopus and Thai elements with scallop crudo.

SMALL PLATES,

BIG FLAVORS T

he bone white plate held a burnished bronze portion of duck. A tawny pool of jus gathered around, while a bundle of pan-fried shavings of maroon and green-white local cabbage huddled beside it. The rustic dish sums up the philosophy of Saltyard: global comfort food made from local ingredients.

The restaurant has survived the culinary winds since 2013 on a Brookwood Hills block that has seen the comings and goings of a few beloved spots (Lusca, Café Intermezzo, Moulin Rouge). Owners Christian Favalli and Kristi Jones-Favalli, whose family also owns La Grotta, named it after the rich history of the salt trade. Chef/partner Nick Leahy, born in Bermuda, raised in England, has traveled the world much like those sailing ships and camel caravans of the salt trade.

Upon my arrival, the front door opened to an eight-seat chef’s table in front of the open kitchen. Exposed architectural beams loomed above the narrow dining area of grays and browns. Candles flickered on the white oak tabletops. In the distance, my dining partner and I saw strings of twinkling lights above the

62

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

Saltyard offers a lesson in worldly comfort food STORY:

Angela Hansberger PHOTOS: Sara Hanna

outdoor patio. Most tables were filled on a Thursday evening, and the 10-seat concrete bar was buzzing with young professionals.

Lights were dimmed as the night progressed.

Once we were settled in the large, leather, tufted banquettes that are as comfy as they are elegant, we explored the seasonally changing menu that is split among snacks, raw items, pastas, hot smalls, bruschettas and veggies. Comfort food means different things to different people, and Leahy’s menu embraces nostalgic dishes from all corners of the globe without creating sloppy fusion.

It stays culturally consistent. Small plates— ranging from $5 to $16, but most hovering around $12—provide as much food as a traditional appetizer and main dish.

Chef Leahy’s menu is also inspired by local farms. My friend and I noticed farmer Bobby Britt from Besmaid Garden talking with the kitchen staff during our meal.

We opted to start our meal with salmon pastrami—slivers of smoked salmon on a wooden board with almost-enough triangles (we asked for more) of Ratio Bakeshop pumpernickel, pickled onion slices, tangy

rounds of cornichons and a sharp Dijon fromage blanc. It tasted like a light version of a Jewish deli sandwich. Three thick, everso-tender octopus tendrils over hummus with strings of fennel, preserved lemon, a sprinkle of baby herbs and toasted chickpeas transported us to the Mediterranean coast.

Chef Leahy’s farm-sourced ingredients make nightly specials an easy choice and the braised rabbit from The Little Farm was a generous portion of a saddle and a loin over mashed squash and a heap of cubes of root veggies topped with fronds of zingy purslane from local Farm and Forage. It was sweet and earthy like an English countryside.

The aforementioned duck confit is another winner, one Leahy learned to cook from his French mother. The soulful peasant dish was created centuries ago with a salt preservation method, and Leahy’s was impossibly juicy and subtly sweet with a meaty richness. It also had skin that was paper thin yet perfectly crispy—so simple, yet so intense. I closed my eyes and drifted away for a moment.

While the menu is international, many of the dishes play well together. Spice roasted

Left: Spice roasted squash is a memorable star of flavors and textures.

Above: Like the lightest version of a deli sandwich, the salmon pastrami is a great start to a meal.

Fork-licking, impossibly tender lamb and beef sugo topped with ricotta gnocchi.

Above: Desserts are soul-satisfying. Pictured here: the Chocolate Nemesis with Brandy cream, a nectarine coulis and malt dust.

Below: Chef Nick Leahy puts his world travel experiences on the plate.

Leahy’s menu embraces nostalgic dishes from all corners of the globe. squash was an unexpected shazam of a dish with smoked chile labneh and toasted pistachios. The three skewers of tender and flavorful lamb loin atop a puree of rosemary and white beans were a classic and earthy combination. The harissa kicked the meaty flavor up a bit, and the yogurt tang of the labneh and the velvety white beans tempered the bites of heat.

The tuna tartare with layers of vertically arranged tuna chunks piled high on kimchi was tied together with a miso aioli. Chilespiced peanuts added crunch, but a bit too many flavors were going on for me. We cleansed our palates with an order of ricotta gnocchi, a misnomer because the addition of ricotta technically makes it a gnudi. It instantly tamed the spices on our tongues. The little dumplings were a bit bland (yet helpful in this moment), but the sugo of lamb and beef below was a comfort mélange, a sort of meaty gravy with hints of cinnamon. It was a belly warmer that paired well with the earthy, bold Clarendelle, Château Haut-Brion from

Bordeaux, France our server recommended.

While Saltyard’s food globe trots, the wine list is mostly domestic with a couple of dozen by the glass. Chef Leahy’s appreciation for local extends to the beer list with mostly local/regional brews (six on draft). As for cocktails, we liked the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, a bitter mix of whiskey, Meletti, Lillet blanc and vermouth.

Dessert fans rejoice. If your server brings you the sweets menu (one did on our first visit, one did not on the second), the choices are very thoughtful. S’mores bread pudding with banana ice cream was only missing a nearby campfire.

The Chocolate Nemesis with clouds of whipped cream arising from a shell of British fudgy cake in a sea of malt powder crumbles drizzled with a citrus coulis recalled to me Botticelli’s The Venus Rising masterpiece. Our server expertly suggested a Sarsitano Lambrusco to pair with it.

Saltyard’s menu is a lesson in international culinary favorites with small plates that allow you to try many dishes in one evening.

The cozy spot lifts your mood with solid, photogenic cuisine and a warm ambiance. n

Above: As adorable as it is scrumptious—tiny pecan pie.

SALTYARD 1820 Peachtree Road. N.W., Atlanta 30309 404.382.8088 saltyardatlanta.com Prices: Tapas $5-$16. Desserts $7. Cocktails $10.

Large Plates $18-$25.

Recommended Dishes: Salmon pastrami. Crispy duck confit. Grilled octopus. Spice roasted squash.

Grilled lamb loin. Chocolate Nemesis.

Bottom Line: Worldly comfort food with a reverence for local ingredients.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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D R IN KS

Mix it Up INFUSIONS TO TRY AROUND TOWN (OR TO REPLICATE AT HOME)

If You Like: Fiery INFUSION:

Ginger-infused vodka DRINK: Japanese Mule Photo: Tomas Espinoza

LOCATION:

ENTHUSED?

INFUSE!

STORY:

Genki Noodles & Sushi

If You Like: Fruity

Genki Noodles & Sushi infuses Hangar One vodka with fresh ginger and a sprinkle of pickled ginger.

The end result is a flavorful sip with added sizzle.

INFUSION:

I

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depending on the ingredient and how strong you want the drink to be, creating an infusion is a fairly hands-off process. Often, it just involves placing the liquor and ingredient in a clean jar, closing the lid and letting it sit a couple of days. If you own a sous vide machine (a device that allows you to vacuum-seal your ingredients in a bag and bring everything up to the same water temperature quickly), you can speed up the process exponentially, as Himitsu does.

“A general rule of thumb is to start small,” Yabrow advises. “You can always use more. For instance, if you want to infuse something with citrus, start with the zest of two lemons and one grapefruit to 1 liter of liquor.

It will pick up the flavors right away.” Yabrow notes that you don’t need the whole piece of fruit, just the zest in order

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

The Southern Gentleman DRINK: Scarlet Belle

Mimic a blend like The Southern Gentleman’s strawberry-infused vodka, made with strawberries, peaches and figs.

If You Like: Savory

Kelly Jordan

INFUSION: White-truffle-

honey-infused vodka LOCATION: Himitsu

Ranging from herbs and fruits to vegetables and spices, infused liquors are all the rage nfusing liquors with new, flavorful ingredients has become a popular way to incorporate depth and personality into both classic and contemporary cocktails.

“The benefit of creating an infusion [over using an ingredient in a simple syrup or muddling it] is that it’s consistent,” says Ben Yabrow, beverage director at Himitsu in Buckhead who works closely with the creative director to dream up unique cocktails that often entail creating new infusions. Their Toryufu cocktail, for instance, imparts flavors of honey, truffle, pears and grapefruit for a drink that’s both savory and sweet.

Infusions can be crafted in various ways, but at their most basic, they are created using a liquor of choice (typically vodka, whiskey or bourbon) and a fruit, herb, nut or spice.

Though the aging time varies

Strawberry-infused vodka LOCATION:

DRINK: Toryufu cocktail

Go for a savory blend of flavors and look for ingredients of almonds, herbs or truffles.

For this drink, Yabrow first adds diced, white truffle to honey, then infuses it with vodka. Next, he adds the concoction to a combination of Anjou-pear-infused vodkas.

to capture the essential oils.

Taste the liquor over the next couple of days, and when the flavors get to a place you like, filter out the zest, pour the vodka into your container of choice and go from there. n DETAILS: Genki Noodles and Sushi - Buckhead 3186 Roswell Road N.E. Atlanta 30305 404.844.8319 genkibuckhead.com Himitsu One Buckhead Plaza 3050 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30305 By reservation only: (Email hello@puraibeto.com and include the word “love” in the subject line.)

puraibeto.com/himitsu The Southern Gentleman 3035 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30305 404.939.9845 thesoutherngentlemanatl.com

BEST BUD Lately, you may have noticed vodka newbie, Elation, popping up on shelves and drink lists, such as Watershed on Peachtree’s. The first nationally legal hemp vodka (it’s THC-free), Elation is flavored with Swiss-grown, police-supervised hemp that is added to the vodka in syrup form. The end result: A smooth-sipping vodka with an herbal base perfect for blending.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead 

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FOODIE JOURNAL

Culinary News & Notes

BY:

Sarah Gleim

SOME LIKE IT

HOT! s The reservation-only Japanese cocktail lounge in Buckhead, Himitsu, was recently honored for its stunning design.

FOOD NEWS n Himitsu Japanese cocktail lounge was nominated by the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards as one of eight finalists for the honor in North and South America. While the coowner Farshid Arshid didn’t take home the top award in London on Sept. 29, it was still quite a recognition considering the global awards receive more than 5,000 entries. n The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead has a new program for budding pastry chefs. One lucky kid every month from now until next summer can participate in the Petite Pastry Chef experience and work alongside pastry chef Troman Felizmenio. The 2-hour class in the hotel’s kitchen is part of an exclusive weekend package priced at $1,299 that includes an overnight stay in an executive suite Friday night (with their parents of course), the pastry class with chef Felizmenio Saturday, a personalized chef’s jacket and lunch and dessert in The Café for the family afterward.

Available to kids ages 7 to 14 the first Saturday of the month through August 2017. n Phipps Plaza is getting an update, and part of that includes more food options. Fast-casual Earl of Sandwich Himitsu opened in October.

One Buckhead Plaza Savannah-based 3050 Peachtree Road Daniel Reed’s PubAtlanta 30305 lic Kitchen & Bar puraibeto.com/himitsu will become part of the shopping cenPhipps Plaza 3500 Peachtree Road ter’s new Peachtree Atlanta 30326 Road entrance in 404.261.7910 fall 2017. And Ecco’s simon.com/mall/ new location will phipps-plaza be a freestanding building outside The Ritz-Carlton, Phipps at the corner Buckhead of Peachtree and 3434 Peachtree Road Wieuca roads. It’s Atlanta 30326 also scheduled to 404.237.2700 ritzcarlton.com open in late 2017.

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STAY WARM THIS WINTER WITH A FEW OF BUCKHEAD’S SPICY DISHES

I

f you’re one of those people who’s not afraid of a little heat, then get your taste buds ready.

Buckhead may not be known as a hotbed of international cuisine with spicy dishes (as is, say, Buford Highway), but the neighborhood still has plenty of places to punish your palate. If tacos are your thing, check out Yumbii’s new Brookwood Hills restaurant opening this month and grab a few fish tacos with an extra helping of yummy and spicy gochujang chili sauce that also goes well with its sesame fries. Yebo Beach Haus serves prawn tacos topped with a hot South African peri-peri pepper aioli. Kick up the heat a few notches with one of South City Kitchen Buckhead’s Nashville-style hot chicken sandwiches. It’s about as true to Nashville-style as it gets: chicken battered in lots of cayenne pepper and spices, then fried and served with homemade pickles and white barbecue sauce on a bun. But if you really want to test your taste power, Brookhaven’s Avellino’s Pizzeria has one heck

s The South African peri-peri pepper aioli gives the prawn tacos at Yebo Beach Haus their kick.

Yumbii’s tacos get their spice from gochujang chili sauce. t The Nashville-style chicken sandwich at South City Kitchen Buckhead is about as hot as you can handle.

Avellino’s Pizzeria 1328 Windsor Pkwy Atlanta 30319 404.500.3841 avellinospizzeria.com

of a hot pizza. The Alla Diavola (“the devil”) is covered in some of the hottest peppers known to man: the bhut jolokia (ghost pepper) and the red savina habanera, plus jalapeños and habaneros for good measure. This is not for the faint of heart. The menu says you have to sign a waiver before your first bite. n

FOOD SCIENCE Executive Chef Zeb Stevenson has elevated the food at Watershed on Peachtree since he took the reins in January 2015. He’s overseen the Southern comfort menu’s evolution into one that’s a sophisticated reflection of his abilities as a chef with touches such as making his own vinegars. He cooks with and incorporates them into many of the menu items. During our last visit, Stevenson had almost 10 varieties of vinegar fermenting, including tomato, coffee, blueberry and strawberry. Stevenson can only use them while his supply lasts, so he might have to tweak a recipe slightly as a vinegar runs out.

Our advice? Get one of these vinegar-infused dishes while you can: the market greens salad with blueberry vinegar and olive oil (right); Watershed on Peachtree grilled Florida octopus with mushroom 1820 Peachtree St. vinegar; roasted duck breast with Atlanta 30309 carrots glazed in carrot vinegar; and 404.809.3561 watershedrestaurant.com strawberry vinegar pie.

South City Kitchen Buckhead 3350 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30326 404.815.6677 buckhead.southcitykitchen.com Yebo Beach Haus 111 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta 30305 404.869.1992 yebobeachhaus.com Yumbii 1927 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30305 404.323.5212 yumbii.com

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TA S TE MAKER

Finia Jahangard (right) and her daughter Nina at the Fox 5 Atlanta studios to promote the launch of Macaron Boutique and Bar at North Point Mall.

THE PERFECT TREAT Brookwood resident Finia Jahangard is the Macaron Queen

W

hen Finia Jahangard first opened her macaron cart in Lenox Square three years ago, people thought she was selling soap! Fast-forward a few years and Jahangard—a.k.a. Macaron Queen—now hand-crafts thousands of almond, sugar and egg white treats every day in flavors such as peanut butter, coffee, rose water and passion fruit. Though the Lenox location has since shuttered, Jahangard recently opened a Macaron Boutique and Bar in North Point and Perimeter malls, where patrons can sip alcoholic beverages while noshing on macarons, cakes, parfaits and cookies. In Buckhead, macaron fans can still get their fix at Corso Coffee and Cape Dutch that both offer the delicious treats.

“I always had the artistic side of me, and I wanted to bring the macaron to everyday consumption,” Jahangard says.

Here, she reveals how she began a macaron business and what’s next for her booming empire.

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How did you get your start with macarons?

After years as a real estate builder, the markets crashed in 2010, and I was really upset. I’d come home and make my French macarons. It was the only thing I could do perfectly. It gave me the confidence to go out and face the market. People said it was an impossible cookie, and I wanted to make it possible—and perfect.

Where did you learn to make macarons?

When I was a kid, my dad traveled from Iran to the U.S. for business, and I traveled with him in the summertime.

I was mesmerized by all the pastry shops. [Later], my daughter was in the fashion business, and I’d go to Paris with her three times a year. While I was there, I started taking lessons.

How did baking transition from a hobby to a business for you?

I started making macarons for some of the French chefs I’ve known for a long time. They hated making macarons, and I loved it. They’d sell them under

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

their names, and to hotels, too. One friend introduced me to people in the movie industry, and I started catering for “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Walking Dead,” and for the crew of the movie The Internship.

Why did you decide to branch out to retail?

When I delivered the macarons, everyone would get excited when I arrived, so I thought, why don’t I start something in the busiest mall in Atlanta? At first, people thought we were selling beautiful soap. A lot of explanation and training went into it. People were concerned about allergies, but we educated them that our macarons are gluten free. My recipe brings the calorie count of 200 per traditional French macaroon to 45 to 75 [by using less sugar and butter and substituting almond flour for soy].

What are your plans for the future?

We just got our license to serve Champagne at our boutique in North Point.

We are coming up with a new drink: hot chocolate in the form of a hollow

STORY:

Carly Cooper

chocolate ball with a marshmallow inside. We pour very light hot chocolate on top of it (in a cup). The ball bursts open, and the marshmallow pops out on top. We also have Champagneinfused and Grand Marnier macarons.

Our French macaron ice cream sandwich is coming out. We have strawberry cheesecake, honey fig and raspberry chocolate. I’ve been working on it for a year. We’re trying to franchise the brand in the very near future.

What are your favorite macaron flavors?

White chocolate strawberry, chocolate caramel and blueberry cheesecake. We put a blueberry inside each macaron.

Each time, it takes two people like 20 minutes [to make each batch]. n

MACARON QUEEN Perimeter Mall 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road N.E. Atlanta 303046 908.867.8336 macaronqueen.com

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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FEATURED RESTAURANTS A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead BY: Wendell PHOTOS:

Brock and Angela Hansberger

Sara Hanna

10 DEGREES SOUTH After 15 years on the scene, this Roswell Road establishment is a highly original destination where food and wine from the tip of the Southern Hemisphere are celebrated with flair.

Before we could pose the server with a query on the peri-peri, we got the hard sell on South African reds—particularly the Rupert & Rothschild 2009 “Classique.” The big, full-bodied R&R was the perfect match for the luscious, spicy food that followed. I may not be an expert on South African cuisine, but I’ll wager that nobody makes bobotie (the national dish) like 10 Degrees South. The dish consists of tantalizingly sweet curried ground beef topped with a custardy crust. It’s time to get your head out of the sand and indulge in the kind of stuff our parents enjoyed when “Continental” cuisine was in vogue.

Appetizers: $10-$16 Entrées: $21-$38 10degreessouth.com

BUCKHEAD DINER This indispensible, neon-splashed diner is a jewel in the crown of the Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, which includes the Greek temple-like Kyma next door and the Atlanta Fish Market down the street. For 27 years, fans have flocked here for the housemade chips with Maytag blue, the “sweet heat”

Thai-chili calamari, juicy burgers and the decadent white chocolate banana cream pie—all classics. Simply by virtue of the way it lights up Piedmont Road, this diner has always been, and will always be, a star.

Appetizers: $6-$12 Sandwiches and burgers: $13-$16 Entrées: $17-$30 buckheadrestaurants.com/ buckhead-diner

BUCKET SHOP CAFÉ Atlanta’s answer to TV’s “Cheers,” this casual, family-owned spot across from Lenox Square is a game-day institution with seriously good pub grub, friendly prices and spirited, efficient service.

Burgers, wings and sandwiches of all kinds dominate the menu. But one dish on the starting lineup deserves a special trophy: the chicken rolls. Perhaps they sound like a fusion experiment, but in fact, these crispy, deep-fried egg roll wrappers stuffed with chicken, cheese, sour cream, chives and TexMex sauce (salsa mixed with ranch) are downright addictive. The Bucket Shop team gets extra points for its solid, ever-changing list of local craft brews.

Starters: $6-$13 Sandwiches and burgers: $9- $13 Entrées: $12-$18 bucketshopcafe.com Buckhead Diner’s Brisket and short-rib meat transform burgers into juicy, multinapkin affairs. Why not add bacon?

A mix-and-match assortment of sweets at Kyma: baklava with pistachio ice cream; Greek donuts; and yogurt with honey and walnuts.

DEL FRISCO’S GRILLE While the Texas-based chain is known for superb steaks, fusion appetizers and flatbreads, we think the burgers are sensational. In particular, the Pimento Cheese Burger, an uptown riff on the Big Mac, is a tower of juicy deliciousness: two patties with lettuce, tomato and pickle; plus housemade “sloppy sauce” (it’s like a smooth Thousand Island); plus two generous smears of pimento cheese, which slides down the stack and seals in all that juicy goodness. Del Frisco’s gets special points for packaging: The burger sits coyly in a partly open paper wrapper, while the fries are in a little paper cone on the side. A cold frothy draft beer is the clincher.

Appetizers: $7-$16.50 Sandwiches & flatbreads: $12.50-$18 Steaks: $29.50-$39.50 delfriscosgrille.com/atlanta

HOUSTON’S Houston’s probably won’t make the list of any highfalutin, big-city critic. And yet the Beverly Hills-based chain, which has had an Atlanta presence since 1978,has a devoted following, thanks to its consistently good, all-American food; its commitment to customer comforts; and its flagrant disregard for culinary razzle-dazzle. While the

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

gooey spinach-and-artichoke dip and the Famous French Dip are the stuff of legend, we are crazy about the Thai steak and noodle salad, the crispyskinned rotisserie chicken and the warm, five-nut brownie with vanilla ice cream.

At Houston’s, every table is bolted to the floor so it won’t wobble, servers bring chilled glasses so your drink never gets tired and napkins have buttonholes so the white-shirt crowd can save its ties. We can only hope this classic sticks around for a few more decades.

Starters: $4-$15. Salads, $13-$20 Burgers and sandwiches: $18-$20 Entrees: $25-$45 hillstone.com/houstons

JOY CAFÉ Every Sunday at sunrise, Joy Austin Beber goes to her Buckhead café and makes a whopping pile of her greatgrandmother’s biscuits. After church, she serves a hallelujah chorus of a brunch: fluffy buttermilk pancakes; eggs Benedict; and those famous biscuits topped with gravy, sausage and scrambled eggs. I arrived at the 3 p.m. cutoff for the breakfast-y brunch items, and enjoyed a terrific cobb salad with loads of blue cheese, bacon, avocado, boiled egg and grilled chicken. The Joy’s pièce de résistance, though, is the Crack Pie, with its oatmeal-cookie crust and gooey

interior. Joy got a kick out of hearing that I am wack for her crack. This selftaught chef keeps it simple and fresh.

Brunch: $7-$14 Lunch: $8-$12 joycafeatl.com

KYMA The name means “wave,” and that’s exactly what executive chef Pano I. Karatassos has been doing at his family’s stellar Greek seafood restaurant since 2002. From marides (tiny, “French fry”-size white fish) to Greek specimens grilled whole (try the barbounia or bronzino), Kyma excels at delivering the kind of simple, unadorned flavors you’ll encounter on a patio by the Aegean. Order a glass of Greek wine (there are many options) and a few classic meze for sharing (we like the dolmades, spanakopita, cuttlefish stuffed with lamb stew, and the fetazucchini fritters), and your meal will go just swimmingly.

Meze: $8-$14.

Mains: $26-$46. (Whole fish: $30 or $36 per pound) buckheadrestaurants.com/kyma

Thick slices of smoked brisket and turkey on a Delta Double combo plate at Smokebelly.

ONE SUSHI PLUS This glam space wedged in the back corner of Brookhaven’s Town Village is a neighborhood hotspot for Japanese small plates. The freshest fish flown in from Japan’s Tsukiji Market will impress the discerning sushi eater, while colorful rolls with clever names please the occasional dabbler. Sharable offerings and inspired snacks of zesty, yellowtail jalapeno shots and crispy fried bang bang rock shrimp are as fun as they are tasty. The drinking experience is worth celebrating as well, with a large selection of sake, shochu and whisky.

We recommend the smoked toro, tender slices of tuna served under a dome of hickory smoke and the bulgogi-like Gangnam style roll.

Dinner: $6-$37 theonesushiplus.com

SMOKEBELLY Smokebelly offers a traditional Southern inspired barbeque experience within Buckhead’s posh surroundings.

The rustic yet upscale interior is a comfortable place to kick back with a local beer or craft cocktail. The hearty barbecue platters offer generous portions of smoked meats and sides that harken to roadside dives. In addition, salads and healthful sides are tasty alternatives. At lunch, choose from a dozen sandwiches or from the long list of small plates. We recommend the quinoa super food salad, tangy and bright with colorful veggies and fresh greens, or the smoked brisket and sofrito empanadas with tender and richly flavored meat wrapped in a flaky crust.

Tapas: $4.50-$11.50

Sandwiches and salads: $6.50-$13 BBQ Plates: $14-$27 smokebellybbq.com

WATERSHED ON PEACHTREE Co-owned by Indigo Girl Emily Saliers and restaurateur Ross Jones, Watershed is a restaurant with a storied, personality-driven past. It started as a walk-up sandwich shop in Decatur, won a James Beard Award for chef Scott Peacock and moved to Buckhead in 2012. Recently, chef Zeb Stevenson took over the kitchen, and his Southern and sometimes French-accented food is a decided improvement over predecessor Joe Truex. We are crazy about the dreamy chicken-liver mousse, smokedtrout brandade and Appalachian cider

beans, a cassoulet-like play on pork and beans. A self-taught cook who brings soul, excitement and the occasional spark of genius, Stevenson is less interested in replicating the greatest hits of the past than cooking straight from the heart. We should all respect that.

Appetizers: $8-$16 Entrees: $9-$18 at lunch, $20-$35 at dinner watershedrestaurant.com

Hungry for more?

Visit the Simply Buckhead website to read all of our Restaurant Reviews! simplybuckhead.com

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMPLY B U CKHEAD COV ER S TORY

STORY:

Mark Woolsey and Jim Farmer PHOTOS: Sara Hanna

Some call our state’s booming movie and TV filming and production scene “Hollywood of the South.” Others prefer “Y’allywood.”

By whatever name, Georgia has carved out a solid place on both the big and small screens. As a subset of that growth, Buckhead has become a nexus for high-profile actors, agents and casting experts.

In the pages ahead, you’ll read about some of the professionals taking center stage in the local film industry and why they’ve chosen to put down roots in our community.

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C OV E R S TORY

Wardrobe: Dress (Self Portrait), Tootsies; Shoes (Stuart Weitzman) Bloomingdale’s Lenox Square; Necklace, earrings and ring, LA Stein; Bracelets, KZ Noel.

WOMAN OF TWIN PASSIONS

LAURA LUNDY WHEALE

T

he intricacies of the law and the nuances of bringing a character to life: Those two passions have dominated Laura Lundy Wheale’s life.

The 28-year-old lawyer and actress seemingly wouldn’t have done it any other way. And she says there are parallels between litigating and acting, in that “you have to be empathic with your clients and know where they’re coming from because it’s one of the worst times of their lives. As an actor, you have to be empathic with

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your character.” Both play to what she calls a focused, protective nature.

“In a perfect world I would be able to do both. But if I can make it in acting, it will be acting,” says the Cedartown, Georgia, native and Brookhaven resident.

And she’s well on her way.

An acting class at 12 years old launched her into a long string of community and school theater productions. Home-schooled, she went on to play tennis on full scholarship at Jacksonville State University and

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

major in theater. A fork in the road opened up at graduation.

A potential Master of Fine Arts degree beckoned, but Wheale chose law school in Birmingham instead.

She reasoned that if acting failed to catch fire, she’d still have a career she enjoyed.

By then, says Wheale, she’d long been catching a creative buzz from being on a stage and collaborating to put a piece of artwork together.

It wasn’t until she studied at the Lee Strasburg Theater and Film Institute

in L.A. between her second and third law school years that her love for movie and television work blossomed.

“The intimacy of film is what appealed to me,” she says. “You have to be very honest because the camera never blinks. Whereas in theater, there are other people on stage, so the focus isn’t only on you. Add to that, the camera catches nuances that you don’t have in theater because the audience is so far away.”

Still straddling the line, Wheale graduated, passed the bar and hung out a shingle in her dad’s law firm in west Georgia. She also began auditioning for everything from industrial videos to big-screen roles.

She caught the attention of directors Clint Eastwood and Ang Lee that led to her snagging a small role as a reporter in Sully, and a much meatier role in Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, both in 2015. In Billy, set for release Nov. 11, she plays the older sister of a troubled 19-year-old soldier who’s been brought home for a victory tour after a harrowing battle in Iraq. She bucks up her sibling while dealing with tension and peculiar family dynamics. For Wheale, the role represented crossing a finish line.

Getting a call saying that she was Ang Lee’s first choice for Billy was “quite emotional. Having your dreams come to fruition is very intense. I walked into my dad’s office, and he thought something was quite wrong with me at first. Just a surreal experience.”

“One of my friends said, ‘You caught lightning in a bottle,’” recounts Wheale with a chuckle, “because I’d only been auditioning for about nine months when I booked Billy Lynn.”

She says the authoritative role dovetails nicely with her inner nature—she’s the real-life older sister of three brothers. That take-charge mien has also framed her legal career. By 2015, she’d followed her husband to a Buckhead law firm where she’s done personal injury law, as well as pharmaceutical and product liability cases, and won substantial judgments.

Outside the courtroom, Wheale is frequently found at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta and Shake Shack.

But don’t look for her to linger over a burger and milkshake for long.

“I am just really focused,” she says. “And I work very hard. I try not to let a day go by that I don’t use it to the fullest extent.” n

OUR NEXT CINEMATIC SUPERHERO?

PETER ZIMMERMAN

H

e’s hit all the “adult” benchmarks one would expect from a budding actor. High school theater. Classes and workshops.

Acquiring an agent. Relationshipbuilding. And endless, sometimes seemingly fruitless auditions.

Spend 5 minutes with Peter Zimmerman, and it’s obvious he’s serious—no, consumed—with his craft.

Then without warning, the big-boy demeanor cracks, and the self-described geekiness comes through.

“I’ve been auditioning for a bunch of Marvel projects,” says the 24year-old with a boyish grin. “I kind of want to be a superhero.”

It suddenly makes perfect sense that he’d show up for an interview in a “Jedi Master” T-shirt.

Saving the world and winning over the beautiful girl just might be the next career achievement for Zimmerman, a Buckhead-based actor and Gwinnett native whose star is rising in Georgia’s on-screen landscape.

As he tells it, he was 10 when his mom got him his first agent. Auditions followed, but success was scanty.

All too quickly came high school with more intense schoolwork and tests, theater projects and sports.

Soon, he was struggling over whether to continue investing time in his performance aspirations or live the more normal life of a typical teenager.

Securing a guest-starring role on Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns at 17 solidified his on-camera dreams.

“It was surreal because when I got there, it was all of a sudden going from not booking to being the center of focus for the episode. It was a turning point for me, and I realized this is what I should be doing. Forget missing school and sacrificing; this is totally worth it.”

He began to catch fire with casting directors and producers. The roles multiplied: The TV series “Single Ladies” and BET’s “The Game;” Parental Guidance starring Billy Crystal and Bette Midler. Then, he was hitching his star to one of TV’s hottest dramas. A casting director he’d worked with on a prior project approached him to audition for Georgia-filmed “The Walking Dead.”

Wardrobe: Shirt and vest (Ted Baker), necktie (The Men’s Store at Bloomingdale’s), jeans (Diesel), shoes (Gordon Rush), Bloomingdales Lenox Square; belt his own.

Zimmerman says, “Auditioning was interesting. It was on tape, and I was already past the deadline. I didn’t even think about the audition, and I did it with no preparation. I think because I didn’t think too much about it; I didn’t psych myself out.

I gave the most natural performance I could.” The show’s moguls promptly snapped him up.

Almost immediately after casting, filming started, not even allowing time for binge-watching to familiarize himself with the show. Undaunted, he dove in to playing Eduardo, a guard at the gates of The Hilltop Village, a (hopefully) zombie-free enclave outside of Washington, D.C. In season six, Eduardo didn’t speak.

But in season seven, he does, and Zimmerman fleshes out (no pun intended) the recurring character.

“This kid wants to prove himself, but he doesn’t necessarily know how to do it yet. When you talk about the apocalypse, you can’t just have this front that you’re a hardass; you have to prove it,” he muses.

On the prove-it front, Zimmerman continues to audition “right and left,” and he’s close to landing another meaty role. He says his family is a feet-on-the-ground counterbalance to a career that seems poised to soar. He lauds his mom as his biggest fan. “She motivated and pushed me to take risks, but she was never a stage mom who forced me to do it.”

He lives in North Buckhead and has no inclination to pursue acting in L.A. “Oh no,” he says.

“I love that it’s booming here.” n

C OV E R S TORY

Wardrobe: Dress (Jovani), Tootsies; shoes (Pour la Victoire), Bloomingdale’s Lenox Square; necklace, earrings and bracelet, LA Stein; ring bracelet and ring, L George Designs.

A RISK-TAKER

ERNESTINE JOHNSON

M

adam C.J. Walker. Fannie Lou Hamer. Daisy Bates.

Buckhead-based actress and poet Ernestine Johnson wants to bring those major figures of black history to a wider audience. Poised on the brink of a possible breakout role, she appears to have the chops to do it.

“I’m the type of person who’s going to say how I feel,” says Johnson, 29, who’s possessed of a winsome smile and a luminous countenance that contrasts with her blunt, straight-tothe-bone language. “I have a powerful voice, and I love that about me, but it can be intimidating to some people.”

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That robust voice took shape with childhood roles and solidified further at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Near graduation, research convinced her that working in Atlanta’s burgeoning film and TV industry made more sense than heading home to Los Angeles where there were “3 million people who look like me and talk like me.”

“I landed here on a Monday, and the next [day] I was in acting class,” she recalls. “I didn’t have an agent; I didn’t have a manager. I didn’t have family here; I didn’t know anyone.”

What she did have was a job at a

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

high-end department store that she left after 18 months to start a personal shopping/concierge business. Johnson says that gave her more time to focus on auditioning and perfecting her skills.

In the meantime, her acting career was gaining steam. Roles in such movies as Think Like a Man 2 and Fear No Evil followed as Johnson worked the audition circuit, took classes and trained with a veteran acting coach.

What could be her breakout role is about to hit the big screen. In Digital Lives Matter, she plays the love interest of social media king DC Young

Fly (playing himself), who wakes up to find a computer geek has erased his more than 3 million social-media followers. He has to find at least a million of them in one day to get in the door of a potentially careerchanging audition. Along the way, he meets Johnson.

“I think it’s the one independent film every actress does before she explodes,” Johnson says confidently. In the same spirit of truth and authenticity that illuminates her poetry, she researches her characters minutely, giving them a detailed back story down to their favorite colors or drinks. She says the same approach has fostered a host of relationships, including a group of fellow female, Atlanta-based, up-and-coming actors who have formed a tight bond.

Truth, a strong attachment to family and faith in God have kept her anchored. “And you get told no every week,” she grins. “If that doesn’t ground you, I don’t know what does.” Fact is, she’d turn down any performance against the grain of her nature. That lesson was driven home when she accepted a poetry gig with the proviso that she not curse or talk about black women. “I bombed,” she admits matter-of-factly.

Far more successful was an appearance on “The Arsenio Hall Show” in 2015 and on college campuses across the country. She says she discovered her poetic “voice” by accident after winning a fifthgrade poetry competition.

While savoring her newly won leading lady status, Johnson eschews the notion that she has to be the next Julia Roberts. If fame comes, she says, that’s great, but above all she wants to be known as a consistently working actress who always turns out a quality product.

She aspires to play Madame C.J. Walker, a late-19th/early-20th-century entrepreneur, philanthropist and social activist. “It’s long overdue,” she says.

“It’s not like those stories are new.”

Whether acting, performing poetry, working with a fledging production company, personal shopping or investing in real estate, Johnson says her approach is razor-consistent.

“All you have is your reputation and your name, and you need to make something of that name.”

And she is. n

THE OPTIMISTIC ARTIST

CLIFTON POWELL

K

eeping the faith: It’s a notion that’s powered Clifton Powell through four-plus decades of acting, couch-surfing and clerical work in lean times onto ever-more high-profile roles and to eventual acclaim. Now 60, when many are coasting into the retirement red zone, Powell seems busier than ever and is preparing to pay it forward on a grand scale.

The longtime screen star caught the acting bug while he was a student at St. Anthony Catholic School in Washington, D.C., and he saw My Fair Lady. He went to the director and asked to be in a performance, but not do any singing. He got his wish, later playing General Bullmoose in Li’l Abner. A career was born.

It wasn’t long before he was accepted into Workshops for Careers in the Arts, a pilot program for artistically talented teenagers. Mornings were regular classroom work, and afternoons were devoted to acting.

He went on to Emerson College in Boston where he earned a degree in speech and education.

From 1979 to 1989, Powell was in New York, forging a name for himself on stage while working such jobs as a speech counselor in summer youth programs. After 10 years, it was time to look west.

“I was doing a lot of commercials and the stage, and I wasn’t making a great living,” he said. “I didn’t [go to California] to be a movie star but to do some TV and make a living at it.”

Powell’s first gig in L.A. was a play called Fraternity that put him on the road. When the run ended, he headed back to L.A. where a dogged pursuit of roles landed him a spot in the movie House Party, followed by turns in Tour of Duty, Equal Justice and Rush Hour. In the early 1990s, he played powerful drug dealer Andre on the Fox TV series “Roc” and credits this with putting him on the map.

Powell has brought to life a wide range of characters, from colorful baddies to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Selma, Lord Selma. He credits his success to his determination to find the truth in his characters through extensive study in areas such as

Wardrobe: Suit (Hugo Boss), shirt (Ted Baker), pocket square (Laslett & Stocker), shoes (Puma), Bloomingdale’s Lenox Square.

mime and improvisational theater, and his boundless love of people and old-fashioned hard work.

Powell is a fairly-newly Buckhead resident, having relocated from L.A. a year ago. He headed here for a toughguy role in “Saints and Sinners,” a drama about a pastor in a small-town Georgia church. Filmed in Buckhead and in its second season on Bounce TV, the show revolves around a congregation in fictional Cypress, Georgia.

Powell plays Rex Fisher, a tough guy who grew up with the pastor, but took a less saintly path in life. “Rex is involved in all sorts of nefarious activities,” is how Powell puts it.

Powell says, “I relocated to Atlanta because it’s very viable these days.

There’s a lot of work and a lot of Southern hospitality.” Indeed, he’s auditioning once or twice a week. That’s borne fruit, as this November, he’ll be intown shooting Mine Nine, a drama about West Virginia coal miners.

The veteran screen player says part of his move here came from a desire to branch out, to produce and direct, and to eventually open an acting school. He already teaches classes at the SAE Institute Downtown and is looking for about 30 people to form a repertory company.

Says the performer, “I am a Pisces and a giver. I like to see people win. My father and sister instilled in me that when there’s a will, there’s a way. If you have faith, you can move mountains.” n

C OV E R S TORY

TV VET

AIDEN TURNER STORY:

H

Jim Farmer

e’s a TV fixture these days, but Aiden Turner never prepared for the limelight.

It was only after dabbling in modeling that the acting door opened.

Born outside of London in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, Turner studied to be a chef and worked for two years in the field. He also dabbled as a disc jockey. After saving some money to travel, he found himself in Australia in 1997, where he started modeling. He hopped back and forth to London to visit family, and while there he took a part-time acting class that netted him some small roles. Eventually, he decided to move to the U.S., landing in New York in 2001 at age 23. He thought he’d stay 6 months, but his stint was considerably longer. He auditioned for the role of Trey Kenyon on “All My Children” in 2002, and the producers gave him another—that of private eye Aidan Devane, a mysterious figure who visits fictional Pine Valley after his aunt comes to town. He was with the soap opera for 8 years, earning a 2003 Emmy nomination.

“At first it was tough, dealing with 30 pages of dialogue a day, but I learned quickly,” he says. “It was great working with Susan Lucci.”

He left the show permanently in 2009 and moved to Los Angeles.

That same year, he was invited onto

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Wardrobe: Shirt and pants (Ted Baker), jacket (All Saints), necktie (The Men’s Store Bloomingdale’s), shoes (Kenneth Cole), Bloomingdale’s Lenox Square; belt his own.

“Dancing with the Stars” and teamed up with professional dancer Edyta Sliwinska. They were voted off on week four, but the experience was memorable, albeit challenging. “I remember being sore all over, but after three weeks, I felt fitter than ever and lighter on my feet.”

These days, 39-year-old Turner stars on Tyler Perry’s “If Loving You is Wrong” that airs on the Oprah Winfrey Network. He plays Brad, a Marine dedicated to his wife who realizes she is having an affair

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

with a friend. The role came quickly.

After an audition in 2014, he got a call the next morning telling him he needed to meet with Perry immediately. He got the part and within two weeks had moved to Atlanta from L.A. He first lived here part-time but became a full-time resident in 2015.

Turner calls Buckhead home and enjoys the area, particularly the people. “They are polite. They say please and thank you. I love the Southern hospitality.”

In 2015, Turner had a child, Tristan James Turner, with fiancée and model Jessica Miller. Being a dad has motivated him. “It has made me focus more on my career and my goals,” he says. “It’s also made me more sensible.”

Although he has achieved success and become a recognizable face, he isn’t content with just that.

He wants to expand his acting repertoire. “It’s not about being famous—it’s about being considered for amazing roles.” n

COV ER STORY

SHAY GRIFFIN’S CASTING CREDITS

M

ention the name Shay Griffin to one of the growing number of Atlanta-based actors, directors, producers and others in film work, and you’re liable to get an “oh yeah,” and a knowing smile.

It’s a reaction born of deep personal respect for a true moverand-shaker in the local on-screen scene. The longtime talent agent and casting director is deeply enmeshed in Georgia’s people and landscape—and its place in the movie and TV industry. Decades of her tireless work has jumpstarted the careers of hundreds of Atlanta and Georgia performers. Along the way, she helped revive the state’s moribund film industry.

Opening her talent agency in Atlanta in the late ’70s then moving to casting work in the late ’80s gave Griffin multiple platforms from which to help Georgia-grown performers. She’s an unabashed fan of our state’s performing arts talent pool and says the move to casting came about “because I needed a different challenge and a better way to help actors get established in the marketplace. I felt like I would be in a better position to create opportunities by working directly with directors and producers.”

Dividing her time between a home in Buckhead and her west Georgia farm, the three-time Emmy nominee for casting felt she’d settled into a sweet spot–until the industry began drying up around her in the early 2000s, with less and less Hollywood work coming here.

“We began to realize around 2006 and 2007 that we weren’t going to be in business much longer,” she says, noting that other states had become more adept at dishing up economic incentives to Hollywood and luring productions.

With onscreen work on the ropes, she became the founding director of the Georgia Production Partnership that put together a revival plan and hired a lobbyist to pitch for the industry. She says that convinced then-governor Sonny Perdue to put a film advisory commission together and bring her aboard. Talk started to bubble up about getting the legislature to pass tax credits that would put the state back in the game.

MOVIE: Sully, 2016 ACTOR: Brett Rice CHARACTER: Carl Clark MOVIE: Billy Lynn’s Long

Halftime Walk, 2016 ACTRESS: Laura Lundy Wheale CHARACTER: Patty Lynn MOVIE: Paris Trout, 1991 ACTOR: Ray McKinnon CHARACTER: Carl Bonner

CASTING QUEEN SHAY GRIFFIN HAS AN EYE FOR TALENT, GEORGIA STYLE “Governor Perdue challenged us to sell that idea to him and to the legislature,” she says. “So we became politicians.” In the process, the group shaped what the tax incentives would look like, which resulted in the Georgia peach and mention of the state film office frequently seen when the credits roll.

The lobbying, the buttonholing and gumshoe-level work paid off in 2008 when the General Assembly approved and Perdue signed

a package of generous tax credits.

And lo and behold, the floodgates opened. Griffin says the legislation “worked beyond our greatest expectations. We had a 5-year plan and goals as to how the business would grow. We met that in 6 months.”

State officials now call film and TV work here a $7 billion industry, and a pleased Griffin has watched the state’s role evolve from being mostly a location-shooting spot to a full-fledged industry with major

studio facilities, casting companies, equipment providers and other supporting superstructure.

The next step?

“We are really working hard to get independent production going. If we can be the people who put the story on the screen, we’re not just a location spot; we’re a production state.”

Griffin is involved with a group putting together an independent production firm, even as casting work continues to be a labor of love.

While most auditions are recorded nowadays, Griffin prefers the in-person approach, where actors come in and swing for the bleachers, and she appraises with a critical eye, looking for that spot-on read that matches a pending role. Her approach, which starts with the Georgia talent pool, seemingly works like a charm both with producers and directors relying on her judgment calls, the performers themselves.

She says the careers of such steady, productive actors as Walton Goggins, Kyle Chandler and Ray McKinnon (who had high-profile roles in The Blind Side and O Brother, Where Art Thou, among other productions) started with her casting eye.

“Good casting is an art,” she says, “It’s never been a numbers game.

It’s the casting director who really does try to understand what a director will need for a project and gives the director a choice of people who will bring a character to life.

“I’ve always said that the most exciting thing is to watch a role get up off a page and become a true part of a film.” n

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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SUPPORTING CAST

THESE FILM INDUSTRY PROS PROVE THEY’RE STARS IN THEIR OWN RIGHT

STORY:

Jill Becker

“W

e’re living in a magical time. We literally have Hollywood in our backyard,” acknowledges Rich “RJ” Rappaport. His company, RJR Props, is just one of the many area businesses helping make the film industry in Georgia the blockbuster business that it is. Here is Rappaport’s story along with other unsung individuals working behind the scenes to keep the cameras rolling.

working on projects such as “The Originals ” “Survivor’s Remorse,” and the recently released comedy Almost Christmas. Her duties depend on what she’s hired to do for a particular project. “I can be a buyer where I work closely with the design team to go shopping for looks. I also work as a set costumer, assist the design team and watch to make sure there’s continuity on set.” One of her most memorable jobs so far? “My first season on ‘The Originals.’ We received rentals from a costume shop in L.A. Some of the pieces were from the movie Titanic, and that’s when I fell in love with period pieces.” stylemylifeagency.com

GEORGIA LOCATION SERVICES

t CERET “CE-CE” KNOTT STYLE MY LIFE

s RICH “RJ” RAPPAPORT RJR PROPS “We have everything imaginable,” says Rich “RJ” Rappaport of the 30,000-plus props stored in his company’s massive warehouses southwest of downtown that are crammed with everything from ATMs to police gear and space capsules. “But we are famous for our prop money, computers and server rooms.” A computer component, in fact, was responsible for the Sandy Springs resident’s foray into the prop world.

Previously in the electronics biz, Rappaport got a call one day in 2010 from someone desperately looking for a warning light control panel for a local production.

That man turned out to be special effects master Bob Shelley, and he informed Rappaport that his inventory was a “treasure trove” of hardto-find tech-related items that were needed as props by the film business. Since then, items from Rappaport’s stash have appeared in some 175 TV shows and feature films, including Ant-Man and Sully. rjrprops.com

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s CAROLINE STOKES

“If it’s on film, we will provide a location for it,” says Neely Sood of Brookhaven, who, along with her partner Caroline Stokes, runs Georgia Location Services. Their vast database of residential and commercial properties includes homes, strip malls, clubs, stores and restaurants that have been used as settings in dozens of film and TV projects. The business got started when Stokes’s own Buckhead home was chosen as a potential location for the Jennifer Lopez flick Lila & Eve, and although it ultimately didn’t make the cut, “that knock on our door by the location scout was the

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

“This is far from a 9-to-5 lifestyle,” says Ce-Ce Knott of her job as a wardrobe stylist and set costumer.

“No two shoots are ever the same.”

After moving from Louisiana to Buckhead three years ago, she landed her first gig at Tyler Perry’s studio as a production assistant in the wardrobe department. Today, she’s

t SHELLY JUSTICE SALT MODEL & TALENT If you’ve seen any of the episodic shows shot in the Southeast, such as “Halt and Catch Fire” or “The Vampire Diaries,” you’ve no doubt seen some of the more than 500 actors represented by Salt Model & Talent, a midsize agency with offices in Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Says CEO Shelly Justice, “We represent every type of actor, from kids to adults, from full-fledged stars to character actors, who fulfill many types of roles.” Justice has a newfound appreciation for what her clients go through ever since her Sandy Springs home was rented out for the recent Ben Affleck film The Accountant. “It was a very interesting experience to be on set while they were filming. There is a lot of work involved only to generate a few minutes of film.” saltmat.com

Photo: Alan Matthews

AND NEELY SOOD

first of many calls to our property by the film industry and the first step on the path to where we are now,” says Stokes. What types of properties are productions looking for?

“Georgia is known for its fine, classic estates, and Downtown Atlanta is a great city to shoot in because it can mimic many other large metropolitan areas,” notes Sood. “[It’s also great for] traditional homes and neighborhoods with that all-American feel.” galocationservices.com

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SIMPLY HAPPENING

[ F E AT U R E D E V E N T ]

GREEN DAY

Ted Turner and other distinguished guests raise a glass to honor champions of the environment at the Captain Planet Foundation Benefit Gala.

A CELEB-FILLED GALA CHAMPIONS THE ENVIRONMENT

B

ack in 1989, media mogul Ted Turner exclaimed, “We need a superhero for the Earth. Let’s call him Captain Planet.”

The idea spawned a hit animated TV series of the same name. Two years later, the Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) was born with the goal of spreading Captain Planet’s message of environmental stewardship around the world. Today, the organization is 25 years strong and celebrating with a gala on Dec. 9 at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta. Attendees will enjoy a sumptuous dinner, live and silent auctions, world-class entertainment (singers Rufus Wainwright and Alison Krauss have performed in previous years) and the chance to mingle with celebrities

on the green carpet. CPF Executive Director Leesa Carter-Jones says, “The evening raises funds for programs that support project-based environmental learning strategies and projects in K to 12 schools in all 50 states and 22 other countries.”

Locally, that translates to having a garden in every elementary and middle school in the five major metro-area school districts by the year 2020. The event also honors several eco-conscious superstars such as Britain’s Prince Charles, an outspoken advocate for global sustainability; E.O. Wilson, widely recognized as one of the world’s leading biologists; and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, a 16-year-old climate change activist. – Jill Becker

CAPTAIN PLANET FOUNDATION 25TH ANNIVERSARY BENEFIT GALA Dec. 9, 6-9:30 p.m. $750 per ticket InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta 3315 Peachtree Road N.E. Atlanta 30326 404.522.4270 captainplanetfoundation.org/benefitgala

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S I M P LY H APP E N ING

E V E N TS

BUZZ GARDEN LIGHTS, HOLIDAY NIGHTS

[ FA M I LY F RI E N DLY ]

Reading Paws helps youngsters gain self-assurance by reading aloud to skilled therapy dogs.

Reading to Rover LOCAL LIBRARY EVENT COMBINES TALES WITH TAILS Charlotte’s Web, Green Eggs and Ham, Harry Potter—the shelves of the local AtlantaFulton Public Library System are full of these and other classic children’s books. All branches, including Buckhead and Sandy Springs, also host a variety of free kid-friendly events, from book clubs to afterschool story times. But perhaps the most charming

are the regular Reading Paws events where youngsters read to trained therapy dogs.

Put on by volunteers of area groups such as Happy Tails Pet Therapy, the sessions are held monthly at the Buckhead location and most Wednesdays in Sandy Springs. “They’re open to anyone—kids who like dogs; kids who like to read,” says Amy Alexander, a librarian at

the Buckhead library, “but the main purpose is to help kids to develop [skills for] reading out loud.” Reciting “Sam I am” to a trained dog like Sedona, a gorgeous golden retriever who loves to listen, can be less intimidating and helps build self-confidence. Plus it’s good, clean tail-wagging fun.

Sessions are 15 minutes each; registration required. – JB

READING PAWS Free Buckhead: Nov. 12 and Dec. 3 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

404.814.3500 Sandy Springs: Nov. 2, 9 and 16 3:15-4:15 p.m.

404.303.6130 afpls.org

[ M U S IC ]

Nov. 12 to Jan. 7 404.876.5859 atlantabg.org Holiday lights at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens returns this year for the sixth season. Beginning Nov. 12, guests can see the gardens decked out in more than 69 miles of light strings, the distance from Atlanta to Athens, Georgia.

Explore 30 acres of LED light displays, make s’mores by the fire pit, ride holiday model trains and more. Don’t miss the new Walk of Flames, a display of 21 giant candles and animated twinkle lights. The event runs from 5 to 10 p.m.

Tuesdays through Sundays until Jan. 7.

CREATE ATL FREE FAMILY FESTIVAL Nov. 27 404.733.4200 woodruffcenter.org/familyfun Grab your kids for an afternoon of fun, excitement and exploring at the Woodruff Arts Center! On Nov. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m., the Woodruff Arts Center will host a free, family-oriented festival featuring acting classes, performances

by Atlanta musicians, docent-led family tours and more. Reserve your complimentary tickets online.

CANDLELIGHT NIGHTS AT THE ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER

Above: Trumpeter Joe Gransden

Where Music Dwells

Above: The a cappella group Symp Vibes will get your toes tapping at this year’s Heritage Winter Classics concert series.

A PITCH-PERFECT CONCERT SERIES IN SANDY SPRINGS Jazz up your weekends this season at Sandy Springs’ annual Heritage Winter Classics concert series. Presented by the Heritage Sandy Springs foundation, the indoor monthly performances showcase jazz, classical and vocal music at Heritage Hall on the second Sunday of each month, November through February. On Nov. 13, The Bonaventure Quartet will entertain with a melting pot of everything from

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sea shanties to Broadway show tunes.

A special holiday spectacle on Dec. 11 features big-band trumpeter and singer Joe Gransden and acclaimed jazz and blues vocalist Theresa Hightower. Veteran string quartet CoResonance takes the stage Jan. 8, followed by the thrills and trills of the all-male Symp Vibes and all-female Nothin’ But Treble, two championship a cappella groups from Georgia Tech, on Feb. 12. – JB

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

HERITAGE WINTER CLASSICS Nov. 13, Dec. 11, Jan. 8 and Feb. 12, 4:30-6:30 p.m. $5-$10 Heritage Hall 6110 Bluestone Road Sandy Springs 30328 404.851.9111 heritagesandysprings.org

Dec. 9 and 16 404.814.4000 atlantahistorycenter.com/family Ever wonder what the holidays were like for Atlantans before us? For stories of Southern Christmas during the pioneer days, Civil War and the 1930s, follow the gaslight lamps to the Atlanta History Center for Candlelight Nights on Dec. 9 and Dec. 16 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tour homes and learn about Atlanta’s holiday history firsthand from interpreters. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for nonmembers, $8 for ages 4 to 12 and free for kids 3 and under.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE GEORGIA BOY CHOIR Dec. 16 and 17 404.266.2373 prumc.org/music The Georgia Boy Choir, joined by a professional orchestra, performs classic Christmas carols in the sanctuary of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church. Among the highlights: The Twelve Days of Christmas, performed with a rousing round of audience participation.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead 

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HOW TO GIFT WRAP A LUXURY RESORT A N D S PA

gift cards order online www.chateauelan.com/gifts or call 678-425-0900

Château Élan | 100 Tour De France, Braselton, Georgia 30517 Located I-85 North, Exit 126 - 30 Minutes North of Downtown Atlanta

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

S I M P LY H AP P E N ING

CHA R ITAB LE

Kristin Connor, Jill Becker, Chris Glavine

CURE’s 12th annual luncheon brought together more than 550 people who honored the mothers of children with cancer.

Jaye Watson, Kenny Hamilton

Photos: Lynn Crow

CURE’S A TRIBUTE TO OUR QUIET HEROES

Lacey Henderson, Melinda Marchiano, Gavin Shamis

W

Adeyinka Adeyemo, Kim Turner

Tom and Chris Glavine, Donna and Jack Kennedy

ith a vision to make an impact towards life-saving pediatric cancer research, CURE Childhood Cancer held its 12th annual luncheon, A Tribute to Our Quiet Heroes, at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta. Of the 550 guests in attendance, 250 were mothers of children with cancer. These women were honored during the reception and pampered with massages and makeovers by makeup artists from Authentic Beauty.

A silent auction featured sports memorabilia, Adele concert tickets and luxury vacations, while the raffle allowed guests to vie for a $1,000 American Express gift card, Yeti Coolers and more. In all, the event raised $455,000. Former 11Alive News Anchor Jill Becker and Chris Glavine, wife of MLB Hall of Fame Pitcher Tom Glavine, hosted the function and introduced four childhood-cancer survivors for an impactful discussion. The event concluded with a photo slideshow of the children whose mothers were in attendance and a performance of Rachel Platten’s “A Better Place” by Christian music artist Steve Fee. Each mother took home a bag filled with Saint Vintage jewelry, candles, earrings, a piano music CD and a wooden plaque engraved with the message “Choose Hope.” - Jordana Klein

Leigh Ann Herrin, Doug Rawson

Maggie Geeslin, Shea Geeslin

Ellianne Rivers

Allison Palestrini, Kristin Connor, Joanne Hayes

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

S I M P LY H AP P E N ING

CHA R ITAB LE

Auctioneer Uladia Taylor

Dikembe Mutombo (center) with (left to right) Genise Huey, Derek Bottoms, Keisha Lance Bottoms, Dr. Jarrod Huey, Chris Twyman, Lovette Russell, Tashia Twyman, Nikkya Williams, Travis Williams and Michael Russell.

Photos: Paul Biagui, Ross Oscar Knight

CARING FOR CONGO GALA

During the auction, Mutombo encouraged the crowd to bid higher on his coaching lessons for kids.

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Allison Ratajczak, Charmela Freeman

Rose and Dikembe Mutombo, Joanne and Sonny Hayes

Members of Women Orthopaedist Global Outreach spoke to the crowd about the organization’s humanitarian work.

early 500 attendees gathered at The St. Regis Atlanta to support the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation’s annual Caring for Congo Gala. The event, which included dinner and dancing, raised essential funds for the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital (BMMH) in Dikembe’s home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Several VIPs, including Ambassador Andrew Young and his wife, Carolyn, were in attendance. Dr. Groesbeck Parham, Howard Buffett and the Women Orthopaedist Global Outreach (WOGO) were honored with awards. Auction winners snagged coveted prizes including tickets and hotel stays for the 2017 NBA All Star Game in New Orleans, basketball coaching lessons for 10 kids by NBA Hall of Famer Mutombo, a suite package at the St. Regis Atlanta, signed athletic memorabilia and African jewelry and art. The Mutombo hospital has treated more than 200,000 patients since its opening day and serves an increasing number of patients each month, treating more than 100 patients daily through emergent and outpatient care.

Dikembe Mutombo, DMF Development Director Alicia Smith

Howard Buffett accepted a Caring for Congo award.

African dancers from Giwayen Mata kicked off the evening.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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Events by Anna Weddings and Rehearsal Dinners Showers Holiday Parties Birthdays, Bar and Bat Mitzvah’s and Quinceaneras.

Corporate events Home Decorating Services are also available.

Floral, linens, event decor, catering, cakes and desserts Anna Geren annageren07@gmail.com Pinterest @annageren07 404.246.1696

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

S I M P LY H AP P E N ING

CHA R ITAB LE

LAA Executive Director Aníbal Torres

Jason and Adilka White

The lively crowd parties during the carnival-inspired “La Hora Loca.”

Photos: Ninh Chau

LATIN FEVER BALL

G LAA Board Chair Bob Jimenez, Ambassador Andrew Young

uests celebrated in proper fashion at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta during the Latin Fever Ball, a charity gala supporting the Latin American Association. In its 28th year, the event drew 650 guests who enjoyed Puerto Rican décor and music by Orquesta Nova Sound as well as remarks by gala chairs Rey and Genie Pascual, LAA board members and presenting sponsor UPS. The dinner honored the theme with a salad made with pineapple and hearts of palm, Puerto Rican bistec encebollado (sirloin with an onion sauce) and yucca mofongo (mashed yucca with salt, garlic and oil). Auction items included a VIP experience to the Latin Billboard Awards, a Riviera Maya suite and Puerto Rican vacation package, helping raise $485,000. Following the auction, dessert arrived in the form of a coquí-shaped tembleque (coconut pudding) with mango sorbet, Puerto Rican rum and a coral-reef decoration. A carnival-inspired party, “La Hora Loca,” included tunes by DJ Norm, stilt walkers, noisemakers and performers in colorful costumes and vejigante masks.

The event continued late into the night with an after party complete with a midnight Champagne toast. - Jordana Klein

Patty Webb, Tony Angelini

Auctioneer Dean Crownover led the crowd in various games, such as Heads or Tails.

Event chairs Rey and Genie Pascual

Augusto Michael Trujillo, Annie and Raul Trujillo

Newlyweds Former Atlanta Mayor Sam Massell and Sandra Gordy Massell.

Guests danced to the music of Orquesta Nova Sound.

November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

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S I M P LY H APP E N ING

S CE N E

STRIKE A POSE Models vogue winter’s tactile trend of mixing textured fashions at Tootsies.

PHOTO: Sara

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November/December 2016 | Simply Buckhead

Hanna

YOU QUIT SMOKING FOR YOUR HEALTH. GET A LUNG SCREENING FOR THE SAME REASON.

If you are a smoker or even stopped smoking, it’s time to get a lung screening. A screening can help detect lung cancer early when there are more treatment options and a higher chance of survival. Northside Hospital Cancer Institute offers a low dose CT screening if you’re 55 – 77 years old and a current or previous smoker. It’s quick and easy and could save your life.

For information call 404-531-4444 or visit northside.com/lung

Where the Extraordinary Happens Every Day

ATLANTA | SAN ANTONIO | HOUSTON | CHICAGO

The

Way.

Flavored with Passion

404.842.0011 W W W. C H A M A G AU C H A . CO M 3365 PIEDMONT RD NE, ATLANTA GA 30305

Simply The BEST in ATLANTA Real Estate

421 Blackland Road Atlanta, GA 30342 $8,500,000

Debra Johnston

Luxury Collection Specialist #1 Individual Agent | Buckhead Office Atlanta | Los Angeles | New York | Miami

Mobile: 404-312-1959 Email: debra.johnston@BHHSGeorgia.com Website: www.DebraAJohnston.com BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES GEORGIA PROPERTIES © An independently operated subsidiary of HomeServices of America, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, and a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks of HomeServices of America, Inc.® Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices does not endorse any of the products or vendors, referenced on this material. Any mention of vendors, products, or services is for informational purposes only. If your property is currently listed with a Realtor®, please disregard this notice. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other Brokers. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Logan Design Group Int. is proud to add 2016 Southeastern Designer Showhouse to their brilliant collection of architectural design around Atlanta.

The architects at Logan Design

Group are looking to continue serving Atlanta's Luxury Market by executing exquisite architectural plans.Dietrich Logan and his team bring over 50 years of excellence as they raise the bar for Luxury Residential and

Multi-Family Design in Atlanta, across

Designer of Atlanta's First National Showhouse

the country and overseas.

Designer of Atlanta's Most Expensive Speculative Build in Buckhead's History THE ULTIMATE INTERPRETATION of gracious living and quintessential Southern style...designed by architect Dietrich T. Logan - Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles Recently recognized by Mayor Kasim Reed

404.274.4275 | www.logandesigngroup.com

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Let us add some sparkle to your holiday season.

Let us help you relax after you have filled your sleigh.

Let us craft a seasonal cocktail just for you.

Let us create a new holiday tradition that fills you with joy.

Fill your holiday with lasting memories at The Ritz-Carlton.

Reserve a holiday escape with family and friends at one of our three locations in Georgia. To reserve, contact your travel professional, call The Ritz-Carlton at 1-800-542-8680 or visit ritzcarlton.com/georgia.

ATLANTA BUCKHEAD REYNOLDS, LAKE OCONEE

© 2016 The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC