Simply Buckhead July/August 2011

FREE JULY/AUGUST 2011 Issue #05

4 spa

Your top summer treatments Pulling the curtain on Buckhead’s

secret sushi star

Outdoor entertaining made easy

Local experts reveal their secrets

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S I M P LY BUC K H E A D | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

The Starfish sushi team hard at work. Review on Page 32 Sara Hanna Photography - www.SaraHanna.com

Contents /// COVER STORY

/// DEPARTMENTS

39

OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING The Simply Buckhead guide to throwing the fête of the summer

18

28

32

36

THE OSCAR FOR BEST SUSHI Starfish deserves its standing ovation

31 SIMPLY DELICIOUS

11 SIMPLY NOW

47 SIMPLY HAPPENING

17 SIMPLY STYLISH

/// FEATURES

HOUSE OF MEMORIES Inside the childhood home of renowned authors Susan Rebecca White and Lauren Myracle

9 LETTERS

THE PRIME TIMERS Buckhead’s senior thespians stay young by cutting up

BURGER’S BAD BOY Alex Brounstein brings Grindhouse Killer Burgers to Buckhead

25 SIMPLY ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The cover

Upscale garden gathering shot on location at Pemberley, a private residence in Buckhead. Photo by Renee Brock; styling by Ginny Branch.

“I love Buckhead ... It’s a special place, from Henri’s to the incredible booksellers and amazing shopping.

There is no place I’ve found in the U.S. that’s quite like it.”

— Novelist Jeffrey Stepakoff

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

5

Simply Buckhead

ON L I N E JULY/AUGUST 2011 | ISSUE #05 P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355 www.simplybuckhead.com For advertising rates call: 404-538-9895

/// CONTRIBUTOR

Publisher Joanne Hayes

Ginny Branch

Editor Allison Weiss Entrekin

Contributing Stylist

Read Simply Buckhead online at www.SimplyBuckhead.com/tour.html with click-through capability Facebook facebook.com “Like” or “Friend” us at Simply Buckhead Magazine

Twitter twitter.com/SimplyBuckhead Follow us @simplybuckhead

Issuu issuu.com/simplybuckhead Read an onine digital version of the magazine.

Ginny Branch styled the party scenes for our outdoor entertaining feature. Here’s her bio, in her own words: “I am a prop and wardrobe stylist specializing in editorial and weddings. You can also find me as an editor for Design*Sponge, with my column, “What’s in your toolbox?” I was born and raised in Atlanta and studied fashion and fibers at Savannah College of Art and Design. I made the transition to styling last year after spending three years in New York as a visual merchandiser, working for companies like Marc Jacobs and Maison Martin Margiela.

My old-timey leanings and years of collecting antiques have culminated into my newest project: a vintage prop rental service I’m currently developing with my mother. I am married to my eighth-grade sweetheart and we are raising two naughty Beagles, Harold and Maude, aka ‘Harry’ and ‘Maddy.’ I am a bit of country mouse at heart and hope there is some 200-year-old farmhouse in my future one day!”

Creative Director Omar Vega Contributing Writers Katie Kelly Bell Jessie Bove Jennifer Bradley Wendell Brock H.M. Cauley Elsa Simcik Giannina Smith Margaret Watters Contributing Photographers Joseph Aczel Renee Brock Sara Hanna T.J. Hart Matthew Smith Alli Royce Soble Contributing Stylist Ginny Branch Graphic Designers Grayce E. Clark Ellen R. Harden/El Design Copy Editor Ellen Glass Editorial Assistant Whitney Hensler

///Proud sponsor of: 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 © 2011 by Simply Buckhead. All rights reserved. Printed by Walton Press, Inc. Distributed by Distributech, Network Communications, Inc., and Distribution Services Group.

Simply Buckhead is a member of the Buckhead Business Association and the Georgia Restaurant Association.

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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Buckhead’s Barbara Rogers –Walking With A Purpose For Buckhead resident Barbara Rogers, a diagnosis of

breast cancer in 2004 was just the beginning of a new journey. Now preparing for her fifth Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer, the energetic 63-year-old and her team “Sunny Sides Up” have generated nearly $40,000 in support for breast cancer patients and their families, right here in Georgia.

vernor’s Mansion left) with her team at the Go Barbara Rogers (3rd from r ay Walk for Breast Cance during the 2007 Atlanta 2-D

“Over 6 months of treatment, I came to understand what an incredible journey this was. I became tenacious about being positive, and once I got to know the Atlanta 2-Day Walk organization, their incredible spirit and energy were a perfect match for me! I also wanted to do something that would specifically help people in our local community, which is a unique focus of the 2-Day Walk.”

And what about the team name? Call it a flash of visual inspiration during breakfast after a walk. “A little tacky, perhaps” Barbara laughs. “But it gets the point across, especially when you see the T-shirt!”

The team of walkers is a diverse group of friends, family, and business clients. “The radiologist who diagnosed my breast cancer was a charter member of the team in 2007. This year, her daughter will also join us for the Atlanta 2-Day, and we’ll see many other friends along the route to cheer us on. We’re truly a multi-generational group!”

Barbara isn’t shy about asking new friends and colleagues to join her team. “People want to get involved, but you have to ask!” she adds. “Whether you sign up to walk with us, start your own team, or just show up to cheer, being part of the 2-Day Walk is what counts. I know the Buckhead community can make a difference!”

The Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer is the flagship event of It’s The Journey, Inc. The 30-mile event consists of a 20-mile walk on Saturday and a 10-mile walk on Sunday. Since 2003, the 2-Day Walk has raised over $7.5 million and awarded 146 grants to breast cancer organizations in Georgia.

What’s raised here, stays here.

Walk. Sponsor. Volunteer.

Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer September 24-25, 2011 Visit www.2daywalk.org for more information.

Or find us on Facebook under “Atlanta 2-Day Walk”.

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

7

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S I M P LY BUC K H E A D | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

/// EDITOR’S LETTER

A

few things I love about summer:

n 8:30 p.m. sunsets. n Watermelon. n Sparklers. n Fireflies. n Swimming pools. n The smell of burgers on the grill. n Sandals. n The sounds of people gathered outdoors, talking and laughing.

This summer, celebrate all the things you love by throwing an outdoor bash. We tracked down the top party-planning experts around town and learned their tips, tricks and timelines … we even persuaded them to share their most popular summer cocktail recipes!

We also photographed three different parties at local Buckhead mansions, offering you even more ideas and inspiration. So pull out your calendar, circle a date and call your friends—it’s time to throw a party before summer burns away.

Also in this issue, we explore the childhood home of Susan Rebecca White, the New York Times bestselling author of A Soft Place to Land and Bound South. White tells us exclusively about her fondest memories of the Buckhead abode—and how it has found its way into her writing. Elsewhere in the magazine, if you’re a spa addict, you won’t want to miss our piece on the top four treatments you simply must try this summer. An “Ocean Breeze” full-body massage? Yes, please!

I hope you enjoy this issue … now I’m off to eat some watermelon.

Allison Weiss Entrekin, editor@simplybuckhead.com

Letters I have loved your publication since first seeing it at Whole Foods. So it was a wonderful surprise to see our show, “Tale of Two Cities,” given such great coverage.

Thank you.

— Anne Irwin, Anne Irwin Fine Art I want to reiterate what a great publication Simply Buckhead really is … great job! It looks and feels fresh and top-notch. Truly good-looking and very significant.

Great trendy read and up-to-thedate material. I expect great things to come from this publication.

— Les R. Roberts, ART-Tech Designs & Finishes, LLC Thanks for thinking of us and being so diligent to get the story! We appreciate the exposure and hope to see some of your readers out at the ride!

Thanks again.

— Elexa Wagaman, Peachtree Bikes The photography as usual is fantastic, and you always have such a nice mixture of content in a well-written, stylish package. Love the SugarCoated Radical article!

— Leslie Haugen LOVE the wine tour piece—and the article on Mark Taylor. I’m a huge wine enthusiast!

— Liz Dickey, Merrill Lynch Thank you for the wonderful editorial on consignment!

— Nancy Scalera, B Chic The breadth of topics covered in Simply Buckhead and the audience it reaches is what excites me about seeing my business featured in an ad on its pages!

— Steve Phillips, Stephen Phillips of Buckhead

Thank you so much for continuing to leave the copies for our customers here at the Buckhead Swoozie’s. And, for keeping us in the loop and in mind when special offers and events take place. We are extremely impressed with Simply Buckhead and hope to continue to be involved with and connected with the publication in the future.

— Amy Wilkinson, Swoozie’s I recently came across an issue of Simply Buckhead and loved reading through it, thanks to the clean design and the engaging stories. One of my favorites in the latest issue was the small travel piece about the treehouse getaway. I had never heard of it, and immediately flagged the page to show my husband!

— Carmen Sechrist FROM OUR “TWEET”HEARTS! Follow us @SimplyBuckhead Thank you Simply Buckhead for the beautiful features!

— chieuleephotos We picked up a copy at Pizzeria Venti and are excited to read the summer festival guide.

— She Runner2Bee We were just swooning over the latest issue at the store yesterday!

— Swoozies CONGRATULATIONS on the new issue! It looks great! We love our ad! Happy to be a part of Simply Buckhead!

— PinnacleGym

/// CORRECTIONS ///

/// LETTER BOX ///

The ad which appeared for Cheryl Carter of LoanSouth Mortgage in the May/June issue was incorrect. The correct version appears in this issue o n page 10. Simply Buckhead regrets this error.

Tell us what you think! Send your comments, compliments and criticisms to editor@simplybuckhead.com. All letters will be considered for publication and may be edited for length and clarity.

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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EVENTS | LOCAL SALUTE

Simply Now

Buckhead’s strong French ties make it the perfect place to celebrate Bastille Day, France’s national holiday. For many of the ways you can join in on the amusant, Turn to Page 13

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY N OW E VE NTS

/// FREE EVENT ///

Fresh crops at the Carl E. Sanders YMCA

The Alliance Française celebrates Bastille Day, the French National Holiday, July 16 at Nelson Mullins in Atlantic Station. Shari Zellars

/// FEATURED EVENT ///

Oui! Oui!

Celebrate France’s national holiday in Buckhead ANIS BISTRO’S “FRENCH REVOLUTION” CHAMPAGNE COCKTAIL 2 oz. Calvados (apple brandy) ½ oz. framboise raspberry liqueur 3 oz. chilled sparkling wine Pour the Calvados and framboise into a mixing glass, half-filled with ice. Stir and strain into a champagne flute.

Add champagne and serve.

Vive la France! Put on your fake moustache and mark your calendars—Bastille Day (the French national holiday) is here. Buckhead is home to the French consulate, a thriving French-speaking community and numerous restaurants specializing in fare à la française, so it’s a natural setting for all the city’s best Bastille Day bashes.

Kick off the holiday Wednesday, July 13, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the St. Regis Wine Room for a “Toast France” wine tasting. Three wine-flight tastings are $20. The St. Regis, 88 West Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta 30305, 404.563.7900, www. stregisatlanta.com.

After you’ve brushed up on your Bordeaux, you’ll want to bring your appetite to Anis Bistro for Bastille Day specials July 14, including frog legs, loup de mer, braised leg of rabbit and a nougat mousse with raspberries and blueberries. With a live accordion player piping “La Vie en Rose” in the background, you could almost swear you’re on

the Champs-Élysées. 2974 Grandview Avenue, Atlanta 30305, 404.233.9889, www.anisbistro.com.

You may not be the next Julia Child, but you’ll still have great fun at the Viking Cooking School’s One-Day French Culinary Basics class July 16.

From 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., you’ll learn how to create the perfect soufflé, bake baguettes and even make your own crêpes. $135 for the day. The Viking Store, 1745 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta 30309, 404.745.9064, www.vikingcookingschool.com.

If you’re in the mood for an extended night on the town, the Alliance Française d’Atlanta hosts a seriously good party. For dancing, drinks and dinner, join the French cultural and educational society for “An Evening of French Splendor” July 16 from 7-11 p.m. Tickets benefit the center and start at $160 for non-members ($150 for members). The gala will be held at Nelson Mullins, Atlantic Station, 201 17th Street NW, Suite 1700, Atlanta 30363, 404.875.1211, www.afatl.com. — Margaret Watters

For a farmer’s market where you won’t have to push through crowds to get that perfect head of lettuce, stop by the Carl E. Sanders Family YMCA in Buckhead the third Wednesday of each month. A quaint farmer’s market takes place in the lobby from 4 to 7 p.m., and YMCA members and nonmembers alike can snatch up organic fruits and vegetables grown

by Farmer Neil Taylor of TaylOrganic Farm in Henry County. Taylor also brings goods from other farmers’ harvests and offers a drop-off for a Community Supported Agriculture program, a partnership between farmers and the community where members purchase shares of a farm and in exchange receive a weekly delivery of locally grown produce. The host of the Buckhead YMCA farmers market for two years, Taylor has more than 19 years of experience at various green markets throughout the city. He spent 10 years at the Morningside Farmer’s Market and helped start the Piedmont Park Green Market, Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market and the Sandy Springs Farmer’s Market. During the YMCA events on July 20 and Aug. 17, Taylor says produce like heirloom tomatoes ($5 per pound), lemon cucumbers ($3 per pound), eggplant ($3 per pound), hot peppers ($2-$4 per pound) and summer squash ($2 per pound) will be available for purchase.

— Giannina Smith

CARL E. SANDERS FAMILY YMCA FARMER’S MARKET Third Wednesday of each month

1160 Moores Mill Road NW Atlanta 30327 770.981.0827 www.taylorganic.blogspot.com

Farmer Neil Taylor offers just-picked produce the third Wednesday of each month.

Marcia S. Taylor

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

13

SI MPLY NOW EVENTS

Your Personal Sanctuary is Just Steps Away.

Native Atlantan Michael P. White is a graduate of the Art Institute of Atlanta and has illustrated books for authors Carmen Agra Deedy and Dawn Lesley Stewart.

Peachtree Publishers

/// FAMILY-FRIENDLY ///

Get sketchy at the Buckhead Library Atlanta illustrator Michael P. White leads interactive children’s program

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Grab the kiddos and join award-winning artist and illustrator Michael P. White July 26 at 10:30 a.m. for an hour of creativity and storytelling at the Buckhead Library. White’s interactive program will have LEARN TO ILLUSTRATE WITH MICHAEL P. WHITE your little one developJuly 26 ing stories and correBuckhead Branch of the sponding illustrations.

Atlanta-Fulton Public Library Parents are encouraged System to take part as well—you 269 Buckhead Avenue NE may be there for sup- Atlanta 30305 port, but it’s completely 404.814.3500 acceptable to let your www.afpls.org/buckheadimagination and pen branch wander too! White’s illustrations for books like Harriet’s Horrible Hair Day, The Library Dragon and The Secret of Old Zeb have been praised as bright, cheerful and packed with witty detail. The Buckhead Library suggests this free program for children ages 3 to 12.

— Margaret Watters

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

S IMP LY N OW E VE NTS

///LOCAL SALUTE///

By Margaret Watters

Spending to give

Give back in your backyard

Buckhead Thriftique donates clothes to the community’s needy while operating a designer resale boutique

The Buckhead Coalition’s volunteerism directory highlights local causes

Tucked into Miami Circle, Buckhead Thriftique is a hidden gem of shopping and serving in Buckhead. The nonprofit thrift store, now in its 12th year of operation, is a branch of Buckhead Christian Ministries (BCM) and sells everything from housewares to prom dresses.

The store functions in two ways: selling to the general public and giving away clothes to needy families and individuals.

If you like great deals on designer duds (is that even a question?), you need to stop by. Because of the revolving inventory of donations, you run the risk (or luck!) of finding BUCKHEAD something different every THRIFTIQUE day. One trip may yield a Open Monday$75 pair of Burberry flats, Saturday 10 a.m. and another a St. John suit to 4 p.m. that was originally $2,500 800 Miami Circle, and now sells for $250. InSuite 160 sider’s tip: Become a fan of Atlanta 30324 their Facebook page for dis404.365.8811 counts (all we’re sayin’—a www.buckheadpair of Ferragamo flats just christianministry. got 25 percent cheaper). org/thriftique.

“Shop, help, give” is the html store’s motto, and Manager Robyn Hazelrigs says it drives everyone from the volunteers staffing the floor to the customers in the shop to staff members like her. “I leave the store every day knowing that I made a difference,” Hazelrigs says. “I’m one of those people who loves coming to work.”

And they are making a difference—Hazelrigs estimates they gave away $100,000 worth of clothing last year to the homeless, jobless or people just going through a tough time. Those in

If you want to do something good for the community in which you live, work and play, the Buckhead Coalition has made it easy.

It recently released an updated edition of its “Buckhead Charitable Giving and Volunteerism Directory” to highlight the community’s nonprofits and encourage Buckhead residents to give to Buckhead. The guide profiles 10 groups, including The Atlanta History Center, Hospice Atlanta Center, YMCA of Buckhead and Chastain Horse Park. Each listing has the nonprofit’s address, contact information, leader, mission, budget and whether volunteers or contributions are welcome.

“I believe that building your own community is like supporting your own family,” writes Coalition President Sam Massell in the directory’s foreword. “When we have many worthy causes at home, we should use Buckhead money to support Buckhead institutions.”

Massell also notes that while all of the organizations in the directory are located within Buckhead’s boundaries, their reach and influence extend into the entire city, and for some, the nation and the world.

Pick up your free copy at the Buckhead Coalition offices.

Annually, Buckhead Thriftique gives over $100,000 in free clothes to Atlantans in need.

Buckhead Christian Ministries

need of free clothes apply for store credit through BCM, and depending on the number of people in their family, they are granted a specific amount on nondesigner items.

To Hazelrigs, the most rewarding part of working at the store is getting to help people use their credit to change their lives. Hazelrigs says she had a gentleman come in recently looking for something to wear for a job interview. With $25 of store credit, she and her staff of volunteers were able to outfit him in his first suit, dress shirt and tie. “He kept saying, ‘I look good!’ and he did,” she says. “That’s when you feel like you made a difference.”

Opera, unexpected Opera on Tap surprises Buckhead with a dose of guerilla culture For many, opera doesn’t have the friendliest connotation—maybe it’s a flickering memory of an elementary-school field trip, an interruption to your NPR programming or concert halls with stiff seats (and stiffer ticket prices!).

The guide profiles 10 neighborhood nonprofits and lists social service agencies, houses of worship and nonprofit schools.

The Buckhead Coalition

BUCKHEAD COALITION Suite 560, Tower Place Building 100 3340 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30326 404.233.2228 www.thebuckheadcoalition.org

Atlanta’s chapter of the national orgasalad, you might get a show, too. As much OPERA ON TAP nization Opera on Tap is on a mission to as the group is an outlet for performers Pizzeria Venti change that. (who range from established pros to beOn the scene since 2009, members of 2770 Lenox Road ginners), Corradino says it also introduces Opera on Tap have been practicing their NE the community to an oft-misunderstood Atlanta 30324 craft in unexpected venues like bars and art form. “Opera is more accessible than restaurants. Their show, termed “opera ka- 404.228.2013 people think,” Corradino says. “It’s all raoke” by “Managing Diva” Ginny Cor- www.operaonabout themes people understand, like misradino, lets the musicians perform their tap.com/atlanta taken identities and difficult relationships.” own selections in a relaxed setting. “Opera The setting is good for newbie spectators, can be a high-stress arena,” Corradino says. “[Opera Corradino says, because it’s easier to understand a on Tap] is a chance for you to perform in a casual, short song sequence versus trying to get an entire friendly place.” The singers come with their passion, opera. Each show varies in theme and number of sheet music and enough courage to perform in front performers—often seven to 15 a night. Plan ahead of the regulars and often, unsuspecting strangers. for a free evening of culture and mark your calendar Spoiler alert: The group now claims Pizzeria Venti for August 11 at 7:30 p.m. Inspired by the skyrockoff Lenox Road as their sole location for perfor- eting temperatures, Opera on Tap promises a night mances. So, next time you’re enjoying a slice and a of “Hot and Steamy Love Songs.”

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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Home

“It’s the quintessential home of my imagination.”

— Bestselling author Susan Rebecca White on her childhood home in Buckhead. Page 18

The Whites purchased this 500-pound elephant statue for their Buckhead home during their travels through India. TJ Hart/hartografie.com July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY STY LIS H HOM E

Original walnut floors, a wrought-iron rail and antiques adorn the entrance of this Philip Shutze-designed estate. Photos TJ Hart/hartografie.com

House of memories In this Simply Buckhead exclusive, we go inside the childhood home of renowned authors Susan Rebecca White and Lauren Myracle. Much of this Buckhead estate remains unchanged—and that’s just how the scribes’ parents like it.

By Giannina Smith

“S

he stepped inside, onto the walnut floors, floors she once slid on in socks, before her father bought the Oriental runner. She took it all in: there was the ornate banister with the wrought-iron scrolls and the cherrywood rail, there was the curved archway that divided the entrance hall from the dining room, and there was a curved archway again (an architectural detail that would echo throughout the house), leading from the hallway down the three stairs and into the living room.”

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

This scene from Susan Rebecca White’s New York Times bestselling novel, A Soft Place to Land, describes a home much like the one on 2620 Habersham Road in which the author grew up. The real-life house, an English Tudor-style home, still belongs to the parents of Susan and her elder sister, bestselling young adult author Lauren Myracle. Susan, who also wrote Bound South and resides part-time in New York, and Lauren, who lives in Colorado, spent much of their childhood in the 1928 Philip Shutze-designed estate, which their parents Ruth and Tim White purchased in 1976. Featuring a sandblasted brick façade and slate roof, as well as its original walnut floors and an entrance with repeating arches, the 4,500-square-foot residence is an inspiration to the authors in many of their well-read stories.

“2620 is the quintessential home of my imagination,” Susan says. “I used it when describing Louise Parker’s house in Bound South—how Louise had to step down two stairs to get to the living room, just as we do at 2620—and I was inspired by it when describing Phil and Naomi’s house in A Soft Place to Land.”

Growing up in a blended family of six children, Susan and Lauren lived full-time with their brother, Eric, while their other siblings visited every other weekend and on holidays. Susan, the baby in the family, was still an infant when her family took up residence at 2620; she remembers getting her head stuck in the wrought-iron stair rails when she was 2 and sneaking across the hall to Lauren’s room when she got scared at night. There were

many late nights when the girls stayed up reading by flashlight and writing in their journals, no doubt shaping themselves as authors. “I used to read under the covers at night, cracking my door so the hall light would illuminate the page,” Susan says.

When Susan wasn’t reading in her room, which remains almost exactly the way it looked years ago, she could usually be found hanging out with her older sister—whom Susan admits she idolized. Susan distinctly remembers the pink wall sconces shaped like bows that adorned Lauren’s bedroom walls and how she felt her sister’s room “was decorated in a far superior manner.”

Today the sconces are gone and Lauren’s room serves as an office and studio, but the sisters’ creative energy lives on in their parents’ work—Ruth is an accomplished artist and Tim is in the process of writing his first book based on his relationship with Ruth.

Along with spending time with her big sister, Susan says some of her best memories as a child stem from the times when all six kids were together for the weekend, running rampant through the halls and playing capture the flag in the backyard. On special “Waffle Saturdays,” their father cooked waffle after waffle in the kitchen, which remains unchanged today.

It was in this kitchen that Susan’s mother taught her to stir and how to break an egg, and young Susan used a bottom drawer as her makeshift oven where she periodically left “surprises” for her mom to clean up. “She would leave a piece of bread in the drawer Continued >>

Family photos of the White’s six children are grouped on a chest in the living room.

Photos TJ Hart/hartografie.com

Tim and Ruth White purchased 2620 Habersham Road in 1976.

Once the childhood room of author Lauren Myracle, the converted studio and office is decorated in Ruth’s artistic works.

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

19

S IMP LY STY LIS H HOM E

Continued from page 19 and I had to see what moldy thing was at the bottom of that drawer, but it was her way to cook by herself,” Ruth says. Although Susan doesn’t spend as much time as she used to in her childhood kitchen, her presence is a constant through a portrait (painted by Ruth) that hangs near the breakfast table.

Many of the walls throughout the house, in fact, are adorned with Ruth’s artistic works, including the dining room, where portraits of many of the Whites’ 10 grandchildren grace the mantel. Playing host to festive Christmas Eve dinners over the years, the dining room is decorated with furniture from Buckhead’s William Word Antiques and a polished silver English tea service. A shimmering chandelier and antique French wallpaper by Zuber Cie depicting the “Making of America” further enhance the elegant ambiance. “The wallpaper is original with the house,” Ruth says. “It is antique wallpaper hand-painted on panels in France. I wanted to take the wallpaper down and William Word said, ‘You absolutely cannot; it is valuable.’”

Through the years, the formal living room was also a favorite gathering spot for the family. Decorated in dignified William Word Antiques, it boasts a fireplace and high ceilings with cypress beams. Susan says that as an adult, it is her favorite room in the home. “I love the exposed beams in the ceiling, and the fact that tucked inside the many chests of drawers my mom keeps in there are boxes upon boxes of special things: old family photos, Christmas ornaments stored until next December, old report cards and birth certificates,” she says.

One of the most distinctive acces-

The formal dining room features antique French wallpaper by Zuber Cie depicting the “Making of America.” Photos TJ Hart/hartografie.com

sories at 2620—and one Ruth considers the ugliest—is an electric chair that moves up and down a stairwell near the kitchen. A favorite “ride” for the kids growing up, both Susan and Lauren describe this very chair in their books. As Tim explains: “The lady that owned the home before injured her leg and they had the chair installed for her. It has a switch and when you turn it on, off it goes.”

Even as Susan and Lauren pay homage to elements of the home in their writing, 2620 reserves a special place for the authors’ works. Shelves in the library are dedicated solely to their books, as well as business books written by Susan’s husband, Alan

Deutschman. All of these volumes are displayed near the dominating presence of a 500-pound elephant statue the Whites purchased during a trip to India in 2004.

Quarter-ton elephants aside, most of the furniture pieces at 2620 have been with the family for years, including an antique grandfather clock from the 1720s which continues to chime loudly upon the hour. Along with holding on to their furniture for decades, the Whites haven’t made many significant updates to the home during their 36 years of residence there.

The most recent improvement took place in 2001, when they hired home renovation company HammerSmith

to redo an upstairs bathroom.

“After more than 20 years, we finally decided to try and get more bath and closet space. We turned the old bathroom and existing closet into a walkin closet and the old sleeping porch into the new bathroom,” Tim says.

While Susan and Lauren have been gone from their childhood home for many years and their busy schedules keep them from making it back there often, and rarely together, they continue to bring the residence alive in their writing. Whether it’s an unforgettable childhood memory or a funny-looking electric chair, the memories from 2620 Habersham are immortalized in the works of its long-ago residents.

Q&A with Susan Rebecca White Q: What do you feel like when you go back home now as an adult?

A: Well, now that I too have been the owner of an older home—in Inman Park—I’m kind of amazed by all of the homes in Buckhead. How can everything remain so pristine all of the time? There never seems to be a roof in need of repairing, an exterior in need of painting, a lawn in need of mowing.

Sadly, the same cannot be said of my own adult home.

Q: Was there a particular place or room where you would write as a child?

A: I kept a journal when I was a kid, and I usually wrote in bed, propped up by pillows.

An electric chair moving up and down a stairwell proved to be a fun distraction for the White children and is referenced in the authors’ books 20

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Q: Have you gotten inspiration from 2620 Habersham in the design or décor of your own home?

A: I have inherited a lifelong love of hardwood floors, high ceilings, and lots of windows, preferably with wavy glass.

S IMP LY STY L IS H W E L L NE SS

Take a summer spa-cation Exploring the top seasonal treatments in Buckhead aloe vera and Polynesian noni fruit, both known for their restorative and healing properties, helping to calm and relieve irritated pores. After a gentle facial (and shoulder!) massage, the facial is finished with a cooling green tea mask enriched with oceanic nutrients and enzymes. For more information, call the spa concierge at 404.240.7041 or visit www.ritzcarlton.com.

By Jennifer Bradley

“F

arm to table” is a phrase bandied about often when discussing food or even cocktails, but we discovered that the term is perfectly apropos when it comes to the spa table. Seasonal fresh fruits like lime and pomegranate, spicy herbs like ginger and summery scents like ocean breeze come together to create some of Buckhead’s best bets for summer spa treatments:

Easy, breezy

Get glowing

Tucked inside the elegant St. Regis Atlanta, Remède Spa is an unexpected retreat on bustling West Paces Ferry.

While their signature Elemis Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow ($130) is available year-round, it’s especially on-target for summer skin, sloughing off cells that can linger from the dry days of winter. To start the hour, the body is dry-brushed with a naturalbristle brush (yours to keep and use at home), helping to increase circulation and stimulate the lymph system, one of the ways the body detoxifies itself.

Then the polishing begins: The spa’s signature lime- and ginger-infused salt scrub opens the pores and draws out pesky toxins. Seven spray nozzles above the table are used to rinse the body squeaky clean in the space-age Vichy room. Expect out-of-thisworld, soft skin. For more information, call 404.563.7680 or visit www. starwoodhotels.com.

A treatment room at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead. Ron Starr

Pom wonderful

Atlanta’s high humidity can wreak havoc on even the most serene skin.

William David Buckhead Salon esthetician Pamela Daniele uses locally produced CosMedix products and critically considers each client’s skin needs before choosing a facial type. For the summer, one of her most frequently used treatments is the Pomegranate Peel (from For a healthy glow year-round, pop $100, one hour). The natuby Oculus Skin Care Centré for their rally occurring enzymes from signature facial treatment ($125). the fruit “munch” through Begin with an in-depth analysis of dead skin cells, making exyour skin’s current condition, then tractions a breeze and stimusettle in for a deep pore cleanse, lating cell-turnover, perfect a light chemical peel and the for addressing sun damage application of medical-grade skinand premature aging. Skin care products. Finish your treatment actually feels like it’s breathwith a relaxing upper-body massage. ing. For more information, Your skin will be glowing—and so call 678.927.9065 or visit will your spirits! Call 404.843.3636 www.williamdavidsalon.com. or visit www.oculusskincare.com.

A facial for all seasons

C the difference

The Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with luxury, and when the Buckhead property converted its entire ninth floor into spacious individual treatment rooms, it quickly became a destination for spa enthusiasts. This summer, try the spa’s seasonal After-Sun Antioxidant Facial ($155, 50 minutes) to cure sun-exposed skin and clogged pores.

Skin is slathered with a gel made of

Nothing says relaxation like a fullbody massage, and this summer Spa Sydell offers a 50-minute “Ocean Breeze” full-body massage ($69). The Swedish-style technique incorporates long, gliding strokes to help relax and detoxify the body by increasing circulation, and the not-too-firm pressure should ensure that you’re only relaxed (and not sore) the following day. The clean, refreshing and slightly salty aromatherapy oils evoke visions of the beach, for a truly transporting experience. For more information, visit www.spasydell.com.

Courtesy of Reméde

The Vichy room at Remède Spa is the setting for the Elemis Exotic Lime and Ginger Salt Glow.

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY STY LIS H FAS HION

Go big (but not broke) with summer earrings

by Elsa K. Simcik

W

hen it comes to the topic of earrings, Katherine Malone could talk all day.

“If I leave the house without earrings I feel like I’ve forgotten to put on my outfit,” says 27-year-old Malone, who’s better known by her blogger alter ego, “Buckhead Betty.”

On her popular blog, “Buckhead Betty on a Budget,” Malone often shares tips for how readers can live a fab life while staying frugal. She says earrings—her favorite accessory—can look like a million bucks but cost a small fraction of that. “I think a $15 pair of earrings is completely satisfactory,” says Malone, who has a full-time job in public relations in Atlanta. “If you go somewhere where not everyone shops, you can get away with a $15 pair of earrings. That’s what I typically spend.”

Her collection of 30 to 40 pairs of earrings includes finds from local street markets, mass retailers like Nordstrom Rack and T.J. Maxx as well as boutiques like Festivity and Luna.

One of her favorite places to purchase ear candy is Cost Plus World Market on Piedmont Road, where she can find earrings for as low as $5. She likes their global-inspired pieces, a trend she says is big this summer. “Jungle and safari fashion plays very well into jewelry, especially for big, statement pieces,” she says. Look for earrings with wooden or gold undertones and colored beads to go with breezy, casual summer outfits.

Malone’s tip for accessorizing with bigger earrings? Go for a smaller, understated necklace. Of course, you could always reverse that and choose a big, chunky necklace and smaller earrings, however, Malone believes earrings make more of an impression.

“I think that necklaces are something people might not notice as much,” she says. “But people are looking at your face and your earrings are complementing you as a person. It’s a major factor in how you’re portraying yourself out into the world.”

A FEW OF BUCKHEAD BETTY’S FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP FOR EARRINGS (between $5 and $30)

Local blogger offers tips for finding fashionable yet frugal earrings in Buckhead

n Cost Plus

World Market 3330 Piedmont Road NE Atlanta 30305 404.814.0801 www.worldmarket.com

n Festivity

Buckhead store: 3720 Roswell Road Atlanta 30342 404.816.5330

“Buckhead Betty” (AKA Katherine Malone) dons $30 Festivity earrings. Photos by Joseph Aczel

Peachtree Battle store: 2359 Peachtree Road NE, Ste. 2A Atlanta 30305 404.841.8051 www.festivityonline.com

n Luna

Above: Nordstrom Rack earrings, $12.

Above: T.J. Maxx earrings, $15.

Left: Cost Plus World Market earrings, $5.

Left: Cost Plus World Market earrings, $6.

Check out Malone’s blog at www. buckheadbettyonabudget.com.

She says it offers a young 20and 30-something perspective on fashion, events, dining, home décor and DIY projects: “It’s about how to live that awesome New York/Sex and the City lifestyle on a smaller budget.”

Buckhead Betty’s Earrings Do’s and Don’ts

n DO wear earrings if you have short hair: “You might not have a lot of options of what to do with your hair,” she says.

“Earrings are a great way to make a huge statement.” n DON’T feel like you have to match your necklace to your ear-

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rings. Mix and match weights and colors for a complementary look. n DON’T pair your pearls with casual clothes. n If you choose big, colorful earrings, DO play down your outfit with neutral colors like browns, greens and tans.

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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A RT V I E W | O N S TA G E | L I T E R A RY

Simply Arts&Entertainment

Art View

“I’d rather learn lines and be up there doing this than sitting at a table with the same people over and over, playing bridge.”

— Margie Avery, member of The Phoenix Players, a senior theater group in Buckhead. Page 28

Hutch Hutcheson and Francine Kohler perform “Clover Meadows, Forever” at the Renaissance on Peachtree. Omar Vega July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

25

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S IMP LY A & E ON STAGE

The prime timers Buckhead’s senior thespians stay young by cutting up

By Wendell Brock

M

argie Avery could easily fill her days playing bridge or enjoying her 16 grandchildren and four great-grands. But then she wouldn’t get to portray April, a perky, tango-dancing senior who’s been detained by a Walmart security guard for misuse of a handicap-parking sticker.

On this recent Friday afternoon, the Buckhead resident is acting in “Walmart Blue,” a short play by Atlantan Bob Smith at Renaissance on Peachtree, a senior community in Brookhaven. Avery and Smith are members of The Phoenix Players, a group of Atlanta seniors who perform original plays at churches, residence homes and community centers around the metro area. Founded in the mid-’90s as Horizon Theatre’s Senior Ensemble and recently reorganized under its new name, The Phoenix Players meet for weekly rehearsals at Peachtree Road United Methodist.

For Avery, who joined the group after the death of her husband, the theater allows her to bask in the limelight.

And it’s better than cards. “I’d rather learn lines and be up there doing this than sitting at a table with the same people over and over, playing bridge,” she says. Always immaculately coiffed and manicured, the spirited and vivacious mother of six grown children could easily pass for a glamorous soap opera star. She’s a competitive ballroom dancer and tap enthusiast, works with a personal trainer twice a week and won’t reveal her age.

For Smith, 77 years old and a retired attorney, the theater is a showcase for his literary endeavors. “I enjoy that people laugh at some of the lines in my play,” says Smith, who also performs, builds props and creates the theater’s posters and programs. (“I don’t know what we would do without him,” says Phoenix Players Director Judith Beasley.) Smith stars in “Walmart Blue,” portraying the security guard who busts April and Wanda for parking 28

Back row (L to R): Hutch Hutcheson; Al Clarke; Judith Beasley; Anne Clarke; Howard Busbey; Jerry Gallagher; Robert Smith. Front row (L to R): Pauline Greenwood; Francine Kohler; Margie Avery. Photos by Omar Vega

in a handicap zone. (Wanda is played

by Francine Kohler, who at 65 is the group’s youngest member.)

Smith is also known for his Metamucil jokes. “Anytime Bob Smith has written a story, Metamucil is in it,” cracks Beasley. “That’s a trademark.” (Yep, there’s a Metamucil gag in “Walmart Blue,” this one involving free laxative coupons for one of the characters.)

By generating their own material, the players explore topics of interest to senior citizens (relationships, family, aging), but they try to keep the material light. For members who have trouble memorizing their lines, Beasley has added a reading series. Performances usually last about an hour and feature two or three short pieces.

Calling herself “a teacher at heart,” Beasley says: “It thrills me to see im-

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

provement. It thrills me to see really good audience appreciation, and that’s where I get my payoff.” The group never charges to perform.

Back to Avery — the thespian extraordinaire also pens plays, and her favorite is called “The Blue Dress.” In this semi-autobiographical story written after her husband’s death, a daughter is trying to get her grieving mother to go on a cruise, but the mother resists.

“He was in the background the whole time I was talking to the daughter,” Avery says of the character based on her late husband, Dr. William G. Avery, a long-time Atlanta OB-GYN. “He was trying to convince me that I should go—and that if I did go, to be sure and take my blue dress, because it was always his favorite.”

For Avery, that dress might be a

metaphor for the way she embraces life. On stage and off, she chooses to put on her prettiest dress and dance.

A CALL FOR MEMBERS The Phoenix Players is seeking writers, actors, designers, musicians and directors.

“There are no auditions,” director Judith Beasley says. “Anybody who wants to be a part of it can be a part of it.” The group meets on Fridays from September through May at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, 3180 Peachtree Road NW, Atlanta 30305. People of all faiths are welcome.

“I would like to leave a very open door for anything theatrically creative to happen,” Beasley says. Even reading an original poem is a possibility. To learn more or inquire about upcoming performances, contact Beasley at jbeasley24@aol.com.

S IMP LY A & E A RT VIE W

Debi Lamb at The Art House Gallery.

Full house A mother of five founds Buckhead’s The Art House Gallery

By H.M. Cauley

F

or years, Debi Lamb has juggled the demands of being a single mother of five with her professional calling: staging special arts sales for charity in the guesthouse behind her Buckhead home. Now that her youngest is 19, she’s giving her full attention to the realization of her dream: running a gallery for fine art and fine crafts. Last November, Lamb founded The Art House Gallery, a 1930s twostory cottage on Paces Ferry Place.

Armed with contacts and clients established during her “at-home” days, she created a destination that’s more than just an art showcase.

“I want it to be approachable,” Lamb says. “That’s why I don’t have anything under lock and key; people can pick up a piece, play with it and connect with it.”

Each room at The Art House Gallery features an eclectic collection of pieces. Clay sculptures line the livingroom mantel, while beaded eyeglass chains stretch across the cushions of a comfy sofa. Colorful folk art pieces brighten the white brick walls of the

sunroom; vases and teapots poke out of a corner hutch in the dining room.

Palette-knife paintings of fruit and cupcakes cover the kitchen cabinets.

At any given time, The Art House Gallery represents around 95 artists from metro Atlanta and the Southeast, with price points ranging from $20 to more than $1,000. “Each artist was handpicked,” says Lamb. “I’m always looking for anything different that speaks to me; I’m not looking to zero in on the next big thing.”

What she is looking for is an environment that allows people to feel at home with art (hence the name).

“One thing I’ve learned is that people like looking at artwork in private,” she says. “Here, people enjoy wandering through the house. They like looking at the mix, and I think it gives them an idea of what to do with a piece in their own home.”

Another observation Lamb made early on was that many people find visiting a formal gallery a bit intimidating. But by adding one-of-a-kind accessories and accents to the art-

works, Lamb believes she’s created a space with a variety of attractions that invite people to wander in and linger.

“Women, for instance, are not making that impulse art buy, but they love jewelry, especially if it’s unusual,” says Lamb. “But while they’re here, they’ll also see pop folk art and contemporary landscapes. And I think it works.”

Stephen Holland agrees. The Buckhead architect has known Lamb since the days of her guesthouse sales and now makes regular visits to The Art House. “It’s so comfortable, I even grabbed a sandwich and went over there the other day to eat it,” says Holland with a laugh. “It’s a nice little place to hang out. I think the mix of different things makes an interesting array. A lot of people who are not necessarily there for a work of art might see another item that appeals to them.”

Lamb also has the complete backing of her family in the endeavor. “They think their mom can do anything,” she says. “They are not only supportive; they’re my biggest fans in anything I do. They tell me, ‘If you could raise five

THE ART HOUSE GALLERY 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday 3193 Paces Ferry Place Atlanta 30305 404.254.4550 www.thearthouseatlanta.com

kids by yourself, how hard can anything else be?”

Lamb hasn’t forgotten to keep giving back: She plans on keeping up her charitable connections through the gallery. Recent Friday-night charity events have featured more than a dozen artists who donated the evening’s proceeds to groups like Childhood Autism Foundation, Visiting Nurse/ Hospice of Atlanta and the Community Action Center of Sandy Springs/ Dunwoody.

“The Art House has two main goals: to support local and regional Southern art and to support local and regional nonprofit organizations,” she says.

“We’re small, but I want to keep doing that as much as possible.”

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY N OW L IT E RA RY

Turning the page

MEET THE AUTHOR Jeffrey Stepakoff signs his new novel, The Orchard, at 7 p.m. July 12 at Barnes & Noble Buckhead.

2900 Peachtree Road Atlanta 30305 404.261.7747 For more information about The Orchard, visit www.jeffreystepakoff.com.

A Hollywood screenwriter returns to Atlanta— and writes a novel based in Buckhead

By H.M. Cauley

H

e was raised in Dunwoody, spent more than 20 years in Hollywood and now lives in East Cobb, but author Jeffrey Stepakoff is no stranger to Buckhead.

“I love Buckhead,” he confesses. “My wife and I first met at the Steamhouse Lounge there in 1988. It’s a special place, from Henri’s to the incredible booksellers and amazing shopping.

There is no place I’ve found in the U.S. that’s quite like it.”

So it makes sense that the former TV screenwriter-turned-scribe (his name appeared in the credits of “The

Jeffrey Stepakoff’s second novel, The Orchard, hit shelves July 5.

Wonder Years” and “Dawson’s Creek” before he returned to Atlanta five years ago) has made the “Beverly Hills of the South” the backdrop for his second novel, The Orchard. His heroine, Grace Lyndon, lives in a Buckhead condo with views of the city skyline, works out in a Buckhead gym and shops for groceries at Whole Foods on West Paces. But the story also wanders into North Georgia, where love and destiny await.

“One night, she’s going to meet a date and grabs an apple, takes a bite and the flavor blows her mind,” recaps Stepakoff. “So she goes to the office to find out where this apple came from,

Photos courtesy of Jeffrey Stepakoff

then sets off to the mountains to find this organic apple orchard—which she does find, along with the handsome man who owns it. It’s all about love and second chances, but also about organics, food and flavor.”

Along the way, Stepakoff gets to show off his knowledge of apples and passion for food.

“I fell in love with apples right after my 3-year-old was born,” he says.

“I started sampling different tastes and flavors and noticed how much they change over the course of weeks as they come in. I also realized there’s a kind of spirituality in eating beautiful

things that come from the earth. That’s what this story is about: someone who is moved and stirred by flavor.”

The Orchard hit bookshelves July 5 and follows Stepakoff ’s first fiction success, Fireworks Over Toccoa, with more than 100,000 copies printed in five languages.

When he’s not penning novels, Stepakoff can be found hanging out with his three kids, teaching writing at Kennesaw State University and learning his way around the ever-evolving world of publishing.

As such, he’s gotten his resume down to a few lines he can fire off in seconds: “Boy loves South so much he moves his family back after 20 years in Hollywood; builds career writing about South; then writes a bestseller about Georgia apple orchards.”

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Simply Delicious

Restaurant Review

“Starfish is exactly the kind of sushi joint I have been trolling for.”

— Wendell Brock, “The Oscar for best sushi” Page 32

The daily Chef’s choice three-piece sushi appetizer at Starfish. Sara Hanna Photography - www.SaraHanna.com July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS RE VIE W

Left: The Jurassic Park roll—a California roll topped with whole eel, red and black tobiko and a special sauce; right: white tuna topped with fried garlic.

Photos by Sara Hanna Photography - www.SaraHanna.com

The Oscar for best sushi Starfish deserves its standing ovation

By Wendell Brock

I

t’s easy to find the big fish in Buckhead. Those glitzy restaurants where the diamonds drip, the coifs flutter and the boldface names of tomorrow’s gossip columns work their tans and their Prada. The neighborhood doesn’t have a restaurant row or a foodie district, but it has its culinary celebutantes—chefs who are James Beard Award courtiers and critical darlings.

And then there are the hidden stars.

Every bit as deserving as their megawatt counterparts, they are harder to find, and rarely are they barracudas in the publicity department. Star-

fish—which can look just a little lost on the block that houses Restaurant Eugene, Holeman & Finch, and H&F Bread Company—is such a place. And it is exactly the kind of sushi joint I have been trolling for. In a city where Japanese cuisine can be hit or miss and sometimes not the freshest, chef-owner Seung K. “Sam” Park’s reticent little 5-year-old pearl is a superior catch— cute and compact as a bento box but with just a hint of luxury.

Thanks to its contemporary flair and dependable standards, Starfish is my new favorite go-to place for sushi. The

food is simply delicious. The service is low-key yet attentive. The sand-colored room is comfortable without being glitzy. Though the building looks as sealed up as a sardine can, parking is free and abundant: Just follow the sign into the covered lot behind Aramore condominiums.

I love the contemplative experience of sitting alone at a sushi bar. One day, I had a perfectly lovely sushi/sashimi combo here at lunch, polished off with a tall Sapporo. I liked the crunch of the shrimp tempura roll and decided the place was definitely worth a second visit—at dinner.

STARFISH 2255 Peachtree Road, Suites E and F Atlanta 30309 404.350.0799 www.starfishatlanta.com Lunch entrées: $7-$16.

Dinner entrées: $12-$30.

Bottom line: In a sea of mediocre sushi places, Starfish rises to the occasion.

The Monster-in-Law roll: deepfried soft shell crab, avocado, cucumber and masago.

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Arriving famished and rather late on a weeknight, little did I know I was about to experience a pinnacle moment in my history of Japanese dining in Atlanta. One by one, the kitchen sent out a truly memorable procession of sophisticated hot and cold dishes comparable to those you could order during the glory days of the late great Soto Japanese Restaurant (in the Disco Kroger shopping center) and the present-day MF Buckhead at the Terminus building. And we made off without forking over the equivalent of a night’s stay at the Park Hyatt Tokyo.

The best indication of a superb sushi restaurant is, of course, the freshness of its fish; Chef Park tells me his come from all over the globe: Japan, Korea, Hawaii, Scotland, California. A sushi or sashimi sampler will include all the usual suspects (tuna, salmon, yellowtail) and perhaps another mild-tasting but rather exotic specimen like white tuna. If you want pungent sea urchin or a slab of ruby-red toro ($5-$8, depending on market), you may request it a la carte.

At dinner, we were delighted to see how the kitchen plays around with untraditional ingredients like truffle oil and balsamic vinegar, slicing fish as thin as carpaccio and arranging it in dazzling presentations. When our flounder sashimi arrived, the server told us to place a dab of the ponzu jelly spiked with cilantro, jalapeño and lime on a strip of the fish and roll it up. Exquisite. (Next time, we might jump for

the wild Florida pompano with truffle oil and sea salt.)

In the mood for a few warm bites next, we ordered the hamachi-kama (yellowtail collar), and found the dish to be perfectly cooked—tender chunks of cheek meat with crispy-salty skin.

The kitchen also does a fine job with frying. Vegetable tempura and prawns turned out to be a lovely basket of asparagus, sweet potato, onion, zucchini and kabocha ( Japanese pumpkin), with the traditional light dipping sauce of mirin, soy and dashi broth.

Nice.

If you wonder why some of the whopping, American-style maki rolls have Hollywood-inspired names, Chef Park says it was his nephew’s idea to pun on the name of the place, Starfish. Behold the “Monster-inLaw,” a real scene-stealer stuffed with deep-fried soft-shell crab, topped with sliced avocado, cucumber and masago (smelt roe) and drizzled with a deeply flavored sweet soy sauce. Nothing Jane Fonda-like about this hefty monster, which was almost too fat to pick up with chopsticks. You can create your own roll here, too. So why not a “Gone With the Wind”? (Why, I declare! I think it should be as big as Tara and covered in flying fish roe, for Miss Scarlett!)

Since I am an unagi worshiper, I can tell you I don’t plan to wait four decades to try “The 40-Year-Old Virgin,” fresh-water eel topped with avocado.

At any rate, I like to end a Japanese meal of this scope with a few cleansing

bites of rice and the best fish possible.

Flipping back to the first page of the menu, where the daily catches are duly noted, we asked the waiter for suggestions and ended up with some lovely Japanese red snapper, which paired nicely with the tuna, unagi and yellowtail nigiri that we took as parting bites.

If Starfish offers dessert, there was no mention of it; nor did we care for any after this extravagant repast. One thing I am sorry I did not get a chance to try is the sake; there’s an impressive selection of mid-priced to high-end bottles, plus a fetching list of elaborately described “country” brews, with a quartet of tastings for $11. Now that’s a bargain I can wrap my tentacles around.

The next hot summer day that puts me in the mood for a cool platter of sushi, I plan to breaststroke it down Peachtree. Starfish isn’t the kind of place that announces itself with screaming klieg lights or red carpets.

But in this culture of excess, sometimes being a little bit under-the-radar can be very seductive. Take a bow, Starfish. You’ve earned your Oscar.

Clockwise from left: Spicy tuna tartare; Starfish’s entrance on Peachtree; Golden Pampano sashimi; Ocean’s 11 Roll— salmon and avocado topped with four different fish roes. Photos by Sara Hanna Photography - www.SaraHanna.com

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S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS

Foodie Journal | Culinary News & Notes

By Jennifer Bradley

Don’t mess with Tex’s T

he food truck craze has hit Atlanta in full force (consider the astronomical popularity of Yumbii’s Korean barbecue, the Tamale Queen, Westside Creamery and the Pup Truck). Now Tex’s Tacos’ roving kitchen is satisfying Buckhead office workers and late-night revelers alike with their tasty selection of tacos, quesadillas and sweets. During a recent vacation to San Antonio, Atlanta-based childhood friends Mac Helms and Harrison Jones discussed their shared love of Southwestern food over (several) frozen margaritas.

“I believe the words ‘food truck’ and ‘Tex-Mex’ were thrown around, and all of a sudden, we decided that it was only logical for us to combine our zero years of restaurant experience to open a food truck,” Helms says wryly. “After

Yo, Yo, Yo With Atlanta’s summer temperatures easily climbing into the triple digits, a sweet frozen treat can provide a welcome reprieve. For something less vanilla than— well—vanilla, check out these unusual yogurt flavors from Buckhead “fro-yo” destinations. n Menchie’s (www.menchies.com) location on Roswell Road at the intersection of Piedmont Road offers at least ten self-serve flavors at one time, allowing

Tex’s Tacos’ custom truck features flat grills and refrigerators.

quite a few ups and downs, we opened the Tex’s Tacos food truck [earlier this year].”

Lack of direct restaurant experience notwithstanding, the partners are tak-

guests to mix and match at will, paying by weight. Some summery standouts include strawberry shortcake, boysenberry (available in sugar-free) and Georgia peach. n Yogurberry (www.yogurberryatl.com) in the Terminus building turns milk from Georgia-based Johnston Family Farm into juicy flavors like passionfruit, watermelon and taro, a root that tastes faintly of vanilla. n The newest player in Buckhead’s frozen yogurt scene is the glossy Pinkberry (www.pinkberry.com), just across from Phipps Plaza. While they only have six flavors at a time, they offer topping “pairing suggestions” for each flavor.

Our favorite summer pick? Lychee yogurt with a squeeze of fresh lime, topped with fresh Georgia strawberries and mochi, a marshmallow-like topping popular in Asia.

Here’s to a sweet summer!

Running the numbers

At Menchie’s, you can get experimental with flavors like boysenberry or Georgia peach topped with fresh fruit.

Courtesy of Menchie’s

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Decatur is further cementing its reputation as a food destination in town with the opening this summer of No. 246 (www. facebook.com/no246). This anticipated Italian-inspired restaurant is a collaboration between JCT. Kitchen & Bar’s Ford Fry and former Floataway Café Chef Drew Belline and is named after the number of the original plot of land that the eatery

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

ing Buckhead by storm, driving a custom truck outfitted with flat grills and refrigerators. They post a schedule on their site each week, directing potential food truck-goers to different loca-

tions around town, with a home base at 3173 Roswell Road in Buckhead, across from popular bars Red Door and Kramer’s. Helms and Jones churn out a robust serving of menu items, including the Pastor de Puerco taco (slow-roasted pork with pineapple, shredded cheese, grilled onions and cilantro), a variety of gooey quesadillas (sourced from a vendor the owners say is local but whose name they won’t divulge) and tasty dessert pies. For an icy throwback, the truck serves Slush Puppies in lime or cherry. Check the website for lunch and dinner hours, as they change from day to day, and plan for a wait—the line can easily reach 20 hungry taco-lovers deep.

For locations, visit www.texstacos.com or follow them on Twitter at @texstacos.

occupies. The restaurant’s farm-to-table emphasis will extend past the food menu into the realm of cocktails. “Our cocktail program is going to combine the best traditional spirits and beverages of Italy with seasonal local produce and traditional Southern-made beverage products,” says beverage manager Lara Creasy. For example, Bellinis will only be available when Georgia white peaches are in season.

Here’s hoping the restaurant’s opening, scheduled for mid-summer, comes before the end of prime peach season!

Farm fresh What could be more quintessentially summer than a juicy hamburger sandwiched inside a light, dreamy bun? Farm Burger (www.farmburger.net), whose original Decatur location has been a destination for burger-lovers from all over town, is bringing its second outpost to Tower Place late this summer. Farm Burger’s beef is supplied by Moonshine Meats, a cooperative of pasture-based producers (read: all the cows are grass-fed) operated by Farm Burger Owner Jason Mann; the beef is dry aged two weeks and then ground fresh on-site. Standouts on the menu are the beer-battered onion rings, “adult floats” made with Greenwood vanilla bean ice cream and Young’s Chocolate Stout, and of course the hamburgers themselves, with a dizzying array of possible toppings, including locally produced cheeses (the

Farm Burger’s “banh mi burger”: pickled carrots, daikon radishes, onions, fresh cilantro, housemade pork pâté, salami and Duke’s mayo. Sara Hanna Photography www.SaraHanna.com

homemade pimento is to die for) and farm-fresh veggies. “Lil Farmers” (children) can chow down on a cheeseburger, fries and a drink for just $5, and for a place seemingly wholly devoted to carnivores, Farm Burger boasts a shockingly good veggie quinoa burger.

S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS W IN E FE ATURE

Blades & bubbly At the St. Regis in Buckhead, Champagne lovers live and drink by the sword

By Katie Kelly Bell

S

eated in the gorgeous Wine Room at the St. Regis, my cocktail reverie is broken by a flurry of commotion. I notice people St. Regis Sommelier Harry Constantinescu with his saber before whacking a hustling along the corridor and gathering near the entrance. poses bottle of Champagne during one of the Never one to miss an opportunity to gawk at something, I jump up. hotel’s nightly sabering events.

There, holding court in the main hallway between the restaurant and the Wine Room, stands Sommelier Harry Constantinescu with a sword in his hand. I glance around. Is anyone else finding there have been occasional glitches. “If the bottle gets too warm, just a single this impromptu swashbuckling a bit alarming?

Constantinescu grins sheepishly and reaches for the bottle of Champagne his assistant has just brought over.

He announces, “Every night I saber a bottle of Champagne.” More grinning.

“I usually have no problems, but please stand back.” Everyone obliges as Constantinescu, holding the bottle at arm’s length, takes a deft whack at the cork, one more, and we are treated to a glorious pop.

He swiftly lifts the bottle upward, containing the effervescence, and like the talented sommelier that he is, begins pouring everyone a glass. As libations go, this surely has to be Atlanta’s most entertaining sip … all the mixol-

ogy in the world can’t beat uncorking a bottle of Champagne with a sword.

Constantinescu loves the lore behind sabering. “It originated with Napoleon’s army,” he explains. “His soldiers celebrated their victories by opening Champagne with sabers while on horseback. The French military school was in the Champagne region at the time, and Champagne became a symbol for celebration in this way.”

Constantinescu, who hails from Romania, carries on this tradition every evening, making Atlanta’s St. Regis the only hotel in the brand with such an event. While most nights his performance goes off without a hitch,

degree or two, it will shatter,” he says.

He also notes that only wines made in the méthode champenoise style can be sabered. “Sparkling wine that is tank-fermented (rather than allowed to ferment in the bottle) doesn’t have enough bottle pressure in it to help sabering work properly.”

So what happens if there’s an accident? Constantinescu grins again: “I keep a back-up suit in the office just in case.”

ST. REGIS ATLANTA 88 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta 30305 404.563.7900 www.starwoodhotels.com/stregis

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S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS TAST E MA KER

Burger’s bad boy Alex Brounstein brings Grindhouse Killer Burgers to Buckhead

By Wendell Brock

GRINDHOUSE KILLER BURGERS 1842 Piedmont Avenue NE Atlanta 30324 404.254.2273 www.grindhouseburgers.com

A

lex Brounstein is a trend rider. Fresh out of Emory University in 2000, his first job was with the Internet consulting firm iXL. When the dot-com bubble burst, Brounstein returned to Emory for his MBA and law degree. He then decided to work in real estate and was hired by a Midtown real-estate consulting firm in August 2007. A year later, the market lay in shambles. “Now I’m in the burger boom,” says the 33-year-old owner of Grindhouse Killer Burgers, a hipster joint that opened two years ago in the historic Sweet Auburn Curb Market.

Brounstein recently unleashed Grindhouse’s second location on Piedmont Road, right next to the Two Minit Car Wash with the waving gorilla. “Hopefully, I caught the burger boom a little earlier than the other ones,” he jokes.

Like other patty-pushers around town, Grindhouse boasts top-quality beef (100 percent certified Angus), hand-spun shakes and killer toppings (fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, roasted New Mexico green chilies).

Unlike some of the others, it offers a basic quarter-pounder for $3.99. The restaurant shows cult movies that riff on the campy sci-fi shtick of their slogan: “Live fast, eat well! Women cry for it! Men die for it!” The Buckhead spot is splattered with comic book-style fake blood and houses a collection of toy robots and old meat grinders. While the original closes at 4 p.m. and doesn’t serve alcohol, the Buckhead location courts a latenight crowd with a full bar and “boozy shakes.” We recently sat down with the entrepreneurial New Jersey native to talk about his life and career so far.

What’s your food background?

I’m not a classically trained chef or anything like that. I worked in kitchens in college (as a short-order cook, flipping burgers). But I have never 36

Describe your burgers.

We do beef patties. We make a homemade turkey burger, and we make a homemade veggie burger. The veggie burger is made out of black beans, garbanzo beans and quinoa. Basically you can top that any way you want.

You can do a single (a quarter-pound patty) or a double (two quarter-pound patties). So a double is pretty hefty.

Our quarter-pound burger, fries and a drink will cost you $7. That’s probably as cheap as McDonald’s at this point.

So what is your concept?

Really good burgers. Really good prices. A fun environment.

Why the sci-fi theme?

I just always had wanted to do a restaurant with crappy old movies playing in the background. I decided to play it up even more at the new location, because it’s fun and interesting and makes for a great customer experience.

Alex Brounstein poses in the Buckhead location of his restaurant, Grindhouse Killer Burgers.

Alli Royce Soble

been trained. I came up with the recipes here and the methods. I designed the kitchen. But I don’t really have any interest in being back in the kitchen.

Why burgers?

First of all, I love burgers. Second, as an amateur cook, that’s about all I figured I could handle in terms of menu creation. Third, and most importantly,

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

burgers are as American as apple pie.

People eat more burgers than any other food, by far. So from a business standpoint, it made sense. Burgers may be a fad right now, but they’re never going out of style. I wasn’t trying to go for a trendy burger—just for a good, old-fashioned, juicy burger. And I figured burgers would work in the curb market.

What do you think of Atlanta’s burger wars?

I don’t know if it’s a war. Fancy burgers are a trend. Burgers have been around forever. I don’t see us following a trend.

I feel like we are trying to be more of a throwback, if anything.

What are your future plans?

Just keep expanding. I don’t want to become some lame franchise that you can find in any strip mall, but I think there’s definitely a demand for something like this all over the country. So I just want to keep opening them up in places I think will do well and make sense. I’m not sure about my career as a whole. I get bored pretty quickly, so I’d imagine I’ll move onto something else.

S IMP LY D EL I C IOUS

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

By Jessie Bove

n La Grotta Ristorante Italiano 2637 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30305 404.231.1368 www.lagrottaatlanta.com Overlooking a garden in Buckhead, La Grotta Ristorante Italiano has been an Atlanta favorite since its inception in 1978. Today, you can still bask in the fine-dining, intimate ambiance, led by Chef and Co-Owner Antonio Abizanda.

The menu will seduce you with its Italian fare, offering dish after dish of scrumptious creations sure to please even the most discerning diners. If you are having trouble deciding among all the options, you can’t go wrong with the Risotto/Pasta of the Day. Don’t see your favorite Italian dish on the menu? No problem.

Just ask or call ahead with your special request and La Grotta will make it happen.

This place hasn’t won the AAA Four Diamond Award for 17 years for nothing. Oh, and don’t forget that elegant attire is preferred (which we’re secretly psyched about!). n Cantina Taqueria and Tequila Bar 3280 Peachtree Road NW Terminus 100 – Suite 150 Atlanta 30305 404.892.9292 www.h2sr.com/cantina Located in the Terminus building, Cantina Taqueria & Tequila Bar is both a great spot to satiate your chips and guac cravings and to entertain yourself with the lively bar scene.

Sample Mexican favorites like tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas, or mix it up and go for the Mexican pizzas. For the super-ravenous, take on “The Whole Chihuahua” challenge: If you can finish the five-pound burrito (filled with roasted pork or chipotle chicken, queso gringo, lettuce, salsa verde, rice, choice of frijoles, guacamole and sour cream) by yourself—no helpers allowed!— in one hour, you’ll get a T-shirt and the burrito for free. “Man vs. Food,” here we come!

n MoSaiC 3097 Maple Drive Atlanta 30305 404.846.5722 www.mosaicatl.com

n Horseradish Grill 4320 Powers Ferry Road Atlanta 30342 404.255.7277 www.horseradishgrill.com

Escape the buzz of the city with dinner at neighborhood bistro MoSaiC, which serves modern American cuisine in a cozy setting. Dine al fresco on the patio or enjoy the charming dining rooms inside the renovated cottage. The menu changes frequently according to the season, so you’ll never tire of sampling its fare.

Wine enthusiasts—or anyone who likes a glass from time to time—should note that the restaurant offers a $15 wine tasting on Wednesday nights from 6-8 p.m., when you can sample three wines and free appetizers. In the mood for more than just a few sips? Tuesdays and Thursdays, MoSaiC features half-price bottles. Consider our calendars marked.

Back in the day, Horseradish Grill was nothing more than a humble country store off a dirt trail. Now, it’s an iconic restaurant that faces beautiful Chastain Park and continues to bring us back time and time again. Offering brunch, lunch and dinner, the restaurant showcases some delicious Southern dishes. On the dinner menu, try the honey-glazed Georgia quail, the pecan-crusted Coles Lake goat cheese fritter or the horseradish-crusted grouper. n 10 Degrees South 4183 Roswell Road NE Atlanta 30342 404.705.8870 www.10degreessouth.com Inspired by Cape Town and

Spotlight n Truffles Café 3345 Lenox Road NE Atlanta 30326 404.364.9050 www.trufflescafe.com You may recognize the Truffles Café name for its wellknown Hilton Head, S.C., outpost, but now the upscale gourmet café has a Buckhead location, which debuted last December across from Lenox Square Mall. A great spot to grab lunch—whether you’re taking a break from work or you’ve worked up an appetite shopping— Truffles Café has a diverse menu with specialty dishes like crab cakes and pork tenderloin, and an offering of soups, salads and sandwiches. Tantalize your taste buds by ordering the Mango Chicken Sandwich or the Black Bean Burger. Prices range from just $5 to $29. The café also serves dinner and boasts 35 wines by the glass, along with specialty cocktails and an extensive selection of beer, both bottled and on tap. If you’re not in the mood to hang out, order your meal as take-out, and don’t forget to add a chocolate peanut butter pie for a truly decadent treat (it’s made daily in the kitchen!).

deluxe safari lodges, South African restaurant 10 Degrees South offers up delicious meals that meld the flavors of French, Portuguese, German, Malaysian, Dutch, Indian and Mediterranean cuisines. The family-owned establishment is tucked into a location off Roswell Road that exudes a warm, seductive ambiance for the perfect date-night dining experience. Choose from menu options that include small plates—like the Bobotie spring rolls and Lollipop lamb chops—and sampler platters, as well as salads and traditional main course items. 10 Degrees South also boasts a cozy bar and outdoor patio if you want to pop in for a drink.

Try one of the South African wines for a full immersion experience, and don’t forget to check out the beer list. n Baroni Casual Italian 1745 Peachtree Street NE, Suite H Atlanta 30309 404.724.9100 www.baroniatl.com If you’re a fan of Midtown’s Baraonda—and let’s face it, who isn’t?—then you may want to check out its new sister restaurant, Baroni Casual Italian. Offering less expensive menu options, Baroni serves up delicious Italian favorites— think wood-fire pizza, ravioli and spaghetti—as well as a mozzarella bar. Expect attentive, genuinely nice service and a meal that will satisfy your Italian cravings without abusing your wallet. n Corner Café 3070 Piedmont Road Atlanta 30305 404.240.1978 www.buckheadrestaurants. com/corner-cafe Celebrated for its brunch menu, Corner Café is a Buckhead institution that everyone should visit at least once. But we doubt that will be your only trip—once you try the baked-on-site pastries or the jumbo lump crab cakes Benedict, you’ll be hooked. An ideal spot for lunch with colleagues or breakfast with your sweetie,

Corner Café is led by Executive Chef Greg Sears, who whips up a tantalizing variety of selections sure to satisfy your morning and afternoon cravings. Lunch options include salads, soups and sandwiches.

And if you’re in a rush, just pick up something from the bakery to go! n Holeman & Finch Public House 2277 Peachtree Road, Suite B Atlanta 30309 404.948.1175 www.holeman-finch.com Get in on the fan fest for the burgers at Holeman & Finch Public House. This hip Buckhead restaurant features “burger time” every night at 10 p.m., serving up a limited offering of only 24 doublepatty cheeseburgers crafted on house-made buns and accompanied by hand-cut fries and homemade ketchup, mustard and pickles. When it’s really packed, the burgers sell out in under one minute, so get there early and be ready to order! The establishment is truly designed as a public house, with seating configured to encourage conversation and mingling. Order one or two items for yourself or share several with your friends or fellow patrons at the bar if you’re feeling extra chummy. n Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft 1745 Peachtree Street Atlanta 30309 678.539.6181 www.tuktukatl.com Thai street food meets Atlanta at Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft. Order from a selection of tapasstyle small plates, as well as bigger entrées, in a modern Asian space. Executive Chef Dee Dee Niyomkul—who is the daughter of Charlie and Nan Niyomkul, creators of Nan’s Thai and Tamarind Seed—will entertain your palate with recipes inspired by her mother and grandmother, who was a street-food vendor in Bangkok.

Don’t miss the “tuk tuk” (street food cart) showcased in the foyer or the city skyline views from the patio.

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S I M P LY BUC K H E A D | J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 1

Cover Story Outdoor entertaining The Simply Buckhead guide to throwing the fĂŞte of the summer Story by Allison Weiss Entrekin Styling by Ginny Branch Photography by Renee Brock

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S IMP LY B UC K HE A D COVE R STO RY

Make a splash with a family pool party Photographs shot on location at the Buckhead home of Michael and Kristy Robison. Party ideas provided by Gayle Rubenstein, Luxe Arrangements.

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

HomeGoods placemats: $7.99 for set of 4

Timeline tips

Menu

Two to three days ahead: n Charge your cameras or install new batteries in them.

Chicken, tuna or shrimp salad served out of a pineapple cut lengthways with the flesh scooped out Z Crispy French loaf Z Bowl of cherries Z Watermelon wedges

One day ahead: n Lay out all clothes for the kids that you will need the day of the party.

Day of event: Party City paper napkins: $3.99

Plates: thrifted

Scout for the Home bud vases (glass and metal centerpiece): $68

World Market flour sack kitchen towel: $9.99

Party City Wooden Flatware: $3.99 for set of 12

n If you are using a grill, be sure all utensils are clean and available.

White milk glass: thrifted Scout for the Home Moroccan water glasses: $11

Incorporate the kids

Cocktail recipe

n Put out pool toys for kids and adults alike. Swimming noodles, beach balls and the like are inexpensive and will keep children busy and help adults get in the spirit.

Summer Breeze Martini Yield: 1 serving Ingredients: 6 parts citrus vodka 2 parts melon liqueur

n Keep the following on hand: floaties, a bag of swim diapers, extra towels, sunscreen spray, bug spray and visors.

1 part dry Vermouth Âź teaspoon fresh lemon juice Melon ball Directions:

n Remember, kids get very hungry when they swim, so have snacks nearby. A great idea is to use small children’s pails to hold mixed fruit or veggie pieces and use plastic shovels to serve them.

Combine first four ingredients in a cocktail shaker with cracked ice and shake well. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with the melon ball.

White milk glass: thrifted

Scout for the Home blue glass votive holders: $9

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S IMP LY B UC K HE A D COVE R STO RY

Set the table for a Southern supper Photos shot on location at a private home in Buckhead. Party ideas provided by Tony Conway, A Legendary Event and Atlanta’s Picnic Company.

Timeline tips One week ahead: n Invite your guests. Try to invite at least one or two people no one knows—it keeps things interesting. n Ask guests for their dietary restrictions, and start little profiles in your computer: “Joe doesn’t eat bell peppers.” So the next time you call to invite them to something, you already know what they can’t have.

Day of event: n Change the water in clear vases so you don’t have dirty water. n Put notes in your neighbors’ mailboxes saying, “I’m having guests; here’s our number—please let us know if we block your drive.”

Day after event: n Take some of your extra desserts or flowers and set them on your neighbors’ porches with a little note: “Hope we didn’t block the drive. Have a great day!”

Swoozie’s Melamine bowls: $11.95 42

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

World Market red colander: $1.99 Bella Cucina honey by Savannah Bee Company: $6.50 World Market porcelain paper plates: $19.95

Menu

Swoozie’s small melamine paper plates: $14.95

Grilled corn off the cob, red onion and avocado salad

Swoozie’s large melamine paper plates: $19.95

Z Red bliss potato salad Z Garlic green beans Z Granny Smith, fennel and cucumber salad Z Sliced garden-fresh tomatoes with sea salt Z Grilled breast of tarragon-and-basil chicken, sliced Z Skillet cornbread Z IKEA TEKLA towel: $.99

Ideas and inspirations n Incorporate a hobby into the supper. Bring out an antique croquet set, some summer ices and play before supper.

Or set out a jigsaw puzzle on a square wooden table for those who don’t want to play croquet. n Set the bar with pitchers of fruit water—pineapple, ginger and mint; lemon, peach and mint; cherry, blueberry and mint. You can make them two or three weeks out because they don’t go bad. They’re so pretty in clear pitchers, and just refreshing and nice.

Star Provisions wooden to-go ware: $8.50

All craft supplies from The Paper Source

Cocktail recipe

Homemade churned peach ice cream with fresh peaches

Stonework supplied by Fieldstone Center. Design by Kimberly Davis Interiors. Architecture by Norris Broyles Architects. Builder: R.M. Bondurant Construction, Inc. Masonry work by Villegas Masonry.

Peach Schnapps and Iced Tea Summer Ice Yield: 30 4-ounce servings Ingredients: 1 gallon sweet iced tea (store-bought or homemade) 1 cup Peach Schnapps 1 cup Jeremiah Weed Sweet Tea (take a sip—it’s delicious!)

Crushed ice Sliced peaches for garnish

Anthropologie paper bags: $20 and $28

Directions: Mix sweet iced tea, Jeremiah Weed and Schnapps into a blender. Add crushed ice. Blend into a slush. Pour into 4-ounce paper cups. Freeze on a baking sheet for about five to six hours. Garnish with sliced peaches.

Serve with a wooden flat spoon.

Swoozie’s mason jar wine glasses: $19.95

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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S IMP LY B UC K HE A D COVE R STO RY

Impress your guests with an upscale garden gathering Photos shot on location at Pemberley, a private residence in Buckhead.

Party ideas provided by Ashley Baber, Ashley Baber Weddings.

Sweet idea If you create a petite sweets/macaron bar, separate the macarons by color and flavor in glass vases or containers for a beautiful display. Be sure to include tongs or scoops on the display for guests to easily pick out the macarons of their choice. Set out cellophane bags with ties on the bar so your guests can take some home to enjoy later.

Owen Lawrence five-arm candelabras

by Pampaloni: $14,055

Pemberley is available for private rental through Lease Luxury Properties.

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

Silver cake stand: thrifted

Menu Assorted tea sandwiches

Timeline tips

Z Smoked salmon with dill cream cheese topped with English cucumber relish on dark pumpernickel

Three weeks ahead: n Since your event will be held outdoors, make a plan for inclement weather. If this involves renting a tent, you should discuss your options with a tent-rental company.

In many cases, this can be the source for all of the rental items you need, like tables, chairs, linens, flatware, glassware and china.

Z Scarborough Fayre (savory bacon, onion and herb pudding) Z Grilled Swiss and asparagus quiche bites Z Traditional English scones with clotted cream, lemon curd and assorted jams Z

One week ahead:

Petite sweets/macaron bar (chocolatemint, pistachio-raspberry, coconutmacadamia, banana-passionfruit) World Market plates: $3.99

Hill Street Warehouse mini glass cloches: $4

Urban Cottage natural napkins: $29 for set of six

n Purchase alcohol for your party. The employees at your local liquor store will be able to help you decide how much alcohol you should purchase for the number of guests you are having.

Three days ahead: n Watch the weather. If you are tenting your event in the case of inclement weather, you’ll need to make a decision at least 48 to 72 hours in advance of the event to give the tent company adequate time to set up.

Owen Lawrence mint julep cups by Pampaloni: $520

Urban Cottage floral plates: $4

Owen Lawrence silverware by Pampaloni (Anglia pattern): $795 for a five-piece place setting

Cocktail recipe Pimm’s Royal Yield: 1 serving Ingredients: 2 ounces Pimm’s No. 1

Owen Lawrence silver goblets

by Boardman Silver: $1095

3 ounces lemonade Splash of Champagne or Prosecco Lemon twist for garnish Cucumber slice or peel for garnish

Owen Lawrence tablecloth

by Sferra French Knot and 12 napkins: $795

Directions: Pour the Pimm’s into a Collins glass with ice cubes. Add the lemonade and a splash of Champagne or Prosecco.

Garnish with the lemon twist and cucumber.

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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Dr. Riva Wolkow, DVM (404) 252-3587 NEW CLIENTS

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Belle Isle Animal Hospital’s upgraded facility offers the latest in veterinary care.

By Giannina Smith Bedford

Belle Isle Animal Hospital in Sandy Springs is making four-legged patients and their parents very happy. After veterinarian Riva Wolkow purchased the practice in February, she spent two months updating the hospital into tip-top shape.

Today the 3,100-square-foot facility boasts brand new equipment and the latest technology to ensure clients are well taken care of. As a full–service veterinary hospital, Belle Isle’s team offers a myriad of services, from routine pet care to emergencies, as well as boarding and specialty grooming. Simply Buckhead recently chatted with the Dr. Wolkow about the new digs and the passion she has for her job.

Tell us about the upgrade of Belle Isle Animal Hospital?

We gave it a tip to tail makeover! We now have brand new equipment with the latest technology including digital radiographs (x-rays), ultrasound, dental equipment, diagnostic blood machines, and the safest anesthesia systems available.

We also gave the building a facelift and expanded the size of our boarding runs.

What prompted you to purchase this practice?

Since I was a little girl, it has always been my dream to own my own veterinary practice. I love the area and the practice

46

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

had a great neighborhood feel about it that I really wanted to continue. As owner, I now have the opportunity to introduce new veterinary techniques and technologies to the practice.

What is unique about Belle Isle Animal Hospital that our readers should know?

I want your readers to know that I think their pets deserve the best. I assure you that I will treat every pet as if they were my own. My staff and I work to educate our clients so that they can make informed medical decisions that are in the pet’s best interest. ld.

What made you want to become a veterinarian?

I am the youngest of three and grew up in a houseful of human doctors. I knew from the start that I wanted to be a vet and nothing else. I used to tease my father that if I didn’t get into vet school I would go to medical school as my back up.

What do you like best about your job?

I love the working with the animals and getting to have one-on-one time with the owners. My goal is to give the animals the best care possible.

I like to educate the owners so that they can make informed decisions as opposed to pushing procedures and treatments on them.

For more information, visit www.belleisleanimal.com.

S I M P LY BU Z Z | S I M P LY C H A R I TA B L E | S I M P LY S C E N E

Simply Happening

Spotlight Give Me Five August 28 Cherokee Town and Country Club 155 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta 30305 770.436.5151 www.givemefivedinner.org

Atlanta chefs will join forces with sommeliers to create a

gourmet five-course dinner with wine pairings for this year’s Give Me Five, an event benefitting nonprofit organization Share Our Strength.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the gastronomic extravaganza includes chefs Jay Swift from 4th and Swift and Gary Donlick from Bistro Niko, as well as sommeliers Silvio Garcia from Cherokee Town and

Country Club and April McCollum from Norcross-based Big Boat Wines, among others.

Taking place at Buckhead’s Cherokee Town and Country Club, the event also features live entertainment and a silent auction. Tickets are $275 per person or $2,500 for a table of ten. Cocktail reception begins at 5 p.m. with dinner following.

Members of the culinary team that will take part in Give Me Five benefiting Share Our Strength.

July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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Simply Buzz | Events, exhibits, galas and more

By Giannina Smith

AJC Peachtree Road Race July 4 AJC Peachtree Road Race Begins near Lenox Square Mall and ends in Piedmont Park 404.231.9064 www.peachtreeroadrace.org Kicking off in the heart of Buckhead near Lenox Square, the world-renowned AJC Peachtree Road Race will celebrate its 42nd year in 2011. The red, white and blue crowd will reach 60,000 (plus the non-numbered stragglers who jump in). Stampeding south on Peachtree Road, race participants will pass Buckhead landmarks like the Cathedral of St. Philip, where Dean Sam Candler will continue the tradition of sprinkling the crowd with “holy water,” and Piedmont Hospital, where runners tackle the infamous “Cardiac Hill.” Hosted by the Atlanta Track Club, the wheelchair race begins at 6:45 a.m. and the footrace follows at 7:30 a.m.

Decatur’s July 4th Pied Piper Parade July 4 Decatur Community Bandstand E. Court Square Decatur 30030 404.371.8386 www.visitdecaturgeorgia.com Spend the Fourth of July in downtown Decatur at the familyfriendly Pied Piper Parade. Bike, skate or simply walk the route, which travels from the First Baptist Church of Decatur to the Community Bandstand. Perched in a mini fire truck, city commissioners lead the parade, which culminates with a presentation of colors and the Star Spangled Banner, followed by a concert at 7 p.m. from the Callanwolde Concert Band. A Fourth of July wouldn’t be complete without fireworks, which begin at dark and shoot into the air from the top of the DeKalb County parking deck. Parade line-up is at 5:30 p.m., with the parade officially kicking off at 6 p.m.

Atlanta Botanical Garden’s Cocktails in the Garden Thursday Evenings Atlanta Botanical Garden 1345 Piedmont Avenue NE Atlanta 30309 404.876.5859 www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org Sip wine in the treetops and enjoy complimentary appetizers prepared by Atlanta chefs during the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s eighth annual Cocktails in the Garden. Taking place Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. through September, this romantic evening among the greenery also features live entertainment.

Drinks are available at cash bars located throughout the grounds, including on the new Canopy Walk. Each month, the Garden pairs a specialty cocktail with a plant or garden feature—July is “Moonflowers and Moonshine” and August is “Shade and Shots.”

Cocktails in the Garden admission is $18.95; free for Atlanta Botanical Garden members.

Singer-songwriter Lindsay Appel at Callanwolde Fine Arts Center July 8 980 Briarcliff Road NE Atlanta 30306 404.872.5338 www.callanwolde.org As part of its Jazz on the Lawn concert series, Callanwolde Fine Arts Center welcomes Lindsay Appel, a singer-songwriter blending pop, rock and blues.

Bring a blanket and picnic and relax under the stars while taking in Appel’s unique sound. An Atlanta resident and a Creative Loafing Readers’ Pick for Best Local Singer-Songwriter in 2008, Appel kicks off the entertainment at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance at www.ticketleap.com and $20 at the door.

Atlanta History Center’s “A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” July 9 Atlanta History Center 130 West Paces Ferry Road NW Atlanta 30305 404.814.4042 www.atlantahistorycenter.com Learn how to preserve and share your family photographs and vid-

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July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

eos at this Atlanta History Center event. From 10:30 a.m. to noon, Archivist Sue VerHoef will share her keys to organizing and maintaining historical photographs so you can have these keepsakes for many years to come. The program will include a conversation on organizing, preserving and digitizing videos and photos; it will also utilize Atlanta History Center collections to discuss ways to determine the time period of a photo. Participants are encouraged to bring in their own materials, particularly personal photographs, and reservations are suggested. Admission for Atlanta History Center members is $10; $15 for non-members.

Kids Cooking Classes with Yvette Garfield of Handstand Kids July 14 The Cook’s Warehouse–Decatur 180 West Ponce de Leon Avenue Decatur 30030 404.377.4005 www.cookswarehouse.com Choose from two kid-centric cooking classes hosted by Yvette Garfield, creator of Handstand Kids Cookbook Company, at The Cook’s Warehouse in Decatur.

“Mommy and Me – Let’s Travel to Italy” for ages 3 to 5 will take place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and include the preparation of panzanella salad, lasagna and tartufo (a chocolate-dipped ice cream).

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., kids ages 6 to 9 can try their little hands at cooking up foot-long garlic bread bruschetta, spaghetti and meatballs and biscotti cookies.

Following the class, which costs $45 and includes a Handstand Kids Italian Cookbook Kit, participants are invited to chow down on their food creations.

National Black Arts Festival 2011 Gala: A Salute to the Silver Screen July 16 The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead 3434 Peachtree Road NE Atlanta 30326 404.730.6369 www.nbaf.org Honoring the achievements of African-Americans in the film industry, the National Black Arts Festival 2011 Gala: A Salute to the

Silver Screen takes place at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead at 7 p.m.

The elegant seated dinner will host more than 500 attendees in a Hollywood-inspired décor.

Gentlemen are requested to wear black tie while the ladies will be clad in black and white gowns.

Joe Gransden Big Band will entertain the well-heeled crowd and the event will include silent and live auctions benefitting NBAF’s year-round programming. Individual tickets are $500.

Westside Art Walk July 16 and August 20 Emily Amy Gallery 1000 Marietta Street NW #208 Atlanta 30318 404.877.5626 www.wadatlanta.org Spend your Saturday afternoon exploring the unique art spaces of West Midtown. From the Sandler Hudson Gallery to Astolfi Art, the event features 10 art spaces and takes place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Presented by the Westside Arts District the third Saturday of every month, Westside Art Walk aims to encourage public interaction and visual art education in Atlanta’s Westside neighborhood. Free parking is available at each venue.

Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival July 17 JCT Kitchen and Bar 1198 Howell Mill Road, Suite 18 Atlanta 30318 404.355.2252 www.jctkitchen.com www.georgiaorganics.org Local farmers and chefs join forces to craft creative tomato dishes for attendees at this third annual event, taking place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of JCT Kitchen and Bar. Buckhead chefs Gerry Klaskala of Aria, Jenny Levison of Souper Jenny and Linton Hopkins of Restaurant Eugene and Holeman & Finch Public House will be in attendance, and mixologists will also be on hand with signature tomato cocktails. CNN.com Features Editor Cybil Wallace and registered dietician, food journalist and nutrition expert Carolyn O’Neil will serve as judges, voting on their favorite dishes and drink

concoctions. Benefitting Georgia Organics, Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival tickets are $55 for Georgia Organics members, $60 for non-members and $70 at the door.

Souper Jenny Cooking Class July 19 Souper Jenny 56 East Andrews Drive NW Atlanta 30305 404.237.7687 www.souperjennyatl.com Before you have to go cold turkey on Souper Jenny’s tasty soups and salads during its annual month off in August, you can take part in the popular eatery’s final cooking class. Focused on summer salads and dressings, this approximately two-hour class will teach you about the secret ingredients in some of Souper Jenny’s most popular creations. Beginning at 1 p.m. at the restaurant’s Buckhead location, classes are $40 per person and require a reservation.

11th Annual Decatur Barbeque, Blues & Bluegrass Festival August 20 Harmony Park in Oakhurst Village Corner of East Lake Drive and Oakview Road www.decaturbbqfestival.com Indulge in some finger-lickin’ barbeque from Community Q and other vendors at the 11th Annual Decatur Barbeque, Blues & Bluegrass Festival. Taking place at Harmony Park, the event gates open at 4 p.m., with live music continuing until 10 p.m. Tickets for those 21 and older are $10; $5 for ages 10 to 20 and free for children under 10.

S IMP LY HA PP E N ING C HA RITAB LE

G

iving back and having a blast went hand-in-hand at Southern Shindig, an event that benefited Skyland Trail, a Buckhead treatment facility that helps adults with mental illness. Hosted at Chastain Horse Park, the night featured barbecue and live music by The Maxx. Attendees raised more than $10,000 for the center and brought together a good time with a good cause. ­ — ­­­­­ Whitney Hensler

Rich and Caroline Vann, Jim Duggan, Anna Huffman and Philip Park.

Kelly Coffed, Committee Member Molly Hennessy and Event Committee Member Catherine Love.

Skyland Trail Committee Members Robby and Tyler Wynne.

Skyland Trail Committee Member Molly Hennessy, Rollins Luckey and Elizabeth Martin.

Guests mixed and mingled for a cause at Southern Shindig.

Meredith Moore and James Wiersman.

Skyland Trail Communications Coordinator Susan Lindsey, Executive Assistant Shelia VanMaanen, volunteer Ellie Vance and Special Events Coordinator Ashley Vance.

Attendees enjoyed cocktails and views of Chastain Horse Park.

The Maxx kept the party hopping with plenty of dance tunes.

Photos by Matthew Smith July/August 2011 | Simply Buckhead

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Mon-Fri: 12pm-6pm Sat: 11am-6pm Sun: 12:30pm-6pm

www.GeorgiaWine.com

100% Rabun County grown & produced wines

Rabun County Farm Winery Day Festivities – August 20, 2011 Persimmon Creek Vineyards and Tiger Mountain Vineyards invite the public to visit their vineyards and wineries on Saturday, August 20, from Noon to 4pm for a celebration of the county’s two unique farm wineries, both of which grow 100 percent of their award-winning wines on local family farms.

The cost is $20 per person, which will include a souvenir glass and tastings at both farms. Individuals planning to bring large groups (ten or more) should call or e-mail ahead for reservations. Otherwise, payment can be made at the door.

Visit the historic Nacoochee and Sautee Valleys to sample our 100% Georgia wines Located at Nacoochee Crossing at the junction of Georgia Highways 17 & 255 98 Nacoochee Way Sautee-Nacoochee, GA

706-878-1056

info@sauteenacoocheevineyards.com www.sauteenacoocheevineyards.com

Try our Petit Manseng Jefferson Cup Invitational 2010 Gold Medal winner

San Francisco Int’l Wine Competition 2010 Silver Medal winner.

Tasting Room open 7 days a week Sun-Fri: 1pm-5pm | Sat: 11am-6pm 2592 Old Highway 441 Tiger, GA

706-782-4777 www.tigerwine.com

For additional information, or to make group reservations, call : Tiger Mountain – 706-782-4777 Persimmon Creek – 706-212-7380

Mon-Thu: 12pm-5pm Fri: 12pm-6pm Sat: 11am-6pm Sun: 12:30pm-6pm

Be sure to visit www.tigerwine.com and www.persimmoncreekwine.com in the coming weeks to get the latest details of the upcoming events.

Back-to-Front: Carla Fackler–Stonewall Creek Vineyards (a Tiger Mountain associate), Mary Ann Hardman–Persimmon Creek Winery, Martha Ezzard–Tiger Mountain Vineyards

The Winegrowers Association of Georgia is a non-profit corporation organized to promote and market Georgia wines, to improve the market environment for Georgia wines, to increase public awareness of Georgia wines, and to facilitate research in Georgia viticultural and vinfication techniques to improve Georgia wines.

Vineyards & Winery

Producing award-winning Georgia wines since 1983 Open 7 Days a Week Mon-Sat: 10am-6pm Sun: 12:30pm-6pm 7025 S. Main Street (GA Hwy. 75) Helen, GA

770-983-1973

www.habershamwinery.com

2. Cavender Creek Vineyards

7. Sautee Nacoochee Vineyards

3. Frogtown Cellars

8. Tiger Mountain Vineyards

4. Blackstock Vineyards

9. Persimmon Creek Winery Clayton • 706.212.7380

10. Crane Creek Vineyards

Young Harris • 706.379.1236

76

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Vineyard Luncheon Buffet: Sunday, 12:30pm & 2:30pm

www.wolfmountainvineyards.com

Reservations required

706-867-9682

Vineyard Cafe:

180 Wolf Mountain Trail Dahlonega, GA

Thu - Sat: 12pm-3pm

FROGTOWN R

225

Clarkesville

129

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19

WINE COMPETITION

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No reservation required

Reservations required

Clayton

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Georgia’s First Gold Medal in San Francisco & Los Angeles

Tiger • 706.782.4777

Helen • 706.878.9463

706-878-5522

info@yonahmountainvineyards.com www.yonahmountainvineyards.com

Saturday & Sunday, 2pm

Sautee • 706.878.1056

5. Habersham Winery

www.facebook.com/yonahmountainvineyards www.twitter.com/YMVineyards

Winemaker’s Tour:

Sautee • 706.878.5522

Dahlonega • 706.219.2789

2454-B Highway 17 Sautee-Nacoochee, GA

No reservation required

6. Yonah Mountain Vineyards

Dahlonega • 706.865.0687

Traminette - Gold Medal winner Genesis - Silver Medal winner

Thu - Sun: 12pm-5pm

1. Wolf Mountain Vineyards Dahlonega • 770.823.9255

2010 Indy Int’l Wine Competition

Wine Tastings:

Vineyards and Wineries Dahlonega • 706.867.9862

Judge’s Choice!

441

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Winner of 7 medals at the 2011 San Diego International Wine Competition!

Silver: NV Compulsionn Silver: 2008 Touché Gold: 2008 Bravado Gold: NV Disclosure Gold: 2009 Inclination Gold: 2009 Marsanne Gold: 2009 Vineaux Blanc lanc

Winery tasting room hours: Mon-Fri: 12pm-5pm Sat: 12pm-6pm Sun: 12:30pm-5pm

Panini Lunches served Friday, Saturday & Sunday Check for Wine Taster Dinners & Brunches at www.frogtownwine.com 706-865-0687 700 Ridge Point Drive Dahlonega, GA

A r t / H a n d c r a f t / C h i l d re n ' s A re a / F o o d / M u s i c / S t re e t M a r k e t Artist: Matt Belfi

July 23-24

Sat 10-7 Sun 11-6

1451 Ponce de Leon Avenue Atlanta, GA 30307 Olmsted Park North Druid Hills

www.festivalonponce.com **Supporting the Olmsted Park Alliance.

PIEDMONT PARK ARTS FESTIVAL

AUGUST 20 Saturday: 10 21, 2011 A Sunday: 11AM M - 7PM - 6PM

town - Atlanta

Bringing the community tradition back to Mid

Piedmont Park - Midtown Atlanta 1701 Piedmont Avenue Atlanta, GA 30309

www.piedmontparkartsfestival.com

www . t h e v i l l a g e v e t s. c o m

Dr. Megan Stewart & Dr. Amy Mathews

For vaccines and services. Does not include medications or other merchandise. Offer is good for one pet only in each household. Offer is transferable and need not be presented for discount. Terms subject to change at practice discretion. Contact our offices for additional details.

Offer expires on 8/31/11

CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:

404.844.4824 3404 Northside Parkway NW Atlanta, GA 30327 Monday - Friday: 7am- 7pm Saturday: 8am- 2pm

Decatur 24 hour hospital at 217 North McDonough Street 404-371-0111 Stone Mountain at 1227 Rockbridge Road, Suite 300 770-717-1650