Simply Buckhead Sept 2026

SEPTEMBER 2026

ISSUE 121 • FREE

Your Guide to Living Well in Atlanta

Serving Buckhead, Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Upper Westside

Hideoki Bespoke's Dedrick Thomas and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens

FASHION FORWARD

LOCALS COMING UP WITH THE NEXT BIG THING

REVIEW: UMI TAILGATE PARTY PREP FARM GETAWAY

There’s No Place Like

HOME

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HOMEgeorgia.com | @HOMErealestate.ga | 404.383.HOME (4663) Information believed accurate but not warranted. Offer subject to errors, changes, omissions, prior sales and withdrawals without notice. HOME Real Estate, LLC is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. Broker, Travis Reed. HOME Luxury Real Estate | 31 Pharr Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305

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LIVE MORE OF THE BUCKHEAD YOU LOVE. Along West Paces Ferry Road, a 20-story residential tower is now rising within one of Atlanta’s most prized addresses. Elyse introduces luxury, private condominium residences with expansive terraces, floor-to-ceiling glass, and the most complete collection of indoor and outdoor amenities in the neighborhood — all built around the way you live. Now under construction on West Paces Ferry, Elyse Buckhead sets the standard for the next generation of in-town living.

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Schedule a Private Appointment | 404.777.4861 ElyseBuckhead.com | 107 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30305

Broker Participation is welcomed and encouraged. ORAL REPRESENTATIONS CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS CORRECTLY STATING REPRESENTATIONS OF THE SELLER. Prices, terms and availability are subject to change at any time without notice. Images are artist’s renderings and may not represent the final building. Furnishings and fixtures are for display purposes and are not included with the residence. Actual improvements, including, recreational facilities and amenities, may vary from those shown and views may not be available from all units. The project has been filed in the state of Georgia and no other state. This is not an offer to sell or solicitation of offers to buy the condominium units in states where such offer or solicitation requires prior qualification.

SIMP LY B UCK HEAD ®

SEPTEMBER 2026

Contents 24

34 Photos: 28: Patrick Heagney, 63: Alexandra Zak, 72: Madelynne Grace

63 28 26

72

12 Editor's Letter

20 APPROVED Tailgate Time

26 TRAVEL FAR Mythic Proportions

34 BULLETIN BOARD Base Camp

UP FRONT

The end of August ushers in a new season. And no, it isn’t fall. It’s football

A trip to a trio of Hellenic destinations leaves this writer wanting more

What is a command center, and does your home need one? An expert weighs in

17 NEWS For the Long Haul

22 TRAVEL NEAR Kicking it Since the 1500s

LIVING

36 TRENDING Green with Envy

Painted Hospitality Founders Launch New Business

St. Augustine is the oldest, still occupied city in the U.S.

18 LOCAL SALUTE Everyday Heroes

24 TRAVEL NEAR Great Outdoors

Wesley Woods names honorees

The Horse Shoe Farm brings to life the best of country living

An array of verdant, nature-inspired hues can elevate design

28 HOME Custom Crafted Smart custom storage maximizes every inch of a 1,600-square-foot Buckhead townhouse

38 TASTEMAKER Strong Roots Studio Black Oak’s Larissa Peixoto on her firm’s modern, global style

➥

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

9

S I M PLY B UC KHEA D ®

SEPTEMBER 2026

Contents CULTURE

40 FASHION Sleep in Style

54 ON STAGE Clothed in Character

Ro&Leaf, a new Buckhead-based loungewear brand, launches this month

All the world’s a fashion stage with The Vestments Group’s direction

42 BEAUTY A Method to the Mani

56 ART Art Forms

Experts in our city’s nail scene break down terms and trends

Mixing talents has taken this local artist down a myriad of pathways

44 WELLNESS Out of Rhythm

58 TASTEMAKER Flower Power

Understanding a common heart condition

Marie-Laure Coste Dujols makes gardens and businesses grow

59 EVENTS

simplybuckhead.com

@livingwellatl

@simplybuckhead

40

72 REVIEW Seeking Harmony

Places to go and things to do

48 KIDS Nursing Support

Umi balances classic and modern Japanese flavors with style

COVER STORY

Guidance for smoother breastfeeding journeys

63 Fashion Forward

76 DRINKS New Wine for Old Grills

50 PETS Furry Friend Photos

63

How to get the best photos of your pets

@simplybuckhead

DELICIOUS

FAMILY

Bespoke styles, local tailors and the designers coming up with the next big thing

Icons: Freepik.com

STYLISH

FI N D U S ON L I N E

An Italian sommelier’s guide to late-season grilling

78

78 FOODIE JOURNAL Grounds for Gathering Stellow offers coffee and community

80 TASTEMAKER The Business of Community

52 STRATEGIES Magic Made Easy

Robert Montwaid builds food halls that prioritize connection as much as commerce Erik Meadows

Visit the most magical place on Earth with advice from a Disney travel expert

80

82 Featured Restaurants A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead

84 Scene

B EHIND THE COVER Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens has become emblematic of the city’s refined style, so it was only fitting that he appear on our fashion-themed cover with Dedrick Thomas, the designer responsible for Dickens’ increasingly elevated looks. Our team converged on Hideoki Bespoke’s Peachtree Road studio, where Thomas makes his magic happen. The hardwood floors and brick walls of the 1931 building were an ideal backdrop for the team's vision. Clifford Simpson, who owns Soul Good Fine Food in Vine City, brought down-home Southern fare to keep the talent and crew fueled up. Makeup artist Nyssa Green did touchups of Dickens and Thomas in a vintage barbershop chair, and photographer Alexandra Zak captured the duo in various looks that grace both our cover and the accompanying feature. Read more on page 64.

10 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Photographer: Alexandra Zak Producer: Jennifer Bradley Franklin Photography Assistant: Amy Santiago Makeup: Nyssa Green Wardrobe: Custom Hideoki Bespoke, by appointment only, price available upon request, maisonhideoki.com Special thanks to Hideoki Bespoke for hosting our team and Soul Good Fine Food for catering.

SEPTEMBER 2026

ISSUE 121

Editor's Letter T

his summer, I attended a media preview for the new

Serving Buckhead, Brookhaven, Chamblee,

Jeffrey store in Buckhead Village District. The man

Dunwoody, Sandy Springs and Upper Westside

himself, Jeffrey Kalinsky, who made his triumphant return

P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355

to town after his Phipps boutique shuttered in 2020, was

simplybuckhead.com

decked out in leopard print shorts, a blue button down

For advertising rates, call: 404.538.9895

shirt and athletic trainers. For fashionistas hungry for

Joanne Hayes

designer labels ranging from Loewe and The Row to Valex-

Publisher and Founder

tra and Courrèges, the opening represents a homecoming

Sonny Hayes Chief Financial Officer

worthy of celebration. His return is evidence of Buckhead’s

FEATURED CONTRIBUTOR

EDITORIAL

insatiable appetite for style. So for this fashion-themed

Giannina S. Bedford Managing Editor

issue, we’re showcasing a cadre of local designers and

Jennifer Bradley Franklin

makers who are creating exciting, and sometimes one-of-a-

Senior Contributing Editor

kind, wares. Among them are cover star Dedrick Thomas

Alan Platten Creative Director

of Hideoki Bespoke, who appears with his client, Mayor

H.M. Cauley

Andre Dickens; Nicholas Hixon who, under his company

Copy Editor

Adeline, creates bespoke avant garde women’s shoes;

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Karina Antenucci Chelsie Butler H.M. Cauley Lauren Finney Harden Emily L. Foley Katie Hughes Mickey Goodman Angela Hansberger Michael Jacobs Denise K. James Nicole Letts Amy Meadows Hope S. Philbrick Claire Ruhlin

Marissa Freed, who used her family’s legacy in fur to launch a luxe faux-fur empire; and others.

The rest of our pages are packed with reported stories from our team of journalists. Nicole Letts profiles entrepreneur and restaurant owner Justin Amick’s new venture, Haul For You, a white glove pick-up, delivery and removal service.

Just in time for football season, writer Katie Hughes shares this year’s must-have finds and accessories for your next

PHOTOGRAPHERS

tailgating party in the “Simply Approved” department. ily’s getaway to Horse Shoe Farm, an idyllic resort in North

Madelynne Grace Patrick Heagney Erik Meadows Alexandra Zak

Carolina. Meanwhile, I had the pleasure of exploring the

SALES & ADVERTISING

menu at Umi, one of Atlanta’s

Bea Bolia

finest sushi restaurants, for

Layal Akkad

Managing Editor Giannina S. Bedford writes about her fam-

Account Executive Graphic Designer

this issue’s dining feature.

DIGITAL

BHG Digital

As we inch closer to the

Alexandra Zak Alexandra Zak is an Atlantabased editorial photographer, creative director and former model specializing in luxury branding, beauty, fashion and commercial imagery.

Her work has been featured in numerous publications including Harper’s Bazaar.

Zak helps clients elevate their presence through intentional, story-driven photography that blends strategy with artistry. Whether photographing a global campaign or a personal brand, Zak creates timeless images that feel elevated, confident and unmistakably editorial. Zak captured the cover image for this issue of Simply Buckhead.

Website Development Management

advent of autumn, we hope

Mike Jose Director of Audience Development

will inspire you to explore—

LEGAL Sara Hanna

this issue of Simply Buckhead and support—the offerings of local designers. Who knows what treasures you

Jennifer Bradley Franklin

might discover?

Senior Contributing Editor

12 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Scott I. Zucker Legal Counsel

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.

Copyright © 2026 by Simply Buckhead ®.

All rights reserved.

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

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S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

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404-585-5975

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Give your pre-loved pieces a second life Shopping the closets of THE most fashionable benefitting Dress for Success Georgia

Closet Confidential A Shopping Event Saturday, November 7th, 2026 10 AM - 2 PM VIP FIRST LOOK 10 - noon 103 West Paces Ferry Location TBD Buckhead

The Closet Edit: Donate with Purpose

What you can contribute:

That handbag collecting dust.

That pair of heels with nothing to match.

That dress waiting for another moment.

Your piece can shine again through another woman! The Closet Confidential Shopping Event gives luxury fashion a second life while directly supporting the women that Dress for Success Georgia serves who are on their journey to economic independence.

Designer handbags & accessories Luxury & contemporary women’s apparel Statement pieces & elevated basics Shoes, outerwear & occasion pieces Brands such as: Max Mara, Alice + Olivia, Zimmerman, Celine, Louis Vuitton, Veronica Beard, Akris Punto, etc.

What to Expect:

Items must be in good condition & lightly worn.

One-of-a-kind clothing, accessories, and shoes straight from the chicest closets around.

On-site personal stylists to help you slay your selections New clothing and handbags from your favorite boutiques

Why it matters: Every donation helps fund the mission of Dress for Success Georgia, empowering women with the professional attire, career development tools, & support they need to thrive in work and in life.

C ON T A C T M E G@ M R P R A T L .C OM FOR D E T A I L S

14 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Donate or get tickets here!

NEWS

LO CA L SA LU T E

APPROVED

T R AV E L

UP FRONT

Mythic Proportions Page 26 Amirandes, a luxury resort on the northern coast of Crete, features a design inspired by the water palaces of ancient Minoan royalty.

Greece is a destination that allures at every turn.

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

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16 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

NEWS

BY Nicole Letts

Haul For You, a white-glove hauling company, was co-founded

by Justin Amick and Jeremy Levison (pictured).

FOR THE LONG HAUL PAINTED HOSPITALITY FOUNDERS LAUNCH NEW BUSINESS

J

ustin Amick and Jeremy Levison, the Buckhead and Sandy Springs residents behind Painted Hospitality and kiln-dried firewood delivery service Burn the Wood, have launched Haul For You, a full-service, white-glove residential and commercial hauling company. “We started Haul For You because we saw an opportunity to bring true professionalism into a category that hasn’t always had it. In hospitality, details matter:

communication, timeliness, presentation and the way a team shows up.

We’ve applied that same standard here,” Amick says.

The founders built the service around a simple insight that metro Atlantans want a hauling company that donates rather than dumps.

“Our donation‑first model ensures we’re supporting the Atlanta community in a meaningful, measurable way,” Amick says. Instead of sending unwanted furniture, appliances

and household goods straight to a landfill, or loading it up yourself for a trip to Goodwill, Haul For You prioritizes donating usable items to trusted Atlanta-area nonprofits, including the Community Assistance Center, Atlanta Habitat for Humanity, Atlanta Mission, Hope House and the Furniture Bank of Metro Atlanta. The model allows anyone, including businesses, to declutter while directly supporting neighbors in need by furnishing

homes for families and fulfilling the Community Assistance Center’s emergency assistance programs.

The service offers same- and next-day availability for pickup, delivery, removal and hauling, with a streamlined online booking process designed to feel as effortless as it is responsible. Pricing starts at $200 per hour with a two-hour minimum, which includes two professional haulers and a fully equipped truck. n haulforyouatl.com

NEWS CLIPS Home Run at the History Center The Atlanta History Center’s popular Goizueta Children’s Experience has been reimagined with an all-new sports theme. Opened May 23, the 5,000-square-foot gallery celebrates Hawks, Braves, Falcons, Dream and Atlanta United through interactive exhibits and hands-on play. From dressing up as a player to testing your wingspan against the pros, children step onto the field to discover how sports have shaped

Atlanta’s identity. All five teams also contributed training videos showcasing how their athletes prepare to perform their best under pressure.

The revamped exhibit is one of six new experiences launching as the center marks its 100th anniversary. atlantahistorycenter.com @atlantahistorycenter

The Next Chapter Buckhead authors Meredith Lavender and Kendall Shores are back

with their sophomore novel, Perfect Life, released in July. Set once again in Winter Park, Florida, the story follows Este Walker, a retired tech executive who fled California to reinvent herself among Florida’s elite.

But when a dead body surfaces in her pool, her carefully constructed life unravels, and she finds herself at the center of a murder investigation that may be too close to home.

Lavender brings over two decades of television experience, including

as showrunner of Max’s “The Flight Attendant,” while Shores draws on a background in communications at companies including Mailchimp and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. meredithandkendall.com @meredithandkendall

Climate Controlled Upper West Market at 1385 Collier Road is the home of a new, yearround, indoor marketplace. Situated less than 2 miles from I-75, the mar-

ket brings together local and Georgia-sourced products, including fruit, honey, meat and seafood, alongside a lineup of Atlanta vendors and brands. Notable tenants include James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Anne Quatrano’s Summerland, Bellwood Coffee, Hop City Beer, Honeysuckle Gelato, White Oak Pastures, Xocolatl Chocolate and the Georgia Peach Truck, among others. upperwestmarket.com @upperwestmarket

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

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LOCAL SALUTE BY Mickey Goodman

An Extraordinary Donation Generational ties The Rollins family stunned The Lovett School community when they made a record-breaking $30 million commitment to construct the Rita Anne Rollins Hall in honor of Randall and Peggy Rollins’ oldest child. It is the biggest single donation in the history of the school and one of the largest to an independent school in the country.

“I was floored and feel so lucky to be shepherding the school at this time,” says Head of School Meredyth Cole.

The Rollins family’s multigenerational ties to Lovett include Rita Anne Rollins ’72 who died in an accident when she was a Lovett junior, Pam Rollins ’75, Tim Rollins ’81 and Amy Rollins Kreisler ’88, who made the presentation.

The new flagship building will feature student “makerspaces” for independent exploration, robotics and media studios, a performing arts venue, a chapel, dining room and central campus green.

THE LOVETT SCHOOL lovett.org • @thelovettschool

Pam Rollins, Tim Rollins, Amy Rollins Kreisler, Head of School Meredyth Cole, John Knox and Eileen Keough Millard

Everyday Heroes

Passing the Torch

Wesley Woods names honorees

Forty years of leadership

Buckhead residents Kathy Waller and John Stephenson will be named honorees at the Foundation of Wesley Woods Senior Living’s Heroes, Saints and Legends Awards Gala on Sept. 17 at Flourish Atlanta.

Since 1990, the event has celebrated 119 individuals and raised a total of $9.1 million. “The gala helps us fund our key areas: financial assistance, pastoral care, wellness programs and capital needs,” says Foundation President Diane Vaughan.

Waller, executive director for the Atlanta Community for Progress and retired CFO of The Coca-Cola Company, founded its Women’s Leadership Council and serves on numerous nonprofit boards.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta CEO Donna W. Hyland announced her retirement after four decades of service.

Under the Buckhead resident’s leadership, she helped transform a small pediatric hospital into one of the preeminent pediatric care providers in the country that sees more than 1 million children annually. She was recently inducted as a Georgia Trustee for the Georgia Historical Society.

“My original vision—and heart project—was to ensure every child in the state had access to the best healthcare possible,” she says.

“What stands out to me is the merger of Scottish Rite with Egleston to form CHOA, plus the addition

Stephenson, retired executive director of the J. Bulow Campbell Foundation and current executive director of the Georgia Health Foundation, has built his career on education and philanthropy. He was also vice president of development at Emory University.

WESLEY WOODS SENIOR LIVING’S HEROES wesleywoods.org/heroes

Wesley Woods Heroes John Stephenson and Kathy Waller

18 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Donna Hyland, outgoing CEO of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

of Hughes Spalding Hospital, the Marcus Autism Center, the Center for Advanced Pediatrics and the recent opening of the Arthur M. Blank Hospital, the state's only Level 1 pediatric trauma center.”

CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE OF ATLANTA choa.org • @childrensatl

$75+ Million Sold

by Yetty Arp at Lake Rabun, Lake Burton and in Rabun County Since 2010

LAKE RABUN

768 Wexford Way, Lakemont, Georgia 5 Bedrooms, 4 Bathrooms, Offered for $2,650,000

W O L F F O R K VA L L E Y

1422 Wolffork Road, Rabun Gap, Georgia 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 6.9± Acres, Offered for $1,300,000

L A K E B U R TO N

207 Raindance Lane, Clayton, Georgia 3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, Offered for $665,000

Yetty Arp Serving My Atlanta & North Georgia Clients Like Family m. 404.863.2116 o. 404.237.5000 yettyarp@atlantafinehomes.com © 2026 Sotheby’s International Realty. All Rights Reserved. Sotheby’s International Realty® is a registered trademark and used with permission. Each Sotheby’s International Realty office is independently owned and operated, except those operated by Sotheby’s International Realty, Inc. Equal Housing Opportunity.

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

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APPROVED Tri Stained Striped Custom Cornhole Set ($294.99) Settle the score at halftime with a competitive game of cornhole. West Georgia Cornhole and Titan Bags, located in Villa Rica, Georgia, offers a multitude of cornhole sets for varying levels of experience. The standard series board is made with marine-grade plywood and Southern yellow heart pine, has a smooth surface to ensure consistent bag slide and a nylon rope handle for easy mobility. The website offers a series of customizations to cater the board to your preferences.

West Georgia Cornhole and Titan Bags • westgeorgiacornhole.com • @westgeorgiacornhole

Football Stoneware Divided Serving Platter ($79)

Tailgate Time

For small bites and dippable treats, this football-shaped platter from Pottery Barn is both sleek and on theme. The serving tool is made of stoneware with a glazed mason white finish, with dimensions of 16.5 inches wide, 10 inches deep and 2.5 inches high. The dishware is part of a football collection, so add in appetizer plates and helmet snack bowls to round out the full set. It is also dishwasher and microwave safe.

Pottery Barn • potterybarn.com @potterybarn

The end of August ushers in a new season. And no, it isn’t fall. It’s football. As our favorite teams take the field, we return to the regularly scheduled programming of school, extracurriculars and weekends spent glued to the television. Whether you’re hosting a watch party at home or tailgating outdoors, nothing says football quite like a party.

Break out the Buffalo chicken dip, put on your jersey and let these trustworthy football-themed pieces take care of the rest.

STORY: Katie Hughes

Nordstrom Home Turf Coasters (set of 5, $29.99) Keep your countertops clean and stain-free with this set of winsome turf coasters from Nordstrom that mimic the green. Each coaster in the AstroTurf pack of five is 4 by 4 inches in dimension and has a soft no-scratch backing, because the only rings you want to see this football season are championship ones.

Nordstrom • nordstrom.com • @nordstrom

Football Icon 15-ounce Double Old-Fashioned Glass ($15.95) For those that can’t catch a football, hold on to this instead. The double old-fashioned glass from Crate and Barrel is a staple piece for your next Sunday night watch party.

The 15-ounce handblown glass is embedded with petite brown pigskins with white lacing detail and is dishwasher-safe.

Crate and Barrel crateandbarrel.com • crateandbarrel

Football Cheese Board ($169) The first line of defense at any party is the charcuterie, and this cheese board from Pottery Barn is your Hail Mary. The chic and sophisticated display is hand-crafted from walnut wood and spider green marble, varying each board slightly and ensuring no two pieces are alike. When the party is over, just wipe the board with a soft, damp cloth to preserve its polished appearance.

Pottery Barn • potterybarn.com • @potterybarn

20 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

More than a place to live, it’s a place to come alive.

WELCOME TO THE FOUNTAIN OF

you.

Please call to schedule a tour and discover CARF-accredited senior living that creates a space for you.

THE PIEDMONT AT BUCKHEAD

650 Phipps Boulevard NE • Atlanta

thePiedmontATBUCKHEAD.COM | 404.594.5085 AN SRG SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

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

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

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TRAVEL NEAR

Above: The centerpiece of Flagler College opened as a hotel in the late 1880s.

Kicking it Since the 1500s

St. Augustine is the oldest, still occupied city in the U.S. STORY: H.M. Cauley

W

hile this year marks the official 250th birthday of the U.S., St. Augustine is here to remind us that this land has roots that go back way farther than that.

It was 1513 when famed Spanish explorer Ponce de León set foot on what is now Floridia soil. Legend has it his goal was to discover a fountain of youth. It’s a myth that continues to draw the curious to St. Augustine’s Fountain of Youth Archeological Park where a coquina (crushed shells and coral) structure houses a natural spring that’s been a recorded visitor attraction since the 1860s. During a recent visit, I was game, filling a

small paper cup from the fountain and downing it, but I can’t report any noticeable wrinkle repair.

The area surrounding the park has been a magnet for archeologists who have uncovered evidence of civilizations who inhabited the area before the Spanish claimed it. But it’s the conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés who gets the credit for routing the French from the area and founding St. Augustine in 1587, making it the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental U.S. The influences instilled by the Spanish abound across the city, particularly in the waterside historic

district I explored on foot for a few days. The most notable remnant of another time is the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument.

Overlooking the Matanzas Bay, the 1672 fort was also built of coquina, a material prized for its ability to fend off cannon fire from British and pirate ships alike.

St. Augustine’s more recent history is credited to another pioneer: oil baron Henry Flagler. As a wealthy industrialist of the Gilded Age, he spared no expense to bring his sickly wife to a warmer climate and create appropriately posh playgrounds for his fellow millionaires. One of his primary achievements is now a centerpiece of Flagler College, a private liberal arts school whose students delight in giving tours of the palmtreed property that makes up their campus. Ponce de Leon Hall is the school’s jewel that dates back to 1888 when Flagler opened it as the Ponce de Leon Hotel. Its 68-foot high rotun-

Left: The Lightner Museum houses artifacts of the Gilded Age. Right: The historic district is anchored by the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a fort built in 1672.

22 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

St. Augustine abuts the blue waters of the Matanzas River and Matanzas Bay.

da and 70 original Tiffany stainedglass windows of the students’ dining hall are still jaw-dropping.

Across the street, Flagler also built the Hotel Alcazar that mirrors its sister property with a Spanish-tiled roof and covered verandas.

In 1948, it became the Lightner Museum when Chicago publisher Otto Lightner set up his display of Victoriana before donating it to the city. Fans of “The Gilded Age” TV series can see the real things, from Tiffany lamps to old-time bicycles and musical instruments on display.

Overlooking the museum’s manicured hedges and lawns is Casa Monica Resort & Spa, another 1888 Flagler project. The interiors still boast gold-leaf archways and Moorish carvings, while the guestrooms are the latest in luxury.

Staying there put me within an easy stroll past boutiques and historic sites as well as the brickpaved pedestrian St. George Street.

My visit to this town soaked in history wouldn’t have been complete without a sunset ghost cruise on the bay. Tales of the early settlers mingled with pirate myths more intriguing than scary. But they were all stories only a city as old as St. Augustine can tell. n visitstaugustine.com • @visitsta

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TRAVEL NEAR

Above: From goats and horses to plenty of chickens, the resort is home to several farm animals that guests can visit and feed.

GREAT OUTDOORS

The Horse Shoe Farm is nestled among the picturesque rural landscape of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

The Horse Shoe Farm brings to life the best of country living STORY: Giannina S. Bedford

I

had the chance to live on a farm during part of my childhood and discovered it was my happy place. Now that I live in the city, getting back to the country restores my soul. So when I discovered The Horse Shoe Farm in Hendersonville, North Carolina, I jumped at the chance to visit and expose my kids to the joy of spending time among the pastures where life moves a little slower. But this isn’t just a farm: It’s an 85-acre boutique resort set on a former working cattle ranch that now offers a restaurant, spa, pool and other amenities. Despite its reimagining, the property’s agricultural roots shine through in the rolling landscape, animal barn and farmhouse-style accommodations that range from estate homes to cottages and suites that sleep a total of 75 guests.

We checked into the 3,000square-foot Willow House and spent three days taking walks, dipping our toes in the saltwater pool and hot tub, feeding carrots

to the horses and watching the sun set over the Blue Ridge Mountains from our spacious deck. Each morning we awoke to the rooster crowing and took a stroll to the complimentary breakfast service at The Silo Cookhouse where my favorite order became the Sunrise Scramble with quinoa, spinach, tomato, farm eggs, feta, shallot and roasted sweet potatoes. Dinner at the same cozy on-site restaurant, included cornmeal-dusted North Carolina trout, handmade pasta and steaks sourced from the nearby French Broad Cattle Farm.

Pre- and post-meals, my kids loved sitting in the swinging hammocks under the trees and watching the chickens and roosters chase each other. They also spent hours on the pickleball court and at the pool. Their absolute favorite hangout, however, was the Farm House The Farm House is actually an eclectically decorated and equipped game room with entertainment for all ages.

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game room where they challenged each other to rounds of ping-pong and shuffleboard, played old records and board games, and my youngest became friends with an antique wood rocking horse. While they enjoyed their newly adopted playroom I made a visit to The Stable Spa, a converted horse barn where treatment rooms are former stalls, each named for the horse that used to inhabit it. I received a heavenly 60-minute wellness massage that I topped off with lounging time in the relaxation area, cup of tea in

hand, taking in views of the farm grounds through a glass roll-up door at one end of the barn. The Stable Spa’s equestrian-style setting and focus on restorative wellness made me want to luxuriate all day, but I found myself wondering what my family might be up to. I was eager to soak up all the time I could with them in this special setting.

I’ve been to many upscale resorts and one-of-a-kind boutique properties, but what struck me the most about The Horse Shoe Farm was its ability to cater to guests while also leaving them alone to enjoy the property as if it were their own.

By the end of our visit, my older kids were roaming the grounds solo, visiting animals and helping their little sister make wildflower bouquets in the pasture. It made me nostalgic for my childhood on the farm—in the very best way. n THE HORSE SHOE FARM thehorseshoefarm.com • @thehorseshoefarm

TRAVEL FAR

A meal at Lure in the village of Oia offers jaw-dropping views of Santorini's caldera.

MYTHIC PROPORTIONS

A trip to a trio of Hellenic destinations leaves this writer wanting more STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin

T Get up close and personal with MercedesBenz Stadium at Signia by Hilton Atlanta.

Dine at the elegant GB Roof Garden and take in Athens' main attraction, the Acropolis.

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his summer, the world fell in love with scenes from Greece, thanks to Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster film, The Odyssey. I fell in love with it in real life a few months before when, after decades of dreaming about a trip, my husband and I finally booked one.

Ancient Meets Modern We started, as most people do, in Athens. The cradle of Western civilization still has the natural appeal that made it a powerhouse of the ancient world: a port built around a natural harbor, and mountains and hills dotting the landscape, key for military advantages. The convenient train system took us directly from the airport to Syntagma Square, a two-minute walk to Hotel Grande Bretagne. In 1874, a pair of hoteliers

turned a private mansion into one of Athens’ best hotels, a distinction that still holds today, thanks to its collection of antiques, stately interiors and round-the-clock butler service. After a late afternoon arrival, we headed to the on-site restaurant, GB Roof Garden on the eighth floor. I walked into the open-air dining room and was immediately confronted by the sight I’d been waiting to see for as long as I can remember: the Acropolis in all of its glory, a spectacular backdrop to experience a refined Mediterranean- inspired meal.

On our first full day, we took a guided tour to explore the Acropolis and its crown jewel, the Parthenon, up close (pro tip: book the earliest time to avoid the crowds and the heat). We stood on Mars Hill, the spot where the Apostle Paul spoke around 50 A.D., before wander-

A pink sunset as seen from Minotaur, one of Amirandes' signature restaurants.

A villa at Amirandes on the island of Crete features chic, modern decor and a plunge pool.

Minoan Charm

The iconic blue domes, all churches or chapels, in Santorini are a must-see sight.

ing the lively market streets of the Plaka neighborhood. Another morning, we explored the Agora, known as the birthplace of democracy that became the center of Athenian economic and political life starting in the sixth century B.C. One evening, we took a funicular up to the summit of Lycabettus Hill, central Athens’ highest point that offers a 360-degree view of the city and the Aegean Sea. We tucked into small tavernas for super-fresh seafood and souvlaki, and shopped at the open-air markets in Monastiraki. Our final night was a real treat, thanks to a 10-course meal at the Michelin-starred restaurant Tudor Hall on the seventh floor of the neighboring King George hotel.

Exquisite, petite bites in creative presentations were an ideal sendoff from Greece’s capital city.

Next, we took a short flight to Heraklion, the capital of Crete.

After the somewhat frenetic pace of Athens, checking into Amirandes, a glamorous 17-acre beachfront resort, felt like a delightful downshift. Our one-bedroom villa came with a plunge pool, a garden with views of the tranquil waves, a spa bathroom and spacious living area.

It was supplied with treats such as sheep’s milk cheese and olives from the nearby AgrecoFarms, owned by the hotel’s parent company, Grecotel.

We rented a car to explore a bit of the 3,000-square-mile island and found the landscape to be staggering: Snow-capped peaks were visible in the distance, and the coastline varied from wide, sandy beaches to rocky cliffs suspended over teal blue water.

After a bit of striking out on our own, we were content to stay put at the resort for a sort of vacationwithin-a-vacation. We lolled on the beach beneath umbrellas and drank frothy freddo cappuccinos, had massages at the on-site spa and took a workshop to try our hands at making pottery with a local artisan.

The hotel’s centerpiece is a sprawling decorative pool ringed with palm trees and massive Minoan-inspired clay jars. That set the stage for one of this trip’s most memorable meals, not just for the quality of the food, wine and service, but because of the environment. At Minotaur, dozens of ceramic works by Pablo Picasso are on display. The eccentric artist often drew himself as a minotaur, a mythical creature with the body of a man and the head of a bull, and loved his trips to Crete. Here, each

dish is inspired by one of Picasso’s works, creating a heady combination of fine food, delightful wine pairings and extraordinary art.

Santorini Blues Santorini is on everyone’s list for a reason, with its white-washed buildings, blue domes and views of the caldera formed from a catastrophic volcanic eruption in 1600 B.C. It’s also a magnet for hordes of tourists, particularly in the largest settlements of Fira and Oia. With that in mind, Vedema, a Luxury Collection Resort, was just the right spot. Built into a 400-year-old winery, it’s tucked into the charming village of Megalochori. Though its name translates to “big village,” it’s home to fewer than 600 residents, a few family-run wineries and charming shops.

Our villa came with a full kitchen, living room and private pool. Beyond the tranquility of our accommodations, the resort features multiple pools, a spa and two restaurants, plus a breakfast spot. The culinary highlight was Alati, a Greek restaurant in a candle-lit wine cellar, where we listened to live music while relishing red prawn ceviche and a truly memorable dish of red wine-braised beef cheeks in tomato sauce.

One morning, we rose early to beat the crowds in Oia, arriving before lines formed to snap photos of the cobalt domes of the churches and chapels. Just-harvested octopus hung from clotheslines at the restaurants along Amoudi Bay, and from the vantage point of Oia Castle, the sun glittered on the impossibly blue water below. Another day, we ventured to Perissa Beach, where Istoria,

a hotel built in former horse stables, was an ideal base from which to enjoy the black volcanic sand, tropical cocktails and uninterrupted sea views. One evening, we headed back to Oia for a dinner of pristine local seafood at Lure, a cliffside restaurant at Mystique, a resort popular with honeymooners. As we sipped glasses of crisp Assyrtiko, a grape that thrives in the island’s volcanic ashrich soil, it was surreal to watch the sun cast a pink glow as it dipped beneath the horizon and, just after, for the hundreds of plunge pools carved into the white-washed cliffs light up in neon blue. On our final night, we took a cab to Pyrgos, Santorini’s highest village. Shockingly, its white Cycladic architecture and labyrinthine streets are largely unmolested by crowds. We walked the ruins of its castle, built in the 1580s and boasting 360-degree views of the island, and took in a spectacular sunset over Santorini’s famous caldera. During a three-day visit, it was obvious that Santorini is all of the things people claim: beautiful, unique and iconic.

We covered a lot of ground with multiple flights, ferry rides and destinations, but barely scratched the surface of what this vibrant Mediterranean nation has to offer.

Ultimately, that’s what some of the best destinations do: They give you a taste and leave you wanting more. n AMIRANDES, A RESORT TO LIVE grecotel.com/amirandes • @amirandes HOTEL GRANDE BRETAGNE marriott.com/en-us/hotels/athlc-hotel-grandebretagne-a-luxury-collection-hotel-athens @hotelgrandebretagne VEDEMA • vedema.gr • @vedema_resort

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HOME

BULLETIN BOARD

TRENDING

TA S T E M A K E R

LIVING

Custom

Crafted

SMART CUSTOM STORAGE MAXIMIZES EVERY INCH OF A 1,600SQUARE-FOOT BUCKHEAD TOWNHOUSE

W

STORY: Lauren Finney Harden

PHOTOS: Patrick Heagney

hen people think of custom

Solomon bought the early ’80s property

design, they often picture

20 years ago. “The place needed a lot

sprawling homes. But even a

of cosmetic work, but this townhome had

modest footprint can ben-

good bones,” she says. What started

efit from tailored design. Kelly Solomon’s

as a few projects here and there morphed

1,600-square-foot home punches above its

into a whole home redo, several times

weight, thanks in part to smart design by

over. “We’ve done different iterations

Studio Louise’s Kristen Wilson, with whom

of each room over the years,” says Wilson.

Solomon has been working for over a

“We have a lot of fun with it, making

decade after being referred by a friend.

it exactly what she wants.”

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➥

The dining table by Four Hands and an Anthropologie cabinet bring contrast to the dining room.

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HOME

Above: Designer Kristen Wilson creatively made the living space functional with solutions like a narrow coffee table and built-ins.

Solomon enjoyed the process. “As our relationship grew, I began putting more attention into upgrading the house,” she says. “Kristen’s now touched every single room.”

Wilson starts with a philosophy that involves getting to know her clients and how they utilize their homes, something especially important in a smaller space. After learning Solomon’s preferences and habits, Wilson relied on custom pieces, many by custom woodworking shop Woodology, to reduce unused potential and capture every usable square inch possible.

Fun details and highly designed elements abound to maximize storage. For example, a custom pantry leverages the depth of the space, and a bespoke drinks rail behind the couch gives enough clearance for the return vent and doubles as a place to put drinks in a space that doesn’t allow for end tables. The Homeowner Kelly Solomon loves the way her home functions now thanks to smart storage solutions.

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built-in bookcases and cabinets have added concealed storage for serving pieces and things Solomon wants hidden but at her fingertips.

Upstairs in the primary bathroom, Wilson turned an awkward closet space into a dressing room. A clever front panel by Woodology hides that the floor is sloped from the stairwell. The drawers open up to reveal two hampers.

A 2024 water heater leak gave the pair a chance to rethink the kitchen after having redone it years ago.

Working with the existing footprint, Wilson updated the cabinet fronts that were originally going to be stained but ended up painted. “It was a blessing in disguise because they are so much prettier than either of us ever hoped they could be,” Wilson says. She also redesigned the peninsula to move the microwave from above the stove and add more storage, an ice maker and a place to hold pots and pans. “It was incredible to be able to fit everything in my kitchen,” says Solomon.

Above: The kitchen was redone in 2024 under the supervision of contractor Diane Crawford, who works on all projects in Solomon's house.

“You can go bigger than you think in a small space if you’re super intentional,” — Kristen Wilson That renovation snowballed into more updates. “I said, ‘Let’s just keep it going,’” Solomon says. The 8-foot popcorn ceilings were smoothed out to give the illusion of more vertical space, and the primary bedroom closets were redone. Wilson redid the entry to make it feel like an old New York-style apartment with a properly defined entryway swathed in dark oxblood hue. “It feels feminine in a way and dramatic. The wood paneling sets the tone of an elevated, girlie home that has a lot of style and care throughout,” Wilson says. “There’s even a hidden closet tucked away with a fake door.”

➥

Byron B. Blake at HomEditATL hung wallpaper throughout, including in Solomon's office.

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HOME

Above: The feminine master bathroom features a vanity Wilson custom-designed and Woodology built.

Wilson created an old-school vestibule style entrance for her client, complete with a flush "secret" closet door.

The office was another thoughtfully designed space. It was given custom solutions like a built-in desk and shelving to make it more practical for Solomon’s lifestyle.

Solomon, who works from home in the benefits industry, realized she was going entire days without eating and drinking enough when she was focused on work. So Wilson and Woodology designed an office cabinet upstairs with a microwave and minifridge to make her days easier.

“It’s been a game-changer,” she says.

One of the counterintuitive things about Solomon’s relatively petite

Right: The sconce in the powder room come from Etsy, one of Wilson's favorite under-the-radar lighting sources.

space is that Wilson went bigger with furniture pieces, such as the long couch, six-person dining table and larger nightstands in the primary bedroom. “You can go bigger than you think in a small space if you’re super intentional,” says Wilson. “Oftentimes, if you’re buying things for a small space individually—especially without a designer to help—you think small with small. But in reality, you can get more use and max out the space with larger pieces.”

The home has evolved over the years with no particular theme or color scheme but works off of

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what the two like at the moment.

The pair have had fun with fabrics and wallpaper, relying on indie, female-owned brands where possible, such as fabrics sourced from Georgia-based artist Lulie Wallace, Serena Dugan, CW Stockwell and more from Upper Westside’s to-thetrade showroom, The Design Social Studio. “It’s a creative and feminine home, which is not something I always get to do,” says Wilson. “I know Kelly’s always going to be down for a pink moment.”

Wilson’s current favorite spot is the new bar. To make it, the pair

reimagined a dining room corner.

Because of its shape, a bar cart left a lot of unused space surrounding it.

Her solution: a curved, built-in bar so the entire space is used and gives Solomon more storage. “It holds more than the old bar cart did,” Wilson says. “If you let one or two pieces do the talking, versus several small items, your eye focuses on one thing rather than feeling too messy or jumbled.”

Both say they think it might actually, finally be done. “I’m glad it makes her happy when she walks through the front door of this little jewel box,” says Wilson. n

Custom cornices feature fabric by Maison Venu, a brand founded by a UGA grad.

1

IN THE DETAILS Three clever storage solutions by Woodology

1. The bar. Wilson removed a bar cart that created unused space and replaced it with a larger custom bar.

2. The hamper. To give Solomon storage and cleverly hide the slope of the stairwell below, custom hampers were added to the dressing room.

3. The office. Solomon works long hours, so Wilson had Woodology create a custom fluted piece to hold a microwave and minifridge in her office.

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BULLETIN BOARD

BY Nicole Letts

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Interior designer Bowdre Longo shares tips for creating an organized and pleasing family hub.

The Ralph Lauren for Visual Comfort Embers Hurricane Sconce strikes a balance between New England tradition and modern sensibility. The 20-inch single sconce, new in spring 2026, takes its cues from classic lantern forms while feeling thoroughly current, making it ideal for both historically inspired and contemporary-leaning spaces. It is available in butler’s silver and natural brass.

Priced at $799. visualcomfort.com

family calendar. When everything has a designated spot, mornings run more smoothly, important items are less likely to get lost and the home functions more efficiently. It’s the headquarters for daily life.

BASE CAMP

What is a command center, and does your home need one? An expert weighs in.

W

ith school back in session and activities in full swing, now is the time to embrace organization. To set yourself up for success, consider adding a command center to your home. This centralized hub is where daily necessities such as backpacks, leashes, mail, chore lists and other papers are stored. Buckhead resident and interior designer Bowdre Longo offers her insight about

how to create a command center that is beautiful and functional.

Why is it important and helpful to have a command center in a home?

A well-designed command center creates order in the middle of busy family life. Every household needs a dedicated place to collect the items that move in and out of the home every day: keys, backpacks, permission slips, chargers and the

Where is the best spot?

Ideally, a family hub should be near the primary entrance the family uses, whether that’s a mudroom, garage entry or back hallway. The goal is to create a convenient grab-and-go zone where items can be easily dropped off and picked up. This helps establish routines and keeps everyday clutter from spreading throughout the house.

How can you make the space chic and functional?

The key is combining beautiful design with smart storage. Hidden storage for shoes, coats, backpacks and sports equipment helps maintain a clean, organized appearance while still accommodating the realities of family life. I love incorporating custom millwork that conceals necessities behind cabinetry.

A durable countertop provides a

landing space for essentials such as keys and mail, while accessories such as a statement lamp, decorative bowl or family photos make the space feel intentional.

How should someone with limited space approach the idea?

You don’t need a dedicated room.

A simple console or buffet near the door works. I recommend a piece with closed storage to conceal clutter while keeping essentials within reach. Elevate the design by layering in a statement mirror, artwork, lamp or side chair. The goal is to create a space that feels like part of the home’s design. n BOWDRE LONGO bowdrelongo.com • @bowdrelongointeriors

DESIGN & REALTY NEWS n Huff Harrington, the home furnishings and interior design brand founded by Ann Huff and Meg Harrington, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.

What began in 2006 as a fine art gallery in Buckhead has grown into five businesses operating under one umbrella. Today, the brand spans fine art, antiques, home furnishings, interior design,

curated trips to France and an office in Paris’ 7th Arrondissement.

The milestone is a testament to a partnership that has seen the brand become a thriving transatlantic business. huffharrington.com n Buckhead-based interior de-

signer Suzanne Kasler presents a new hardware collection made in partnership with Art & Forge. Us-

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ing French architecture and decorative arts as a North Star, the collection features three distinct designs: Montclair, Normandy and Lafayette. Each attempts to translate centuries of Parisian craft into small but impactful room details.

The pieces are hand-cast in India using 100% solid recycled brass, selected for its durability and warmth. The collection, available at

Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery, includes knobs, pulls, a T-bar and appliance pulls, offered in polished nickel, burnished brass, unlacquered brass and polished brass. artandforge.com n Previously represented within

R Hughes, Holland & Sherry now occupies a 5,500 squarefoot space of its own at ADAC.

The showroom presents the collection’s complete range, including fabrics, wallcoverings, rugs, leathers, trim, embroidery, furniture and hardware. The April opening marked a significant step for the brand’s Atlanta presence, giving designers a dedicated destination to explore the full collection. interiors.hollandandsherry.com

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Investment and Insurance Products: Not a Deposit • Not FDIC-Insured • Not Insured By Any Federal Government Agency • No Bank Guarantee • May Lose Value There are eligibility requirements for working with a dedicated Financial Consultant. ©2026 Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. All rights reserved. Member SIPC. CC12561428(0525-J1TP) ADP127781-00 (02/26) SCH15352 (02/26)

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TRENDING

Green Ikat Shirred Pleat Lampshade (from $270) Lean into green shades in lighting with this ikat-style shirred lampshade by Edgar-Reeves Lighting. It comes in several diameters from 12 to 18 inches and features contrasting piping around the top and bottom. It could sit beautifully atop a brass or nickel base and bring elegance to a room. View the shade in person at Edgar-Reeves’ Peachtree Hills showroom.

Edgar-Reeves Lighting • 404.237.1137 edgar-reeves.com • @edgarreeveslighting

Green with Envy Green is one of the most versatile colors available to designers and decor lovers as it connects rooms to the outside world. This season, take cues from the softer, more subtle greens such as pistachio, sage and celadon to create designs that celebrate nature. STORY: Lauren Finney Harden

Razi Rug ($440 to $1,005)

Rosemary Stripe Lagoon Pillow ($195)

Bring green underfoot with this power-loomed rug.

Designed by Nikki Chu for her Keyara collection for Jaipur Living, it merges a vintage look with a modern sensibility. The distressed motif is brought to life by shades of green, ivory and taupe, and the low-profile rug is perfect for high-traffic areas. It comes in four sizes, including a runner, to complete any room.

Brighten a room with this blue-green decorative pillow by Charlotte-based print designer Laura Park. Stripes and flowers play off of each other in this tailored motif that can be layered on beds, sofas and chairs. Go for a 22-by-22-inch standard size, or switch it up with a lumbar pillow or Euro sham.

Randolph’s Fine Gifts & Home Decor • 404.948.2901 randolphsfinegifts.com • @randolphs_finegifts

Jaipur Living • 404.351.2360 jaipurliving.com • @jaipurliving

Yvonne Painted Chest ($2,499) Trompe l’oeil, the French technique for "deceiving the eye,” playfully brings dimension to this mango wood chest. Done in earthy tones, it looks like 3D geometry but is a painted effect. It has hexagonal faceted brass drawer pulls, tapered feet and six drawers, and could anchor a bedroom, hallway or living area.

Ballard Designs 404.603.7033 ballarddesigns.com @ballarddesigns

GP&J Baker Ruskin Fabric (price upon request) If you love British design, take note of this GP&J Baker cotton printed fabric. It’s from the brand’s Original Brantwood collection, inspired by the late 1800’s British Arts and Crafts movement. The name Ruskin comes from the art critic John Ruskin, whose Lake District home, Brantwood, was central to the movement. Spot the details in person at Kravet’s ADAC showroom.

Kravet • 404.812.6995 • kravet.com • @kravet1918

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©2026 First Horizon Bank. Member FDIC. NMLS# 472329. Equal Housing Lender.

TASTEMAKER

Tell us about Studio Black Oak: the name, the team and the kind of projects you take on.

I know a lot of designers just put their names on the business, but I didn’t want it to be about me. I wanted it to be about the people who work with me, the vendors, the designers, the clients, everybody. Black oak is a tree that’s very strong and steady. It grows slowly but very steadily. That really relates to what I’m doing here: starting like a tree and, step by step, getting bigger and stronger.

We work mostly with renovations and from the ground up, with architects from day one. We’ll still take on smaller projects if it’s the right fit, but we really prefer full renovations or new builds. We have a team of three people.

How is your aesthetic different from what we see all over online design inspiration sites?

Strong Roots Studio Black Oak’s Larissa Peixoto on her firm’s modern, global style STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin

L

arissa Peixoto has had a somewhat circuitous route to both living in Buckhead and being an interior designer with a thriving business. The Brazil-born creative started her professional career as a lawyer before pivoting and moving to the Atlanta area. Now, she and her team work with residential and commercial clients, bringing a design perspective she calls “global modern with a twist.” Here, we learn more about Peixoto’s path.

You started your career as an attorney. How did you end up in design?

I went to law school in Brazil and worked with contracts and all the boring stuff, but I always loved design and architecture. It was always in me, this passion. When we moved to the U.S., I had the opportunity to start all over again. It was either study to be a lawyer here or start a new career with something I really enjoyed. It was a no‑brainer for me.

I went back to college in Chicago and graduated in interior design. I worked for a few companies there, including celebrity designer Nate Berkus. That’s really where my design career started.

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What drew you and your family to Buckhead?

When COVID hit, we were just by ourselves in Chicago. It was cold and depressing. We thought, “OK, we need to move somewhere warmer where we can have more outdoors and more nature.” Atlanta sounded like the perfect place.

We originally lived in Sandy Springs, which is also a great area, but we wanted this Buckhead vibe.

I really like the shops, how you can just walk around and go to Phipps Plaza. I feel like I’m in the city here. I love Buckhead.

We like to keep things timeless but not boring. With Pinterest and now AI, everybody can pull a picture of a room and think they’re a designer, but everything looks the same.

You see all these images and all the houses are starting to look very similar. We try to bring something that is timeless but also unique. Our approach is very global. We try not to look only at what’s happening around us. When you do that, you start to repeat what everybody else is doing. Instead, we look at different places, materials and ways to use those materials.

You describe your style as “global modern.” How do you keep that global perspective fresh?

I try to travel at least once a year to a design show somewhere in the world. Last year I was in Vancouver for the Interior Design Show. This year I went to Brazil for Casa Cor, one of the largest interior design exhibitions in the Americas. Next year I’m planning to go to Italy because they have Salone del Mobile Milano there, one of the largest furniture fairs in the world. I also go to High Point Market in North Carolina. At least once a year, I want to be somewhere where there's a design show happening, just to see what people are up to and what’s coming next. n STUDIO BLACK OAK studioblackoak.com • @studioblackoak

FA S H I O N

BEAUTY

WELLNESS

STYLISH

Sleep in Style Page 40 Loungewear brand Ro&Leaf debuts.

“I wanted to make something in fun prints that made sense for my community.” — Caroline Avery S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

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FASHION

Founder Caroline Avery

SLEEP IN STYLE Ro&Leaf, a new Buckhead-based loungewear brand, launches this month STORY: Lauren Finney Harden

T

wenty-seven-year-old fashion designer Caroline Avery has an impressive resume that includes experience at Steve Madden and Reebok. This year, she became founder and designer of loungewear brand Ro&Leaf, which ships its first drop this month.

Encouraged by her artist grandmother, Avery explored many artistic mediums as a child. Throughout high school, the Woodstock native filled her schedule with art classes,

SCAD camps and creative opportunities before deciding she wanted to be a fashion designer. “I even took gym online to be able to take every single art class,” she says.

When it was time for college in 2017, she chose UGA. She graduated with a degree in fashion merchandising in 2021, but never fulfilled her dream of interning in fashion when her internship at Coach was canceled during the pandemic.

Avery found another internship at accessories brand Mignonne Gavigan and moved to New York City for it immediately after graduation. She later found jobs in the industry designing socks for Reebok and fashion accessories, such as scarves for Steve Madden. “I thrived in that environment,” she says.

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After four years in New York, she decided to return to Atlanta and took a corporate apparel design job.

“I wasn’t fulfilled enough, so I began designing on the side,” she says. She chose sleepwear as her category, looks that bridge home life and life on-the-go. “I don’t like wearing athleisure,” she says. “We are in an in-between loungewear moment.”

After witnessing how much production waste can be created in fashion design, Avery also aimed to reduce as much production waste as possible.

Ro&Leaf, which launched pre-orders in April, is a play on Avery’s name. She goes by Caro and Leaf is a family middle name passed down through generations of women, including her mother and grandmother.

The collection features washable, mix-and-match pieces ranging in price from $45 to $80, including a button-down top, a pair of pants, boxer-inspired shorts and a T-shirt and tank top inspired by traditional pajamas. The In-Law Tank is a spandex-free, padded tank with a built-in bra that supports up to an H cup. Avery wanted women to feel comfortable around family and guests in sleepwear. “One of my big issues with regular pajamas was that anytime I was with others, I never felt I could take my bra off,” she says.

Her love of prints is reflected in two digitally hand-drawn patterns. Bohemian Bloom is a rich red paisley, and Dancing Doe is her take on animal print. The collection also includes solids in Poppi red and Cloud Dancer, Pantone’s 2026 Color of the Year.

Avery sees the line as having multigenerational appeal. “I wanted to make something in fun prints that made sense for my community. Something my grandma could wear, but also something my friends from New York and my little sister would want,” she says.

Pre-orders were so successful that the Buckhead resident has already planned future drops through 2027.

Pre-order customers are considered founders of the brand as a thank you. “I have already hit production costs to fund this first drop based on pre-sales, and I have a great community I want to reward,” she says. One of her biggest champions has been, unsurprisingly, her grandmother. “My grandmother has a tradition of giving everyone PJs on Christmas,” she says. “This year, I told her I’m in charge of pajamas.” n RO&LEAF • roandleaf.com • @ro.and.leaf

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BEAUTY Russian manicure specialist Karen Emily with a client at Sirène salon.

A Method to the Mani

Experts in our city’s nail scene break down terms and trends STORY: Emily L. Foley PHOTO: Erik Meadows

J

ust like fashion, manicure trends are always evolving.

Currently, everyone’s talking about BIAB and Russian manicures, but what do they really involve?

We asked local experts to break down the techniques.

What is BIAB? A BIAB manicure is a builder gel manicure, and stands for Builder in a Bottle. While builder gel typically comes in a pot, one brand, The GelBottle, sells it in a bottle, and trademarked the name BIAB. Calling a builder gel manicure a BIAB manicure (which many people do) is like calling a tissue a Kleenex. “Builder gel is a thicker viscosity than traditional gel polish, so it provides structure and durability to your natural nail, but it’s more flexible than acrylic, so it looks and feels more natural,” says Savoy Shakir, nail specialist at private

nail studio Bare Clawz salon in Piedmont Heights. As for why this type of manicure is so popular, Shakir says, “People want longer nails without having to get extensions; they want to grow their nails, and they don’t want their manicure to only last two weeks, like traditional gel.”

Builder gel meets all these needs, providing structure to the natural nails, which helps them grow. It can last as long as four weeks.

What is a Russian manicure?

A Russian manicure is the trending name for a dry manicure, due to its Eastern European origins. It does not refer to a specific product, but rather to the meticulous method of cuticle preparation done without soaking the nails. Karen Emily of Sirène salon specializes in the technique and says rather than soaking to soften cuticles, she uses special diamond drill

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bits to buff them away. “Dry manicures last longer than a traditional manicure,” she says. “When nails are soaked, the nail plate expands, so the enhancement is put on the expanded nail. Once it shrinks back down, the product immediately starts pulling away from what was thought to be the parameter of your nail. After the Russian manicure prep, any type of polish can then be applied from traditional gel polish to builder gel.

Dry manicures can also help with overall cuticle health. “When the nails are expanded from soaking, you can cut too much of the cuticle, which can cause skin tightening and cracking, or, you can go too far into the side of the nails with the prep, which causes hang nails,” says Emily.

What Nail Trend is “Out?” Both Emily and Shakir say, “SNS!” SNS is one specific brand name of

the dip powders that became popular for two reasons: The strength it provides nails, and that the process doesn’t include curing with a light. But Emily says, “SNS is the worst product you can put on your nails. It’s not really the product; it’s the removal process that is so damaging.” However, products and techniques have evolved. Curing lights no longer use damaging UV light, but safe LED light, and builder gel offers strength without the damaging removal process of soaking in acetone and heavy filing, like SNS. Ultimately, both BIAB and Russians manicures are great options for nails, and next time you go to the salon to get one, now you’ll know exactly what you’re asking for. n KAREN EMILY • sireneatl.com • @k.emily.atl SAVOY SHAKIR • @bareclawzatl

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What motivated us in 1996 still motivates us today — to inspire every dancer to be the best they can be.

We believe that every child, no matter their age or experience, should discover the joy of dance. Whether your child loves to skip and twirl, enjoys ballet technique at the barre, or is ready to take the leap into a professional career, our qualified and experienced instructors will be with them every step of the way. In our noncompetitive, highly nurturing dance environment, everyone is respected, dreams are encouraged, and achievements at all levels are celebrated.

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Photo by Kim Kenney.

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

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WELLNESS

after heavier alcohol consumption.

“Drinking one or two glasses every day is less of a factor than binge drinking,” he says. “If someone was to have a number of drinks in one setting, they may develop it.”

Research has also linked nightshift work with a higher risk of AFib, although the exact reason is not fully understood.

Getting Diagnosed

andreswd

Anytime your physician listens to your heart, they are listening for an irregular heartbeat. AFib is officially diagnosed through an electrocardiogram, or EKG, that records the heart’s electrical activity. If you experience new symptoms of a racing or irregular heartbeat or shortness of breath, Corrigan recommends seeking medical evaluation.

He says some cases are discovered unexpectedly, too. “I have diagnosed asymptomatic patients who just happen to do an EKG [for something else],” he says.

Treating AFib

OUT OF RHYTHM Understanding a common heart condition STORY: Karina Antenucci

M

any people expect heart disease to announce itself with dramatic chest pain. But one of the most common heart conditions, affecting approximately 10.5 million U.S. adults, can be much quieter. Atrial fibrillation, or AFib, may cause a racing or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath or no symptoms at all. Yet despite its often subtle presentation, it can increase the risk of stroke and other complications.

For Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, we spoke with Buckhead native Frank Corrigan, interventional cardiologist and medical director of advanced cardiac imaging for Wellstar Health System, for his insights.

Know the Beat A normal heartbeat relies on the heart’s chambers working together.

The heart has two lower chambers called ventricles that pump blood to the body and the lungs. Two upper chambers called atria help collect blood from the body and the lungs. With AFib, “instead of beating in concert, the atria tend to quiver,” Corrigan says. This causes the interval between each beat to be irregular.

Because the atria are not contracting effectively, blood can stagnate and potentially form clots. “If a clot forms, there’s a risk that it could go somewhere, thus the risk for stroke,” he says.

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Dr. Frank Corrigan says drinking excessively, among other risk factors, can trigger AFib.

Understand Your Risk Age is one of the biggest risk factors for AFib, but it is not the only one.

Conditions that put extra stress on the heart include high blood pressure, heart valve problems, diabetes, thyroid issues, sleep apnea and excess weight. Those born with heart defects may be at a higher risk for AFib at a younger age.

Alcohol can also be a trigger.

Corrigan says physicians sometimes refer to “holiday heart syndrome,” when AFib episodes may occur

Treatment typically focuses on two goals: reducing stroke risk and managing symptoms. Cardiologists assess each patient’s individual stroke risk to determine whether blood thinners are needed. Medications may also be used to slow the heart rate and reduce symptoms.

For some patients who cannot tolerate blood thinners, advanced procedures may be recommended.

These include catheter ablation, where the cardiologist tries to correct the irregular heartbeat by going through a vein usually in the groin to the heart to apply hot or cold energy to the short circuits causing the irregularity.

Or they might attempt left atrial appendage closure, where the left atrial appendage is sealed off to reduce the risk of stroke without blood thinners.

Ultimately, AFib management depends on the individual, but understanding symptoms and risks is the first step. “Once a patient has developed AFib, we worry that it may recur and often use medications to help prevent complications,” Corrigan says. n WELLSTAR • wellstar.org • @wellstarhealth

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KIDS

PETS

S T R AT E G I E S

FAMILY

Furry Friend Photos

Courtney Bryson

Page 50 Learn tips and tricks for taking the best snapshots of your beloved pets.

“Often the best images happen during natural moments.” —Diego Rodriguez S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

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KIDS TECH SUPPORT A new high-tech device, nfant Thrive Breast, measures milk flow during breastfeeding sessions. Fleming, who is on the company’s advisory board, says the product and its accompanying app help determine whether a baby has received a full feeding or may need additional supplementation. $299, shop.nfant.com

Common Challenges Know that some pain and latch difficulties are normal in the early days—and help is available. Have tools such as lanolin cream, cold therapy gel packs and nursing pillows at the ready. Seek out your IBCLC and/or pediatrician right away for everything from engorgement, where the breasts are overly full, to cracked nipples, which can happen because of an improper latch. A fever may mean infection and needs immediate attention from a healthcare provider.

enigma_images

Milk Supply Matters

NURSING SUPPORT Guidance for smoother breastfeeding journeys STORY: Karina Antenucci

B

reastfeeding offers significant benefits for both babies and mothers. This is why leading health organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization recommend exclusively breastfeeding for six months and continuing after introducing complementary feeding. Breast milk antibodies strengthen infants’ immune systems and help protect against illnesses and diseases including ear infections, stomach viruses, asthma, obesity, diabetes and sudden infant death syndrome.

As for mothers, breastfeeding may support postpartum weight loss and

has been associated with a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Despite its profound pros, for many families, breastfeeding can feel anything but easy. Between exhaustion, latch issues, pain and worries about milk supply, the first few weeks in particular can bring challenges.

“While breastfeeding is biologically natural, the process itself is not always intuitive,” says Chastain Park resident Shea Fleming, a pediatrician at Peachtree Park Pediatrics. “It typically requires a learning curve.”

To help prepare for and possibly overcome any obstacles to breastfeeding, Fleming provides the following advice.

48 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Pediatrician Shea Fleming helps moms navigate the challenges of breastfeeding.

Many parents worry whether their baby is getting enough milk. Pediatricians monitor infant weight gain closely, which Fleming says remains the “gold standard” for assessing whether feeding is effective. “The general principle is supply and demand; the more the infant feeds, the more the body supplies,” she says. “As the baby gets older, they may eat more efficiently and may be satisfied in less time, and the mother’s breasts may be softer and feel less full, so it’s ever evolving.”

For sleepy or premature babies who struggle to nurse efficiently, pumping may help maintain supply while conserving baby’s energy.

Additionally, supplementing with or switching to formula may be necessary depending on the situation, and that’s OK.

The Learning Curve

Practice Self-Care

First and foremost, gain an understanding of what lies ahead by taking a breastfeeding class led by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant while pregnant. “Identifying what types of hurdles you may encounter is helpful,” Fleming says, as is having an idea of the basics of good latching positions and how partners can provide support. She also recommends talking to other mothers who breastfed, or tried to, to hear different stories and perspectives. “Everybody’s journey is different,” she says.

Stress, poor sleep and inadequate nutrition and water intake can all affect milk production. Fleming encourages parents to rest whenever possible and lean on support systems. “Be as nice to yourself in the postpartum period as you are to other people,” Fleming says. “Give yourself some grace, get rest, eat enough calories and let others help you. Things will get better and make more sense.” n PEACHTREE PARK PEDIATRICS 404.351.1131 • peachtreeparkpeds.com @peachtreeparkpediatrics

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PETS

Above: Denise Adelman's dog, Angus O'Neil, is accustomed to being the subject of her photography.

FURRY FRIEND PHOTOS

Above: A cat photographed by Diego Rodriguez.

Right: A photo by Courtney Bryson. who specializes in shooting pics of horses.

How to get the best photos of your pets STORY: Chelsie Butler

Y

ou probably have a million photos of your pets stored in your phone, whether it’s an image of your dog sleeping in a silly position or a shot of your cat enjoying a patch of sun. Our amateur pet photos are fun to share with others, but what if you want something more permanent so you can remember them “furr-ever?”

We spoke with three professional photographers who specialize in shooting pics of pets around Atlanta to learn how to get the best images.

treat or toy can go a long way in gaining their trust and putting them at ease. It also helps to have a partner interacting with the pet while you are snapping the photos.

Adelman has been photographing her dog, Angus O’Neil, since he was a puppy, and she has trained him to pose while they are on hikes. While visiting a friend’s studio to drop off equipment, Angus walked right up to the backdrop, waiting to have his picture taken. She says starting the process when they are young is key.

DENISE ADELMAN

COURTNEY BRYSON

Adelman Photography Atlanta

CM Bryson Photography

Denise Adelman has owned her Sandy Springs photo studio since 2020. She says pets can be like children when it comes to posing for the camera, so she has developed a lot of patience over the years.

Her advice for capturing a great photo is to get on their level first and then take the photos once they feel more comfortable. A favorite

Courtney Bryson opened her Morgan County studio in 2017, and she visits the Atlanta area regularly to shoot pet photography.

Some of her favorite locations include Duck Pond Park and Frankie Allen Park in Buckhead.

She treats dog photo shoots like a game and says treats, toys and affection help pups become more

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engaged. For cats, she says to concentrate on photographing them in areas where they regularly hang out.

She also uses wand and laser toys to gets cats more involved. Bryson also specializes in taking photos of horses and says, because of their size, it is helpful to back up and zoom in.

“Horses can be nervous of new things, so giving them time to investigate the equipment can be helpful before taking their photo," she says. “I also encourage the owner to practice just standing still with their horse before the session, then shaking a bucket with a bit of grain in it to grab their attention and get their ears up."

DIEGO RODRIGUEZ Diego the Pet Photographer Diego Rodriguez has been a professional photographer for 15-plus years, with the last six dedicated primarily to pets. Most of his work is done in his Marietta-based studio, but he also takes photos at

pet-friendly events and businesses all over Atlanta, including Buckhead.

Some of his top tips include keeping the experience fun and energetic, focusing on the eyes since they reveal the pup’s personality and not forcing poses.

“Often the best images happen during natural moments,” he says.

For cats, Rodriguez suggests letting them explore the space first if it is unfamiliar, keeping the environment calm and quiet, and watching for subtle expressions and body language. “Be ready for brief moments of engagement as cats often decide when the photo will happen.” n

ADELMAN PHOTOGRAPHY ATLANTA adelmanphotographyatlanta.com @adelmanphotographyatlanta.com CM BRYSON PHOTOGRAPHY cmbryson.com • @cmbryson DIEGO THE PET PHOTOGRAPHER diegothepetphotographer.com @diegothepetphotographer

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Dennis McDonald

STRATEGIES

Magic Made Easy Visit the most magical place on Earth with advice from a Disney travel expert STORY: Amy Meadows

P

lanning a Walt Disney World vacation can be a roller coaster—like the ones you’ll ride when you get there! From booking a resort and purchasing tickets to mapping out your days in the parks, you have a lot to consider. And whether you’ve been to Disney World many times or are organizing your family’s first visit, there are plenty of tips and tricks that can help you make the experience as effortless as it is entertaining. That’s why we asked Dunwoody-based Disney travel expert Shelby Freeman of Mickey Travels to share her advice for planning your time in the popular Florida destination. Here’s what she said.

How much time do I need to plan our trip?

Typically, three to six months is helpful, especially in terms of budget.

When you book ahead, you can put down a $200 deposit and pay in installments over time. If your budget

allows you to make plans closer to your travel date, then you can make arrangements in as little as 60 days before your trip. This works because dining reservations can be made 60 days in advance, and if you want specific experiences, you’ll want to be in this window. If you’re really spontaneous and plan to drive, then you can decide on a Thursday and be there for the weekend. It really depends on what kind of person you are when it comes to travel.

What are the benefits of staying at one of Disney’s resorts?

The resorts are broken down into value, moderate and deluxe options, so you can find a hotel to fit your budget. And there are always promotions for discounted rooms and packages. You also can book Lightning Lanes seven days in advance instead of three when you stay on property, which lets you pay a little more to skip some

52 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

lines of those top-tier rides that are always in demand. You get resort-wide transportation when you’re in the Disney bubble as well.

And if you are staying on property, the parks open 30 minutes early for resort guests, which allows you to get some of those big rides in if you want to avoid Lightning Lane passes. Those 30 minutes are often the most valuable time of my day in the parks.

Should we plan to visit all four parks at Disney World?

If you’re going for a full week, I recommend one park on Monday, one park on Tuesday, a rest day on Wednesday and then a park each on Thursday and Friday. If it’s a shorter trip, like a long weekend, you could do two parks on Saturday and Sunday, maybe more with a park hopper pass. Just remember that you’re never going to be able to do everything. Figure out your priorities and know what you’re willing to go back and do later.

What is your top Disney vacation planning tip?

Shelby Freeman makes planning your Disney vacation a walk in the park.

Consider working with a travel advisor who is Disney exclusive, most of whom don’t charge a fee. We’ve done this hundreds of times. We have so much knowledge, and we can help you figure out how to navigate ride times, find resort packages and more. You don’t have to worry about getting everything right. We can take that pressure off and let you step into the magic. You can focus on making those memories as a family because, when you go to Disney, it’s like being a kid all over again. n MICKEY TRAVELS • 404.719.9556 mickeytravels.com • @mickeytravels

O N S TA G E

ART

TA S T E M A K E R

EVENTS

CULTURE

Drawing Inspiration Page 60

SCAD Animation Fest features screening and panel discussions with industry experts.

SCAD Animation Fest debuts Short Shorts Animation Fest dedicated to animated shorts under five minutes.

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ON STAGE

Clothed in Character All the world’s a fashion stage with The Vestments Group’s direction STORY: Michael Jacobs PHOTO: Erik Meadows

F

ilm and TV costumers Allison Behring and Marcus Allen have long used clothes to develop characters. Now, as the founders of Buckhead-based The Vestments Group, they help clients express their real-life characters,

whether walking the red carpet at Cannes or picking produce at Kroger.

“If you can get an actor dressed at 5:30 in the morning in something that they have tried on weeks ago that they they forgot about, you can clothe anyone and make them feel

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beautiful,” Behring says. “If you can do what we do on set, this is cake.”

Behring, who grew up in New York, and Allen, who considers himself an Atlanta native 30 years after arriving from Southern California, both entered fashion by working retail in high school. But they took different paths to TV sets. She got a fashion merchandising degree from Georgia Southern. He was classically trained as a singer and pursued opera and Broadway.

They came together on the Atlanta set of the “Dynasty” reboot. Behring was an assistant costume designer and wound up being the only person to work on all 108 episodes. Allen was a production assistant whose eye for style earned him a move to costumes.

After “Dynasty” ended in 2022, the two remained friends. Allen worked on magazines and in creative con-

sulting; Behring stuck with TV and film, from the drama “Outer Banks” to the game show “Press Your Luck.”

Another “Dynasty” connection provided a starting point for The Vestments Group.

In March 2025, Behring married director Andi Behring, whom she met on the show. Allen helped dress the wedding party. They also teamed up for “Vampire Diaries” actress Kat Graham’s wedding that August.

Before either ceremony, Behring and Allen decided the wedding work was enough fun to pursue a business marriage.

“Forget about waiting for a production to call,” Behring says.

“We’re going to be the production.”

The Vestments Group can consult on an event, a celebrity press tour or a fashion overhaul. Allen and Behring can optimize a current wardrobe or add to it, either by making items themselves or bringing in experts from their network.

“Some people need to just figure out how to wear the things in their closet,” Behring says.

It starts with a style blueprint. “We sort through your closet,” Allen says.

“We take the time to go to you and understand what it is that you want.”

They want to help clients show who they are, Behring says. “We’re not trying to change you or get rid of your favorites. If anything, we want to make your favorites better and have more of them.”

They’ve found a need for education—resoling shoes, changing buttons, dyeing fabrics, re-knitting sweaters—and for confidence.

“You can put on whatever you want,” Allen says. “Just make sure you gild yourself.”

“Gilding the lily” is Behring’s style. “I’m the opposite of Coco Chanel, who said, ‘Take a piece off before you leave the house.’

I think you put one more on for good measure, just in case.”

Allen, whose style leans toward the preppie, advocates gilding with a fragrance. “It doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to feel expensive.”

People should rule their wardrobe with love, Behring says.

“Whatever you have in your closet, you should absolutely love to wear, to look at, to tell people about, and if you don’t love it, then you should get rid of it.” n THE VESTMENTS GROUP thevestmentsgroup.com • @vestmentsgroup

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ART

ART FORMS Mixing talents has taken this local artist down a myriad of pathways STORY: H.M. Cauley

T

he combination of a life-long love of art and a corporate career has put Kathy Rennell Forbes in a unique position. The Dunwoody native toggles between painting, teaching and using her business skills to manage the Atlanta Artists Center in Buckhead.

Her attraction to art dates back to her childhood when her grandfather, a printer, brought home reams of paper in all sizes that became her

first canvases. “I remember winning an award in kindergarten for a drawing I did of a boy on the back of a deer,” she says. That earliest success led to a BFA in art and art education from the University of Georgia in 1981. But at the time, the workforce wasn’t particularly artist friendly.

“That was the year the state government decided we needed to cut back on funds for arts, music and physical education,” she says.

“There were no jobs. I ended up

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working for Citicorp, a job that taught me not to overspend and keep within a budget. Later, at IBM, I was in software development and traveling a lot, so in 1992, I took a [buyout] rather than being on the road all the time.”

The end of her corporate career freed her to raise her children and eventually return to art. She began teaching adults in 2004 at the Chastain Arts Center, a gig that led to teaching continuing education courses at Kennesaw State. “I loved that more people heard about me and recommended me,” Forbes says.

“Soon I was offering classes and workshops around the state and the Southeast. And I taught online during COVID.” Her reputation led to her be-

coming a lifetime member of the Georgia Watercolor Society, a seat she’s held for the last 16 years. For the last year, she’s been the gallery chair at the Atlanta Artists Center, a position that includes managing events and competitions at the nonprofit’s Grandview Gallery in Buckhead. But being on the administrative side hasn’t taken away from teaching: She leads three watercolor classes each week at the Abernathy Arts Center in Sandy Springs.

“Watercolor is my favorite because it’s magical,” she says. “The colors just blend on the paper so beautifully. You have to work hard to make those paints blend in oils and acrylics.”

Forbes’ base is a studio near Georgia Tech that she shares with an environmental artist who inspired her to dive into papermaking. That led to a new interest in mixed media, in which she shreds her watercolor works and repurposes them onto old canvases. A solo show of those works went up at Sandy Springs city hall last fall.

Other samples of her works are part of private and corporate collections around the globe, including the Universal Studios in LA, the French Olympic Committee in Paris and the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta. Last year, she was tapped to paint the papal crest of Pope Leo XIV at Atlanta’s Basilica of the Sacred Heart.

But the artist also relishes painting outside. That work earned her the title of “master artists” at the 2017 Olmsted Georgia Color Plein Air Invitational, a competition she has continued to be a part of.

“I do a lot of plein air and compete in plein air competitions, including one in Savannah in October,” she says. “It’s always great to be outdoors where people can see you working and stop to talk about it.”

Forbes’ latest art adventures have taken her beyond the U.S. She’s accepted invitations to teach in Italy, France, Spain and Cuba, and is delighted that these opportunities combine two of her favorite things.

“I love to paint outdoors, and I love to travel,” she says. “And now I have the chance to combine those things into something different.” n KATHY RENNELL FORBES rennellforbes.com • @artbykrf

WHAT MAKES SIMPLY BUCKHEAD SPECIAL? n We are hyper-focused on the people

and businesses we serve.

n 120K+ commute to Buckhead daily,

reflecting high value business activity.

n The community has a concentration

of business leaders/owners.

n Our features and stories are all local, fresh,

and relevant with no repurposed content.

n 100% professional journalist contributors.

P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355 • 404.538.9895 advertising@simplybuckhead.com • simplybuckhead.com

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TASTEMAKER

Le Jardin Français started in 2000 with event florals out of my house, and 10 years later, in 2010, we had a retail shop. We now offer florals for residential and commercial spaces and events, plus a huge educational component of teaching and training. We opened L’Atelier in 2023, which is where we produce orders, host team-builders and workshops, and prepare for events.

What are most of your customers looking for, and how do they find you?

It’s a lot of word of mouth and existing clients. I’ve been established for 25 years. We have long-term relationships with people. They have parties; they send thank-yous; they buy gifts. We’re in people’s lives for a long time. Florists are kind of like hairdressers in that way.

People also find out about our workshops through receiving flowers and just being curious. They come in and say, 'My grandmother had this plant growing up, and I would love to have one, but I keep killing them!' My mission is to help people have a good experience with plants and flowers. It’s about understanding what plants need to thrive. And we teach those skills.

What’s a typical day like for you?

Flower Power Marie-Laure Coste Dujols makes gardens and businesses grow STORY: Denise K. James

M

arie-Laure Coste Dujols’ first visit to the United States in 1998 was supposed to be just a work trip. A native of Paris, Dujols, 20 years old at the time, was asked to take the lead on floral design for a wedding in Albany, Georgia. She grew up in a lavish garden curated by her

mother, then worked in a flower shop after college where she gained experience working with custom arrangements.

Fortunately for Atlanta, Dujols never left, and her floral design business, Le Jardin Français, has become a multi-hyphenate empire of custom flower design

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and plant education. As of 2026, the brand includes a Europeanstyle floral boutique at Westside Provisions, the L’Atelier space nearby and a newly opened kiosk in the new Upper West Market district—with more to come.

She spoke to Simply Buckhead about how her business has blossomed.

How do the different parts of the business work together?

I’m the creative director. I oversee a lot of orders, which are often designs I’ve created. I’m involved in quotes, estimates and developing new products and offerings. I also teach workshops and do client consultations and garden design consultations where I walk around a home, business or outdoor space and make suggestions.

Le Jardin Français values sustainability. Can you tell us more about that?

We design with the seasons because seasonal flowers are inherently more sustainable. They require fewer resources, travel fewer miles and reflect natural rhythms of the environment. Our role as designers is not to force nature into something it isn’t but to work in harmony with the seasons and what’s available at any given time. That philosophy has guided Le Jardin Français since the beginning. n LE JARDIN FRANÇAIS lejardinfrancais.com • @lejardinfrancais

EVENTS

BY Nicole Letts

GIRL POWER

Girls Who Walk founders, Delia O’Malley (right) and Jessica Zeewy (left), organize a weekly women's walking group on Sundays at 10 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

TWO DUNWOODY FRIENDS TURN WEEKLY WALKS INTO A GROWING COMMUNITY

S

neakers hit the pavement at Brook Run Park every Sunday at 10 a.m. and Wednesday at 6 p.m., when a crowd of women gather to walk, talk and trade phone numbers before peeling off for coffee. The group is Girls Who Walk Dunwoody, founded in May 2026 by Delia O’Malley and Jessica Zeewy, two friends who met through a mutual social circle and quickly realized Dunwoody was short on ways for women to easily connect.

Zeewy, a personal trainer and nutritionist, walked Brook Run Park daily and grew tired of doing it alone. “I kind of want to start a walking group,” Zeewy says she told O’Malley, an inclusion specialist, digital marketer and the founder of O’Malley Media Group. O’Malley’s response was immediate: “Say less.” The pair posted in a local Facebook group asking if anyone wanted to walk. Within hours, the response convinced them they had stumbled onto something more than a hobby. “Comment after comment, private message, likes, loves,” Zeewy says. “We started our group a week later.”

A typical event starts with name tags and small talk at the park entrance, where regulars and first-timers fall into step together. After the walk, the group heads to Lucky Goat Coffee to keep the conversation going over coffee.

There is no fitness requirement and no obliga-

tion to show up every week. “It’s not strenuous.

It’s not uphill a lot. It’s really doable,” O’Malley says. The group has welcomed women in their 20s through their 70s, as well as participants managing disabilities and chronic illness. For O’Malley, the mission carries a personal weight. She has worked with people with disabilities for more than a decade, and she speaks openly about her own mental health struggles, crediting regular movement and friendship with helping her through difficult stretches. “We want women to be able to come and be the way they are without having to put on a front. A truly safe space,” O’Malley says.

Always thinking ahead, O’Malley and Zeewy are already dreaming of the future. They envision brand partnerships, such as sneaker try-on sessions, and are deep in designing their merch launch that will hopefully include T-shirts and hats. “We want to add value to the women’s lives,” O’Malley says.

The group now coordinates roughly 70 members through a group chat, where members also organize outings beyond the walk itself, from art nights to line dancing. The duo explains growth has never been the point. “If we get two women to come walk with us, that’s what matters,” O’Malley says. n linktr.ee/girlswhowalkdunwoody • @girlswhowalk_dunwoody

The walking group now has nearly 70 members, ranging in age from their 20s through their 70s.

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EVENTS

BY Nicole Letts

BUZZ DOGGY DIP DAY AT MURPHEY CANDLER PARK Sept. 12 explorebrookhaven.com/ events/doggy-dip-day @explorebrookhaven

As the season comes to a close, Murphey Candler Park invites you to bring your four-legged furry family members to the pool for Doggy Dip Day. For $10 per pup, your pooch can jump and swim from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LATINO HISPANIC CULTURAL HERITAGE CELEBRATION

Drawing Inspiration SCAD Animation Festival is back for its 10th year this month SCAD Animation Festival, held at SCADShow and Forty event space, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The three-day event, held Sept.

23 to 25, will include panels from industry professionals, screenings of top student work and more.

While the 2026 lineup is still forth-

coming, past speakers have included “Phineas and Ferb” creators Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, as well as KPop Demon Hunters co-director Chris Appelhans. Attendees can look forward to networking opportunities, themed activations and guests from top animated films

SCAD student work will hit the big screen during SCAD Animation Festival.

and TV shows. New this year is the Short Shorts Animation Fest, a session dedicated to animated shorts under five minutes. Tickets are $10 per session and $5 for alumni, with a $35 screening pass granting access to mainstage film screenings. A $100 festival pass covers all sessions open to the public. n scad.edu/AnimationFest • @scaddotedu

Where’s Walter?

@createdunwoody

Recognize Latino and Hispanic culture at this free community event on the Ashford Lane lawn.

From 4 to 7 p.m., enjoy traditional dance performances, live music, a fashion show and more, all hosted by WSB-TV Channel 2 anchor Wendy Corona. Confirmed performers include Aklla Sumaq, Aatma Dance Studio, PasoFino Dance Studio, Los Niños Primero and singer Veronica Gleasson.

BUCKHEAD ARTS FESTIVAL Sept. 19–20 buckheadartsfestival.com @affps_festivals

Take an artistic stroll through Buckhead Village during this free, two-day fine arts festival featuring approximately 100 painters, photographers, sculptors, glass artists, jewelers and more. Enjoy artist demonstrations and live acoustic music. Open Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The High Museum of Art presents Walter Wick

Opened Aug. 28 and running until Jan. 3, 2027, the High Museum of Art presents I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders, the largest survey of the photographic illustrator behind the I Spy! and Can You See What I See? children’s book series. The exhibition spans his five-decade career, showcasing iconic images and rarely seen works, including three-dimensional models. Each piece reveals his storytelling via a miniature world that presents optical illusions and puzzle challenges. Visitors of all ages can explore the wonder and craft behind Wick’s visual stories, which have captivated readers across generations by blending art, science and technol-

Sept. 13 createdunwoody.org/lhcc

BLUE STONE ARTS AND MUSIC FESTIVAL Sept. 25-26 visitsandysprings.org @cityofsandysprings

ogy. This exhibit marks the 11th installment in the High’s ongoing exhibition series celebrating children’s book art and authors. It is organized by the New Britain Museum of American Art. n highmuseum.org • @high_museum

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Walter Wick (American, born Harford, Connecticut,1953), Puss in Boots, from Can You See What I See? Once Upon a Time, 2006, pigmented inkjet photograph, New Britain Museum of American Art, gift of Walter Wick and Linda Cheverton Wick. © 2006 Walter Wick.

Join Sandy Springs for this free, two-day celebration of art and music. The artist market and emerging artist program return alongside the sports and kids zones, but the live music is this year’s draw. Friday's headliner is rock and alternative-pop act Nicotine Dolls. Saturday brings R&B, soul and funk artist Allen Stone, fresh off tour dates with Chris Stapleton and Teddy Swims.

Every child’s

fight is our fight.

Each face you see has a name, a family, and big dreams.

A cancer diagnosis will be one of the toughest challenges of their young lives.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

You can stand with CURE Childhood Cancer to support families today and fund research to create better treatments for tomorrow.

Because every child deserves more than a fighting chance. They deserve a future.

curechildhoodcancer.org Simply Buckhead September 2026 10 x 13.625.indd 1

8/11/26 4:58 PM

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COVER STORY

FASHION FORWARD BESPOKE STYLES, LOCAL TAILORS AND THE DESIGNERS COMING UP WITH THE NEXT BIG THING PHOTO: Alexandra Zak Great style is immediately recognizable, but it comes in all shapes, sizes and kinds of flair. While Buckhead has long been known as a destination for designer shopping, it’s increasingly becoming a top spot for talented makers creating one-of-a-kind styles. From a SCAD grad’s budding jewelry empire and a former Savile Row tailor putting down roots in Atlanta to a creative designer making one-of-a-kind looks for the South’s top executives and much more, this feature provides plenty of inspiration to elevate your style game.

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A TAILORED LEGACY

Dedrick Thomas stitches together style, business and purpose

STORY: Karina Antenucci STORY: Alexandra Zak

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aised in Pickens, Mississippi, population 994, Dedrick Hideoki Hagiwara Thomas credits the five women who shaped his childhood—his mother, grandmothers and great-grandmothers— for instilling the values that continue to define his life and business.

“We raised livestock and planted a garden. They taught me that when you fertilize your foundation and build it, it grows,” he says. “They worked so hard to give me the opportunity to go out and fulfill my dreams.” He hasn’t let them down.

Although custom-made fashion would ultimately become his calling, Thomas' path began in engineering.

After graduating magna cum laude from Mississippi State University in 1998 with a degree in industrial engineering, he built a successful career in software technology, specializing in warehouse management, supply chain management and logistics.

In 2007, he launched Hideoki Bespoke from his apartment while continuing to run his software-tech business until 2015. Without any formal training and simply a love of fashion, he started designing clothing for himself and friends, carrying out a vision to create pieces that fit with precision and matched each client’s unique personality and tastes.

“My grandmother never let me leave the house with my pants hanging down and always made sure my clothes looked proper. I watched my family attend church in their fur coats and fedora hats,” he says of his early fashion influences.

Thomas soon grew his business, eventually expanding from a small Bennett Street studio to an 8,000-square-foot Buckhead showroom. Last year, he reached another milestone by purchasing Hideoki's permanent home on Peachtree Road in a historic 1931 building that was once a bindery shop.

“Coming from a small town in Mississippi and being able to own property on Peachtree in the middle of Buckhead is a blessing,” he says.

“Ownership is key because it creates access to future growth.”

Hideoki Bespoke outfits discerning clients in everything from custom suiting and luxury sportswear to footwear and leather goods, with manufacturing partners and artisans spanning Atlanta and the U.S.,

COVER STORY

WELL-DRESSED MAYOR

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens makes a statement with his sartorial choices STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin PHOTO: Alexandra Zak

S

imply Buckhead sat down with Atlanta’s 61st mayor to talk about the evolution of his personal style, his preferred off-duty attire and neighborhood spots he loves.

Describe your personal style in three words.

Professional. Crisp. Relatable.

How has your fashion changed since taking office in 2022?

I've gone from buttoned up executive to now buttoned up executive with a little bit of style and a little flair. When I was running for mayor, I started working with Dedrick. He upped my style from being a tech guy with a sporty tech business wardrobe. Now I have a suit for every occasion.

How do you use style to support your goals as Atlanta’s top executive?

I'm working from early morning to late night every day. I have anywhere from 10 to 11 meetings and events in a day. Some are outdoor, some are indoor, some are community-facing, some are business-facing. It’s important to have the flexibility to do all of those things while still having some comfort. You want to be appropriately dressed and fashionable, but the clothes need to have some endurance to last all day.

When working with Dedrick of Hideoki Bespoke, your clothes are custom.

Portugal, Italy, Spain, Indonesia and more. The brand’s attention to detail has attracted an impressive roster of high-profile clients, including Jeezy, Samuel L. Jackson, Magic Johnson, T.I., Ketanji Brown Jackson, Candace Parker and Terri J. Vaughn, among many others.

For Thomas, however, the lifestyle experience he produces extends beyond clothing. His Buckhead studio is designed as a gathering place where entrepre-

Why is it important for you to have items no one else does?

I do a wide range of events: a state of the city address, an inauguration, a visit to the White House or a critical business meeting where I have to present. They all have a distinctive look that Dedrick helps me plan year in and year out. Not only is it planning for this year's calendar, but it's making sure I'm not looking the exact same year after year. We're kind of experimenting right now with a slightly flared leg and a flat front [on pants]. At times we go with a peak lapel collar. It's all about what message we're trying to convey. As a chemical engineer from Georgia Tech, I knew none of this before.

What are you wearing on a day off?

I love nice flexible jeans and a hoodie in winter. Or in summer, a fitted polo and some sneakers or loafers.

I'm very relaxed on my days off.

Speaking of off days, where are some of your neighborhood favorites for grabbing a bite?

This area has so many great restaurants. I love the Retreat by the Gathering Spot for perfect sunset views from the rooftop. Eight Sushi has some really good sushi in West Midtown, and I love Umi in Buckhead. If I'm going for a steak, it’s between Chops and Marcel.

It just depends on what part of town I want to be in. Delbar has a vibe and great food. n

neurs, executives, athletes and creatives connect over shared experiences, often forming friendships and business relationships along the way. He also brings clients together at annual customer appreciation events.

That spirit of connection similarly fuels his philanthropic work and passion for helping the Black community thrive. He is committed to aiding the next generation in several ways, including service on the board

of the nsoro Foundation that helps youth aging out of foster care pursue higher education. In partnership with golf equipment company PING, with whom he created the PING x Hideoki collection, Thomas is helping expand opportunities at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The initiative launched with a $1 million collaboration benefiting Texas Southern University and includes plans to support an additional four HBCUs through

$1 million each toward scholarships, internships and athletic programs.

Whether designing a custom outfit, investing in youth or traveling the world, Thomas lives by a motto he learned from one of his first clients, Steve Harvey: "There's no monopoly on knowledge. The only difference between knowing and not knowing is exposure." n HIDEOKI BESPOKE maisonhideoki.com • @hideokibespoke

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ON THE RIGHT FOOT Nicholas Hixon designs handcrafted shoes for confident women STORY: Lauren Finney Harden PHOTO: Erik Meadows

B

rookhaven resident Nicholas Hixon has always held creative roles, working in interior and environmental design and architecture. A competition by the International Design Association’s Atlanta chapter in 2012 changed his perspective on his chosen metier. There, professionals were challenged to create fashion outfits from materials used in the design industry, such as wood flooring and upholstery fabric. “I noticed these teams were creating cool, overthe-top outfits, but shoes were not part of that,” he says. “I had an idea: What if we built a pair of shoes [out of design industry materials]?”

Hixon admits he had no idea how to accomplish this for the competition, but he was willing to try.

That process gave him more than he realized. “I saw a very different creative side to myself, and it was

one of the first times in my career that I had felt like I had full creative freedom,” he says.

Energized by that feeling and by the idea of designing shoes, Hixon dabbled in shoe design while continuing to climb the corporate ladder. (He’s currently a senior creative director at the brand experience agency Sparks.) When artificial intelligence became mainstream, he finally felt he had a vehicle to help him sketch out his ideas. “AI helped fuel my creative energy,” he says. “I then began to wonder if I could actually have these shoe designs made.”

When pondering the idea a few years ago, he came across a global design competition in early 2024.

“I didn’t want to put my work out there because I had been using AI. It wasn’t real. I had all this self-doubt,” he says. But he entered anyway and ended up being one of six interna-

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tional winners. The prize: a trip to Amsterdam to learn from master cobblers and shoe designers René van den Berg and Kobi Levi.

Hixon seized the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and learned how to properly make shoes, which he calls an “insanely tedious process, although an unbelievably rewarding and creative one as well.” In late 2024, he debuted his women’s shoe line, Adeline. The consummate creative looks for inspiration everywhere, and his first pair of shoes was inspired by a pile of laundry.

The name Adeline comes from a song by the artist Robyn. In “Dancing on my Own,” she says, “I’m so out of line.” Hixon adopted that off-center philosophy and twisted it into the company name and the persona of the woman who wears his shoes.

Focused on limited-edition bespoke shoe drops and custom creations,

Adeline offers heels, booties and soon, a pair of flats. Hixon uses Italian leather, suede and other materials, and works with global manufacturers, using family-owned factories that make the shoes by hand. The brand is rooted in color, texture and comfort, and prices begin at $369.

Styles include the Chloe Mary Jane pump, a textured twist on a classic midcentury silhouette, and Byrdie, an ankle-bootie wrapped in heritage tartan with a contrasting metallic spike heel. The new flat design, named Eero after Saarinen, one of Hixon’s favorite architects, is inspired by the TWA terminal at New York’s Kennedy International Airport.

Hixon also offers a custom option.

Buyers collaborate with him on designing their dream shoe, and Hixon can produce it in about six weeks. “My buyers are confident, and their shoes are a reflection of their personalities,” he says. n ADELINE • soadeline.com • @soadelinedesigns

WEAR IT RIGHT

A fragrance application guide according to the INDIEHOUSE team.

THE POWER MOVE. Apply to your shoulders; it’s the best place to wear fragrance for maximum projection.

THE PULSE POINTS. Hit your wrists and the back of your neck.

Movement amplifies scent in these spots.

THE UNDERRATED ZONE. Don’t forget your ankles, especially if you’re wearing skirts, tights or boots. Heat rises, and the scent goes with it.

THE DÉCOLLETAGE MYTH. Spraying directly on your chest is ineffective.

The skin is thin, so the fragrance won’t linger.

THE SPRITZ SKIP. Resist the urge to spray and walk through a cloud of fragrance. It wastes perfume and does nothing for longevity.

SCENTS OF SELF Inside Buckhead’s new AI fragrance experience, where 500 billion combinations marry perfume and personality STORY: Nicole Letts PHOTO: Erik Meadows

I

fell in love with fragrance as a teenager. The retailers of my adolescence, such as GAP, Clinique and Victoria’s Secret, lined their shelves with scents like Dream, Happy and Love Spell. I had them all. During my first trip to New York, I discovered Burberry Brit at Bloomingdale’s and immediately put a bottle on my Christmas wish list. Santa obliged the request. I’ve been hooked on perfume ever since, picking up bottles during travels overseas and occasionally splurging on a whim just because, viewing fragrance as the ultimate final touch to any outfit.

Even with a collection built from department store counters, duty-free indulgences and a few

hands-on workshops, I’d never actually seen the mechanics of fragrances made from scratch until I walked into INDIEHOUSE, a perfumery that recently opened its second metro Atlanta location in Phipps Plaza.

The shop is the only permanent retailer in the U.S. to have Algorithmic Perfumery by EveryHuman, an AI custom fragrance machine that builds individualized scents.

The machine draws from 52 different fragrance accords, each one a complex scent building block, creating more than 500 billion possible combinations. It looks sophisticated and futuristic, like something out of a movie; it’s the Cher Horowitz Clueless closet of perfume mechanisms where, with

the tap of a button, personalization happens before your eyes.

The process begins with an indepth, online questionnaire. Each question is designed to help the machine select the ideal combination of oils specifically for you. Instead of just asking about your preferences when it comes to an array of scents, participants are also asked about their personality traits to receive a crafted aroma that considers your lifestyle and experiences. At the end of the survey, you receive a code that an employee enters into the machine.

Next, the machine generates three sample fragrances customized to your responses. You get to test all three, pick your favorite, and if you’d like, tweak one of them

up to two times. Once you’ve landed on your signature scent, the machine fills an atomizer with your final fragrance and assigns it a name. For $140, you walk away with three 5ml test fragrances, your personalized 30ml creation and an experience that feels like alchemy.

The perfume experience doesn’t end once you leave the store. It follows you home and becomes a part of your fragrance collection, rotated as moments, moods and seasons shift.

When I’m feeling nostalgic, I reach for my bottle of Cedar Violet by Aerin, a gift from friends over a decade ago.

When my little black dress demands date night attention, I spritz Chloé eau de parfum. In the fall, when I want my mood to match the weather, I turn to my own INDIEHOUSE concoction, Stopping by the Woods, that I created and named myself during a workshop in 2021. No look is complete without a dash of fragrance; it’s this season’s must-have accessory. n INDIEHOUSE • indiehousefragrances.com @indiehousefragrances

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COVER STORY

FOUND AND FORGED A local artist transforms raw gemstones into one-of-a-kind jewelry STORY: Emily L. Foley

Founder and designer Bailey Christenbury; A Ringcrush bracelet made with raw, Australian opals.

I

f you find yourself on the hunt for jewelry that is unique and distinctive, it’s time to check out Ringcrush. Known for handcrafted designs that highlight the organic beauty of raw gemstones, the collection offers jewelry that is full of character and are each one-ofkind statement pieces.

Founder and designer Bailey Christenbury got her first SCAD degree in sculpture in 2011, but always found herself gravitating toward small pieces. This led to earning a Master of Arts in jewelry and objects. While pursuing that degree, she scored an internship with prestigious London-based goldsmith Simon Benney, the British royal family’s goldsmith and whose House of Benney holds a

Royal Warrant, an honor that serves as a “royal seal of approval” only bestowed after years of royal service.

Despite having that level of jewelry making under her belt, Christenbury’s next step was less linear: While in school, she picked up poker, and upon graduating, moved to Canada and traveled the world as a professional poker player. Christenbury strategically used the gig to save money, and once she had her desired capital, she moved to Atlanta and started Ringcrush. She launched on Etsy in 2016 and made each piece solo in her garage. The company has grown from those beginnings to employ a team of seven female artisans, all fellow SCAD alums, who work in a full professional studio.

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One thing that hasn’t changed is selling on Etsy. Despite enjoying a decade of success, being sold in specialty shops and boutiques around the globe, and having a successful e-commerce site, the brand continues to see its highest sales on the creative marketplace, thanks to being handmade from ethically sourced materials.

Ringcrush occupies a rare space in the jewelry market: Its elevated, handmade designs are priced from around $40 to a few hundred dollars, making them more accessible than much of the handmade designer jewelry market, while also standing apart from the mass-produced pieces that dominate affordable jewelry.

A serial entrepreneur, Christenbury has also started two additional jewelry brands: Blooblee, a line of dainty, 24 carat gold-filled pieces designed around whimsical motifs inspired by hobbies and everyday moments—think a stick of butter, a paper airplane, a soccer ball or a croissant. Her designs are regularly duped by discount sites, of which

Christenbury says, “You know to be proud of something when it’s copied on Temu.”

Her most recent venture is Vowari, a line of bespoke engagement rings using lab-grown diamonds. “People often don’t realize how big the mark-ups are on mined diamonds,” she says. “But I can design and craft you a fully custom ring, and I’m able to do it really quickly and really well for a fraction of the cost. Why would you spend $20,000 on something ethically questionable when you can get the same look for $1,000, and it’s completely customized?”

Christenbury says her world travels fuel her creativity as the designer of three jewelry brands with diverse aesthetics. “My partner is a pilot, and we travel a lot. Interacting with new people in new cultures is what influences and inspires my work. My best ideas come from new experiences in new countries,” she says. “And I only find myself in a creative rut when I have the same routine every day.” n RING CRUSH • ringcrush.com • @ringcrush

SEW SAVILE Meet the Irishman behind a Buckhead made-to-measure menswear studio STORY: Nicole Letts

L

ondon’s Savile Row has been the home of bespoke suiting in Great Britain since the 1800s. Known as the “golden mile of men’s tailoring,” the 150-yard street is world-renowned, having fitted gentlemen from King Charles III to actor Jude Law. Patrick O’Shea, the proprietor behind Buckhead’s SPO 33, learned the craft there, cutting his teeth at Gieves & Hawkes, the storied Savile Row house with a royal warrant and a military pedigree.

O’Shea later moved to Harrods and mastered the art of luxury customer service amid a clientele ranging from A-list celebrities to Qatari royalty. Along the way, he met a Nashville native in a London pub, married her and, in 2016, moved to Atlanta for a position at the West-

side’s Sid Mashburn, bringing his Savile Row education with him.

After four years at Mashburn, O’Shea found himself longing for a space of his own. In 2021, with his father as his muse and London as his compass, he started SPO 33, a made-to-measure menswear atelier.

By design, the moody, garden-level shop in Buckhead feels more like a cigar lounge or library than a menswear boutique. “I wanted it to be a modern take on the old London gentleman’s club: a place for people to go to relax, have a glass of wine or a whiskey, and shut out the world for a little bit,” says O’Shea.

Glancing around the room, he points to pieces of art: a family heirloom, his own photography of the River Thames and his personal

SPO 33 is known for signature craftsmanship; small touches have little to do with looks and everything to do with standards.

favorite: a vintage snapshot of a Land Rover Range Rover Classic.

“When I was born in 1979, my dad treated himself to a personalized license plate: SPO, for Sean Patrick O’Shea, and 33, the age he was when I was born. He’s had it on every car he’s owned since. That license plate is where the name came from. Then I turned it into our logo,” says O’Shea.

His attention to detail that turns a license plate into a legacy carries through to the clothes themselves.

O’Shea sources his fabrics from the same mills as his London counterparts. Books with samples from Drago, Loro Piana, Holland & Sherry and others show the full gamut of what SPO 33 offers. Every jacket gets a functioning surgeon’s cuff, a hand-finished Milanese buttonhole and full-through lining in the brand’s signature navy.

Those above-standard touches and his client-first mentality set SPO 33 apart, O’Shea says. “My

slogan is tailoring your lifestyle.

I really need to understand what someone needs before I can tailor around that.” A client who’s always on a plane, for example, gets steered toward wrinkle-resistant wool; a television personality under studio lights needs something lightweight and breathable.

He also makes medical coats built with the same construction and finishing as his suits; they’ve become a popular gift for new doctors finishing their residencies.

O’Shea says he is chasing relationships, not receipts. When a customer requests a full wardrobe overhaul, O’Shea starts with one suit, not five, so he can build faith and trust. He doesn’t seek followers on social media. His business is word of mouth, relying on client praise to bring new feet through the door.

Patience shapes how SPO 33 grows. The business is entirely self-funded, keeping expansion deliberate. He has added supplemental goods from regional businesses he believes in, like Secret Society ties and Ranger Station fragrances. Womenswear is next; he already makes women’s jackets on request, cut from the same Italian and English fabrics as the men’s line. For O’Shea, there’s no rush, just the next fitting. n SPO 33 • spo33.com • @spo33official

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Danny Shumov

COVER STORY

WARM WELCOME Marissa Freed wears her family’s outerwear legacy STORY: Lauren Finney Harden

I

f you catch a glimpse of Marissa Freed out and about in Atlanta, you can tell she’s a woman of style. What you might not know about her, though, is that she comes from a manufacturing dynasty. Her great-grandfather began his company, Freed & Freed, in Winnipeg in 1921 as a pants factory, and her

family once held the license for London Fog, among others.

The family business was a part of her everyday experience from a young age. “Every family vacation, we ended up in some major department store in the outerwear section,” she says. Freed took over her family’s business 17 years ago

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and currently serves as CEO. The company has manufactured a variety of items, including Pendleton wool items and “private label pieces for every major North American retailer,” according to Freed.

In 2021, she had an idea for a clothing line driven by two things.

One was her love of animals and the way they are treated. The second was motherhood. “I wanted to figure out how, in my own tiny way,

I could make a positive impact,” she says. Shortly after founding FREED, a vegan and cruelty-free outerwear brand in Canada, she and her family moved from Toronto to Atlanta for her husband’s job.

FREED has been inspired by her time in Atlanta, a much warmer climate than she was used to. “There’s a clear difference between outerwear Canadians and Americans buy,” she says. “Atlantans and Americans in general love to dress seasonally and love to look fabulous, especially with trending fabrics like faux fur.”

The pieces are also sustainable.

“We are completely vertical and really find ourselves as close as humanly possible to zero waste because we do all the cutting and sewing in our own factories,” she says, noting that they repurpose leftover fabric for future seasons and styles.

Sold online and at Tootsies in Atlanta, Houston and Dallas, FREED pays homage to her family’s roots with a twist that focuses on shorter, lighter styles. Her animal-free, faux fur and leather items have a texture and elegance that mimic the real thing but at a fraction of the price.

“Our faux fur feels and moves like fur and has that richness, but it’s an opportunity for people to not wear real animals and still achieve everything they want [stylistically],” she says.

Freed also had fun mixing up the styles and catering to a U.S. customer. “It’s been super exciting to serve different markets in the U.S., creating things like cropped sleeves, things Canadians would never buy,” she says.

As a breast cancer survivor, Freed created a charitable campaign last year. Called Pink For a Cause, the capsule collection featured the brand’s signature pink faux fur coats and accessories. A portion of the proceeds from these designs go to women’s health and breast cancer awareness organizations, including Emory Healthcare, where she received treatment.

Freed used survivors in the marketing materials for the line.

“Pink For a Cause is incredibly meaningful to me. Bringing together survivors ranging from one year to nearly 30 years post-diagnosis for that photoshoot was a powerful and deeply moving experience, filled with hope, connection and shared strength,” she says. n FREED • freedandfreed.com • @freedandfreed

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S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

71

REVIEW

DRINKS

FOODIE JOURNAL

TA S T E M A K E R

R E S TA U R A N T S

DELICIOUS

Seeking Harmony UMI BALANCES CLASSIC AND MODERN JAPANESE FLAVORS WITH STYLE STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin

D

PHOTOS: Madelynne Grace

oes the perfect bite exist?

perfectly composed, with no guesswork

It’s a question I found

required to find the precise sensory

myself pondering mul-

experience the chefs intended.

tiple times during a duo

The feast for the senses starts

of recent visits to Umi in Buckhead.

before the first course is served, as

Spoiler alert: I believe it does, albeit in

the dining room is elegantly dim and

many different permutations. Every

moody with its dark wood walls

dish, crafted under the watchful eye

and sculptural lighting from British

and skillful hands of Executive Chef

designer Tom Dixon. Meanwhile, the

Todd Dae Kulper, seemed to be aimed

open kitchen is brightly lit, shining

at achieving harmony between sweet,

like a beacon and telegraphing that

salty, sour, bitter and umami flavors.

the food is the real star, guided by a

I relished how each plate came out

cadre of chefs committed to precision.

72 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

➥

Each plate is perfectly composed, with no guesswork required to find the precise sensory experience the chefs intend.

Translucent Japanese madai is draped over sushi rice, with a shiso leaf nestled in between, and topped with kanzuri.

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73

REVIEW

The creative Matsuyama’s Jacket and the classic Old Fashioned showcase the bar's range.

Below: The best kind of salad: a perfectly ripe avocado filled to the brim with wasabi vinaigrette.

Above: The chef's signature sake-cured Scottish salmon nigiri comes with garlic aioli and caviar.

Start any visit, as I did, with a cocktail. While the menu offers plenty of classics, from a wonderfully wellmade whiskey Old Fashioned to a violet-hued Aviation, tipples with Japanese ingredients shine. The Matsuyama’s Jacket, named for the Japanese pro golfer who won the Master’s in 2021, is a blend of smoky mezcal paired with herbaceous shiso, citrus and a touch of sugar. Its green hue is a nod to the Augusta tournament’s signature jackets presented to winners. Likewise verdant, the Kyodai combines tequila with shiso, tangy yuzu and lime for a creative riff on the margarita.

My favorite way to experience the extensive menu is to order a bit at a time, according to where your whims and appetite take you. No matter what follows, starting with the avocado salad is a must. Made simply of half a flawlessly ripe avocado filled with delicately piquant wasabi vin-

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aigrette, it’s exquisite in its buttery simplicity. While you can share this dish with your dining companion, don’t. Everyone will surely want one of their own. On the other hand, the spicy tuna starter, which comes with fiery tuna tartare on lightly fried, crispy sushi rice and topped jalapeño slices, is a perennial favorite and an ideal appetizer to split. So is the carpaccio of Japanese red snapper (madai) with sea salt, lemon, olive oil and yuzu kosho, a bold, fermented chili and citrus paste.

Sometimes you order something on a whim, and it becomes a go-to dish you think about later.

For me, that was charred chutoro tataki. The medium-fatty tuna came ever-so-slightly charred, sliced and served in a pool of sweet-tangy sauce made with yuzu, wakame seaweed and su-miso, a traditional sweet-andsour mix of miso paste, rice vinegar and sugar. Every morsel melted in my mouth and left me wanting more.

Sashimi, thinly sliced, raw seafood, really showcases the impeccable freshness of the fish that is flown in directly from Japan twice per week. It was easy to imagine that the stylish, glossy pieces of fatty tuna, hamachi and red snapper were swimming in chilly Pacific waters just days before. While the set-up provided by the expert service team includes soy sauce, ginger and wasabi, reverence for the quality of the seafood led me to use those accouterments sparingly.

To really see the chefs’ creativity on display, dig into the sousaku nigiri section of the menu. Rather than standard nigiri, a pristine piece of fish draped snugly over chewytender sushi rice, these two-piece creations are even more exciting.

Above: Tender pieces of lobster, drenched in butter sauce, are finished on a tabletop toban yaki.

Right: Salty, savory and sweet, the duck confit entree is a flavor bomb in the best way.

Each jumbo lump crab cake is packed with meat not bread.

The Hinomaru is a standout, made with madai (Japanese red sea bream) and earthy shiso leaf, sea salt, a fermented chili paste called kanzuri and tangy yuzu juice. Likewise, the cured Scottish salmon with garlic aioli, lime, cracked pepper and briny caviar is a beautifully composed bite.

While Umi’s raw offerings are the focus, don’t overlook the “hot dishes.” There, you’ll find melt-inyour-mouth lobster toban-yaki with lobster brown butter, a worthy addition to any meal. The duck leg confit, cooked in A5 Wagyu fat, lacquered with a soy-ginger glaze and served with Brussels sprouts, was an unexpected delight that leverages French cooking techniques while managing to feel perfectly at home on this Japanese menu.

If you’re feeling adventurous, ask about off-menu specialties. I did one night and was rewarded with a creamy, spicy handroll of buttery scallops and rice wrapped in tender-crisp nori, which turned out to be an ideal finale to the evening’s savory dishes.

On my second visit, my husband

Left: Spicy tuna tops crispy sushi rice in this shareable starter.

and I were shown to a table on the covered, climate-controlled patio, dubbed the Bonsai Room. The regular dining room can be loud, but this space, even on a Tuesday evening, can only be described as cacophonous. Fortunately, the near-flawless food got most of my attention because having a conversation over our table for two without shouting was impossible.

If you’ve paced yourself, you’ll have saved room for dessert. Plan ahead and order the feather-light green tea soufflé. It takes 25 minutes, but it’s well worth the wait.

For a more dramatic presentation, choose the chocolate kyu, a Valrhona chocolate globe filled with fresh berries, red pastry cream and mascarpone infused in Yamazaki 18-year whiskey. The limited nightly offering comes with a mallet so you can smash the sphere to reveal the goodies inside.

Though they came in all shapes and sizes, the question of the existence of a perfect bite was answered in the affirmative more times than I could count at this Buckhead gem. n

Use the provided mallet to crack open the chocolate kyu sphere to reveal cream and berries inside.

Umi 404.841.0040 • umimodern.com • @umisushiatl Prices: starters: $9-$80; sashimi: $12-$58; nigiri: $6-$29; sousaku nigiri: $17$34; hot dishes: $19-$185; vegetables: $9-$12; traditional rolls: $9-$15; house specialty rolls: $15-$45; desserts: $9-$16; omakase: from $175 per person.

Recommended: Matsuyama’s Jacket cocktail, avocado salad, charred chutoro tataki, Hinomaru, sake aioli, duck leg confit, green tea soufflé.

Bottom line: Umi is a Buckhead original for beautifully executed sushi made with ultra-fresh imported Japanese seafood, thoughtful service and stylish environs. Opened in 2013, it’s still one of the see-and-be-seen hotspots for good reason: It delivers a top-notch experience.

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Photo Credit

DRINKS

NEW WINE FOR OLD GRILLS An Italian sommelier’s guide to late-season grilling STORY: Angela Hansberger

S

eptember straddles the line between summer and fall.

The fierce, unrelenting heat of summer is beginning to give way to a gentler warmth and an invitation to linger longer outside as the evening air cools—and to fire up the grill. But you don’t have to choose the same old bottles of ice-chilled rosés or heavy, oak-laden cabernets.

There are far more compelling bottles to liven up a barbecue.

Katie Brillinger, sommelier and beverage director at The Americano, proposes looking past the standard varietals to the ancient slopes of Italy for pairing with grilling.

For her, stepping outside the box isn't just about finding a better flavor profile; it is a way to deepen the ritual of the gathering itself.

"Nothing pairs better with quality time than lesser-known varietals,” Brillinger says. "What better way to connect with friends and family than by sharing something cool with them, like a grape from a place

that they'd never heard of and time in front of a fire?"

Grilled Chicken and Fish For delicate proteins kissed by the grill, Brillinger reaches for garganega, a native grape of the Veneto region in northeast Italy. It offers the rare combination of high-toned acidity and enough body to stand up to charred chicken skin. Pieropan "La Rocca" Garganega Soave Classico is crafted by one of the region’s oldest estates from organically farmed old vines. Aged in French oak, it pours an intense straw yellow with golden nuances. On the nose, Brillinger describes exotic fruits, yellow peach, dried apricot and sweet spices rounded out by honey and white pepper. On the palate, it is warm, elegant and smooth, making it a great partner for complex dishes.

Barbecue, Burgers and Ribs When the menu turns rich and primal—hamburgers, barbecue

76 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

Katie Brillinger, sommelier and beverage director at The Americano, uses her expertise to enhance a meal with pairings.

and ribs—red wine is non-negotiable. But heavy alcohol will bog you down on a warm September evening. The antidote for Billinger is cannonau, the Sardinian name for grenache. Crabioni Cannonau di Sardegna is from a second-generation winery just 10 meters above sea level. These grapes are harvested still glittering with sea spray. The nose yields bright strawberry, cherry and rose hip alongside a distinct sense of ashen stone, clean earth and wild rosemary. On the palate, it is brilliantly juicy, Brillinger says.

Wild raspberries and blueberries dance with savory undertones of fennel and licorice, offering the perfect tannic grip to cut through rich meats without being too weighty.

Grilled Vegetables Late-season squash and zucchini carry a caramelized sweetness from the grill that demands a white wine with both tension and texture. Brillinger points to lugana, a white varietal.

Buglioni "Gabriella" Turbiana Lugana is hand-harvested from an organically certified, family owned, single vineyard on the south side of northern Italy’s Lake Garda region. It opens

with white flowers, cherry blossoms and green apples. The profile is crisp, balancing bright stone fruit against a rich, smooth texture and a distinct mineral salinity that makes charred summer vegetables sing.

Fresh Fruits If you’re serving late-summer melons or fresh berries, look to the foothills of northern Piedmont for erbaluce.

Ferrando Erbaluce di Caluso produced by a historic house founded in 1890. This mineral-driven white wine is celebrated for its crisp, alpine-air acidity from the ancient, native erbaluce grape. It has delicate notes of orchard fruit, starfruit and wild herbs that cut through the natural sugars of fresh fruit. n THE AMERICANO • 404.946.9070 theamericanoatlanta..com @The_Americano_Atlanta

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FOODIE JOURNAL

Culinary News & Notes

BY Claire Ruhlin

FOOD NEWS n Pie Bar is now open in Westside Market, offering sweet and savory pies— think chocolate chip cookie dough, apple streusel, rosemary chicken pot pie and more—by the slice or whole. The brand has three other Atlanta-area locations in downtown Woodstock, Marietta Square and Kennesaw. orderpiebar.com n Steak, seafood, pasta, tapas and cock-

tails anchor the menu at Stäge Kitchen & Bar, now open at Campus 244 in Dunwoody. This is the restaurant’s second location, following its initial concept in Peachtree Corners. stageatl.com PopUp Bagels has arrived at Buckhead Landing, serving fresh, hot bagels sold by the bag and meant to be enjoyed with handcrafted schmear in PopUp Bagels’ “grip, rip and dip” model. popupbagels.com

Grounds for Gathering

Clinton Perry and his grandmother, Sammie Stell Wisinger.

Stellow offers coffee and community

C

hamblee’s new coffee shop, Stellow, is more than an espresso bar, says owner Clinton Perry. The name is an ode to Perry’s grandmothers: “Stell" for one’s middle name, and "ow" for the other's favorite color, yellow. He designed the shop’s environment, menu and atmosphere to be “a place where you feel welcomed, safe, relaxed,” with plans to add a floral shop component. “You come for the coffee and beautiful design, but you stay because of our team and community,” he says.

Do you have a personal favorite beverage?

I love our specialty drinks, but I find myself gravitating to our drip coffee.

It truly has always been what I love most. I think as coffee grows in popularity, we find more and more ways to mask its flavor, but I love how my grandmother drinks it: a black drip. But please try all our specialty drinks and get creative!

Before opening your Chamblee cafe, your business operated as a mobile coffee

cart. What lessons from that helped shape the brick-and-mortar experience?

We love our cute little Stellow Espresso Bars. They are still rolling around the city and all over Georgia.

I had the original idea for a storefront with coffee and florals almost 15 years ago, but before I started this journey, I had a gut feeling not to take investments or partnerships, but to do it on my own and start small with espresso bars. I have loads of experience in the event space and figured it would be helpful to start strong there. In 2019, I began building the brand with my two close friends. I had never been

in hospitality before, so that was a big learning curve. Then I began learning about coffee through espresso bars and shops. I followed Counter Culture's training and methods through their training facility. I’m thankful for all our friends in Atlanta and all the things they did to help us get here. n STELLOW • stellow.com • @hellostellow

Spritz and Repeat Yeppa & Co.’s Spritz al Mare is clutch for cooling off Keep the Italian summer vibes going with this aperitivo recipe from Yeppa & Co. in Buckhead Village and the Beltline.

Spritz al Mare Yield: One spritz

Luca Fanari

Stellow is inspired by your grandmothers.

How does that translate into the menu?

One grandmother, Betty—Grandbetty—always had Fresca soda at her house when I was a kid, and to this day it’s really the only soda you’ll ever find at my house.

So we made a Betty’s Fresca Tonic: Fresca, homemade citrus syrup and a double shot of espresso, garnished with an orange candy slice (she liked her sweets). The other, inspired by mornings at my grandmother Sammie’s, is our Sammie’s Sunrise, with homemade orange peel syrup and a dash of cinnamon, and garnished with a dried orange slice. She was an early riser and never missed her morning coffee or birdwatching from the kitchen table.

She would always make me a slice of toast with orange marmalade and a dash of cinnamon.

78 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

INGREDIENTS: 1 ounce Amaretto Adriatico liqueur ½ ounce Fernet Branca 2 ounces Prosecco 1 ounce soda water

Lime wheel Orange slice INSTRUCTIONS: Fill a wine glass with ice. Add Amaretto and Fernet Branca, top with Prosecco and soda, and swirl gently with a spoon.

Garnish with lime and orange.

YEPPA & CO. yeppaco.com • @yeppacoatl

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Cocktail Reception and an

Exclusive Fashion Show by House of Jaya To RSVP or for more information Please contact: pat@arogyaworld.org

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“

Simply Buckhead has been a great partner of ours since

the magazine started 16 years ago. Their platform has helped us grow our brand awareness and connect with the neighborhood, showcasing what Buckhead Life Restaurant Group is all about. It’s been a great way to share our passion for fine dining to the Buckhead community and beyond!

”

PANO AND NIKO KARATASSOS Owners Buckhead Life Restaurant Group

P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355 • 404.538.9895 advertising@simplybuckhead.com • simplybuckhead.com

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

79

TASTEMAKER

to the food. If vendors start cutting corners, people notice.

Do you think food halls have outgrown their “trend” status?

They’re more community-driven and location-driven. People don’t typically travel across the city for a food hall. Most of our customers live within a 5-mile radius. That said, food halls can benefit certain neighborhoods.

They create community spaces, generate jobs and bring energy.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I like to golf and travel. I was diagnosed with stage four cancer about two and a half years ago. I went through chemo and stem cell therapy, and I’m now cancer-free.

How did that diagnosis change your perspective?

You realize there’s an expiration date. It humbles you, and it makes you focus on what matters.

You also rely on people in ways you might not have before.

Nicholas McElroy

What are you most proud of?

THE BUSINESS OF COMMUNITY F

Robert Montwaid builds food halls that prioritize connection as much as commerce STORY: Carly Cooper

ive years into his Atlanta chapter, Robert Montwaid has become one of the city’s most influential food hall developers. After helping shape New York’s Gansevoort Market, the Westside-based developer has become a key force behind destinations like Chattahoochee Food Works and, more recently, CTR Food Works Downtown and Vela Park Food Works in East Lake. He's earned a reputation for spotting talent early and giving emerging chefs and

first-time restaurateurs a way in.

We spoke with Montwaid about the instincts, setbacks and personal experiences that shape his approach and the spaces he creates.

look for family-owned businesses and operators who care about what they’re doing. It always comes down to quality and passion. At the end of the day, we’re only as good as the people we surround ourselves with.

How do you choose your vendors?

When I came to Atlanta, I basically ate my way around town. I’d go to a pizza place and ask where to get ice cream, then go there and ask where to get a good burger.

That’s how I found people. But it’s not just about the hot chef. We

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How many food halls do you think Atlanta can sustain? It feels like a new one opens every month.

I think the good ones survive, and the bad ones don’t. Design matters; if it’s not comfortable, people won’t stay. But ultimately, it comes down

My parents got to see me sober before they passed. I’ve been in a 12-step program for 35 years. I became the executor of my parents’ wills and took care of them when they were sick. They both passed in my arms. It was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Being there for them at the end, that mattered.

I’ve also been able to help other family members get into recovery. I helped my 19-year-old nephew get sober. For me, giving back in that way has always been important. When you see someone turn their life around, become a better partner and a better parent, that’s what it’s about.

What’s next for you?

I’ve had a diverse career: construction, hospitality and nightlife. I’ve always tried to surround myself with people who are better than me at what they do. At the end of the day, I just want to create spaces where people can come, stay awhile and enjoy themselves— not just grab food and leave but really connect with the space. n chattahoocheefoodworks.com ctrfoodworks.com • velaparkfoodworks.com

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S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

81

FEATURED RESTAURANTS

A sampling of great eats in and around Buckhead

Crispy fries, a tender filet and complex red wine make a delightful meal at C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar.

Local Three Kitchen & Bar's pan-seared North Georgia trout is a study in simple elegance.

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End a meal on a high note with FIA Restaurant's goat cheese and local honey panna cotta, topped with strawberry and black pepper compote.

BY: Wendell Brock, Rebecca Cha, Jennifer Bradley Franklin, Angela Hansberger, Hope S. Philbrick

PHOTOS: Erik Meadows

5CHURCH BUCKHEAD

it’s simple enough to find bites that both

upscale eatery presents contemporary

sandwich as the New York strip au poivre. He

5Church Buckhead, a funky upscale

awaken our wanderlust and satisfy our desire

American cuisine alongside a full bar with an

also curates a mighty fine list of craft beers.

restaurant on Peachtree, offers helpful

for something beyond the ordinary. Case in

impressive bourbon selection. The culinary

Brunch: $8-$10 • Appetizers: $3-$13

servers, modern local art, a 21+ sunroom

point: Fia, the restaurant tucked inside The

philosophy here is “you can’t argue with

Burgers and sandwiches: $7-$10 • Large

patio and selfie-ready spaces. Menu items

Burgess Hotel. A glance at the menu will tell

delicious.” High skills are on display without

plates: $17-$22 • treehouseatlanta.com

meld Southern roots and global influences.

you that, while you’ll likely be able to pick out

over-complicating things. Menus change

Addictive baked oysters boast a texture

influences—Greek, Indian, Thai, Italian—you

often, inspired by the season. The signature

THE WOODALL

akin to pasta and a parade of earthy and

can’t put this menu in a box. That fact makes

focaccia drizzles thick, toasted bread with

With its friendly, relaxed vibe, it’s easy to feel

spicy flavors. Sushi tots contrast crunchy/

it so much fun to order what you like and

flavorful olive oil. Fish schnitzel presents

among friends at The Woodall in Westside

soft textures and sweet/spicy flavors in

explore dishes such as tender-crisp charred

breaded white flounder with lemon-pepper

Village, whether you prefer the comfortable

each bite. The lamb burger tops meat with

octopus, shrimp saganaki, pan-seared

sauce and scattered peas. Among the mains,

dining room or outdoor patio. Whitewashed

red onion marmalade, gorgonzola, arugula

potato gnocchi, whole grilled branzino and

pan-seared North Georgia trout is a standout,

brick, shiny metal, warm woods, brown

and a secret sauce, a combination that

bone-in short rib served over spiced lentils

pairing fork-tender fish with Parisienne

leather and modern light fixtures cozy up the

marries earthy and tangy notes. The shrimp

and basmati rice. A meal here is like a global

gnocchi. Daily specials are gifts of good

converted warehouse while a mural of eagle

and grits has a great sauce-to-grits ratio,

getaway close to home.

timing with features like pastrami-spiced

talons clasping a silver spoon adds personality.

so each forkful carries sophisticated, spicy

Appetizers, soups and salads: $8-$19

duck breast, Asian-inspired chicken or grilled

The dinner and brunch menus present globally

flavor without losing the stone-ground grits’

Entrees: $24-$38 • From the grill: $28-$98

dry-aged Duroc pork chop. Trust whatever

inspired dishes and drinks featuring local

creamy texture. Grilled salmon is cooked to

Sides: $13 • Desserts: $12-$15 • fiaatlanta.com

most piques your interest since you can’t go

ingredients. The menu changes seasonally, with

wrong here. Save room for desserts such as

options such as lump crab beignets, open-

dinner menus with some variations. Chicken

HAL’S “THE STEAKHOUSE”

the peanut butter cup or Banofee tart.

faced tenderloin sandwich, Sicilian calamari

and waffles reigns at brunch for good reason,

Looking on the outside like a high-end strip

Starters: $6-$28 • Mains: $22-$45

and rock shrimp and fried chicken tucked into

pairing fluffy ricotta waffles with crisp, juicy,

joint topped with a Bourbon Street balcony,

Steaks: $45-$66 • Dessert: $14-$16

a feather-light biscuit. The restaurant’s website

fried chicken. Desserts are sinfully good.

Hal’s has built its cachet around its loyal

House cocktails: $15-$25 • Sunday brunch

confidently asserts, “You’ll be back!” There are

Cocktails: $6-$18 • Starters: $14-$28

clientele, old-school style, impeccable service

buffet: $35/adult, $20/child • localthree.com

plenty of reasons to do just that.

Salads: $12-33 • Entrees: $14-39

and terrific food. Owner Hal Nowak is a

Prime steaks: $51-160 • Sides: $4-20

New Orleans native, and in his eponymous

RUMI’S KITCHEN SANDY SPRINGS

Sandwiches: $11.5-$17 • Mains: $13-$43

Desserts: $4-13

enterprise—with its shrimp remoulade,

Treat your tastebuds to as many dishes as

Sides: $5-$6 • Desserts: $9-$10

buckhead.5church-atlanta.com

oysters bordelaise and booze-soaked bread

possible at Rumi’s Kitchen Sandy Springs,

thewoodallwestside.com

pudding—he has created Atlanta’s answer to

whether you sit in the spacious dining room

C&S SEAFOOD AND OYSTER BAR

Galatoire’s. This may be your grandparents’

with its bubbling water feature or order

YEBO BEACH HAUS

Brookhaven’s C&S Seafood and Oyster Bar is

favorite restaurant, but in an age where

to-go. The menu is packed with powerful

Those on a hunt for something unique in the

upscale yet relaxed with a high level of service.

everything old is new again, it also boasts

culinary rhythms and rhymes. Falafel stuns

area need look no farther than Yebo Beach

The main dining room has moody amber

a youthful clientele that appreciates its

with crisp-tender chickpea balls, pickled

Haus, an upscale eatery focused on South

lighting, swanky Art Deco-inspired tiles, rich

straightforward food, strong drinks and

veggies, tangy tabbouleh and savory tahini

African fare. It’s easy to see influences from

leather accents and a shiny rounded bar. An

speakeasy atmosphere.

sauce. Mirza ghasemi (smoked eggplant with

indigenous African, Indian, Malay, Dutch and

enclosed patio overlooks Peachtree Road. The

Appetizers and salads: $9-$24

tomato and garlic) presents strong notes

British on Yebo’s menu, a blend that makes for

menu showcases an array of fresh seafood

Entrees and steaks: $24-$50 • hals.net

without hiding the scrumptious plant flavors.

intriguing flavor combinations and flawlessly

Chicken barg infuses a juicy wedge with

prepared plates. Bobotie crepes are a

order and available on the brunch, lunch and

plus steaks, lamb and lots of vegetables

Small plates: $9-$15 • Salads: $9-$12

in portions ranging from nibbles to feasts.

LA GROTTA

exotic flavors thanks to the saffron marinade.

standout. They come stuffed with a mixture of

Preparations nod to Italian, French, Southern,

This four-decades-old institution is as popular

Pair it with Shirin polo, fluffy rice dotted with

curried ground beef, diced apples and raisins,

Asian and New Orleans cuisines. The most

today as it ever was. And that has as much to

orange zest, red barberry, pistachio, almond

and covered with creamy hollandaise, a nod

popular cocktail, Lycheeback, offers tangy

do with the generations of devotees—many of

and rosewater—a divine mix of flavors and

to the influence of the Cape Malay community

refreshment with gentle alcohol. Shrimp spring

them old school Atlanta royalty—as it does with

textures. Lamb hummusiya tops hummus with

that fuses flavors of the Indonesian spice

rolls contrast crackly and tender textures as

its reliable, often superlative food. Whether you

lamb sausage for a pleasing contrast of spicy

trade with traditional Dutch cooking. Top

well as sweet and spicy flavors. The wedge

begin with earthy bresaola Valtellinese, milky

heat and cool umami. Dukkah roasted carrots

entree picks include a decadent smash-style

salad tops half of a baby head of iceberg

burrata di mozzarella fresca or verdant insalata

play nutty-spicy notes against tangy-sweet

Angus beef burger; tagliatelle Bolognese with

lettuce with blue cheese, grape tomatoes and

di carciofi freschi, it’s imperative you save room

yogurt cheese. Good luck choosing a favorite.

a ragu of ostrich, beef and wild mushrooms;

bacon nuggets. Eleven market fish options

for the mains, for this is where the kitchen truly

Starters: $8-15 • Salads: $8-12

and halibut with red butter curry, coconut

can be grilled, broiled or blackened. Redfish

shines. Silky cream-sauced pastas such as

Mains: $18-45 • Sides: $4-10

rice and grilled broccolini. Round out your

Pontchartrain presents white fish with dirty rice,

penne con verdure and pappardelle con astice

Desserts: $10 • rumiskitchen.com

experience with signature South African wine

shrimp, jumbo lump crab and crawfish sauce.

will become your new gastro obsession, and

Classic crème brûlée is one sweet finish.

delectable meat dishes such as scaloppine di

TREEHOUSE

and you’ve got a flavor safari that will keep

Appetizers: $16-$30 • Soups and salads:

vitello Antonio and filetto di manzo al Barolo are

Occasionally, sitting at Treehouse feels more

you craving a return visit.

$15-$35 Seafood platters: $24-$255

best enjoyed with a bottle of fine Italian red.

like a cookout. Neighbors and regulars have

Caviar: $96-$250 • Raw bar: $18-$165

varietals such as Chenin Blanc and Pinotage,

Market fish: $30-$46 • Entree specialties:

Appetizers and salads: $10-$16

been coming here for the familiar comfort

Garden: $14-$16 • Starters: $17-$36

$44-$48 • Crab and lobster: $45-$85

Pastas and risottos: $11-$36

food and laid-back atmosphere for more

Salads: $13-$16 • Mains: $28-$95

Steaks and chops: $58-$95 • Sides: $9-$36

Mains: $22-$40 • Desserts: $8-$10

than 20 years. Brunch is a big deal, with

Sides: $9 • Desserts: $5-$15

Desserts: $12-$15 • House cocktails: $12-$20

lagrottaatlanta.comts: $10-12

a large menu and generous portions of

yebobeachhaus.com

Wine: $12-$30/glass or $48-$580/bottle

ilgialloatl.com

favorites such as the Georgia pecan waffle

candsoysterbar.com

and Southern-style eggs Benedict covered

LOCAL THREE KITCHEN & BAR

with sausage gravy. It’s all about the patio

FIA RESTAURANT

Local Three is passionate about food and

here, and dogs are welcome guests. The chef

Many of the best meals are an escape, a

drinks yet keeps the overall vibe laid-back.

works to enliven old favorites with as much

getaway. Fortunately for Atlanta residents,

With quirky decor and friendly service, this

attention to the all-American fried chicken

Note: Prices and menu items may have changed since original publication.

HUNGRY FOR MORE? Visit simplybuckhead.com to read all of our restaurant reviews!

S I M P LY B U C K H E A D • S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6

83

SCENE

MODEL MAYOR

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens works with the team at Hideoki Bespoke in Buckhead, led by designer Dedrick Thomas, to create custom suits. PHOTO: Alexandra Zak

84 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 • S I M P LY B U C K H E A D

A William T. Baker Designed in the Heart of Garden Hills

369 Pine Tree Dr NE | Buckhead A private Buckhead retreat set along one of Garden Hills’ iconic tree-lined streets, where timeless architecture meets effortless living. From afternoons by the pool and evenings around the outdoor fireplace to leisurely walks to neighborhood restaurants, schools, parks and Buckhead Village, this is Garden Hills living at its best. A vibrant community with an exceptionally walkable lifestyle.

Patty & Michael Webb 404.414.7644 patty.webb@compass.com

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

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6115 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30328 | 470.395.6143

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1784 Peachtree Rd NW Atlanta, GA 30309 | 404.249.1522

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5925 Roswell Rd Sandy Springs, GA 30328 | 404.252.7347

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Two Exclusive Buckhead Venues Your Legendary Wedding

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