Weekend Magic

Even though I love (love, love, love) both having visitors and traveling on the weekends, there is something magical about being in Atlanta with no plans. These weekends are few and far between, and you never know where they'll take you.

This weekend took me all around Atlanta with friendsies, including to Souper Jenny (dream), the pool and a teensy bit of accidental shopping. Whoops!

The only tricky things about these weekends is that they go by way too quickly, nahmean?

Ah well - Just three days separating us from Friday (not counting today). Too soon? Never.

I hope your weekend was greatgreat!

PS: Know who I haven't talk about in a while? These guys. So on-trend with their photo boothing.

images: one and two

lots of travel and an ATL bucket list update

After I got back from Africa, I went straight to Boston and East Long Meadow, Massachusetts for work:

Then Austin with Robyn:

Chicago and Freeport, Illinois for work (with an added bonus of friend time):

And today I head to Toronto and next week back to Chicago. 

With all of the weekly travel, I've become obsessed with the unplanned weekend. I'd already developed a deep love for it when my brothers first moved here this summer - keeping my weekends open for them, hoping to explore new nooks and crannies. 

But now, my love has become a full-blown obsession. I crave slow weekends, wide open for Atlanta adventures. Last weekend was tip top on the scale - I tried three new restaurants and showed Duke new areas of town. With all of this adventuring, I realized I need to give a serious ATL bucket list update.

But first, last weekend's review:

Urban Pl8: New to me, not new to Atlanta. And it was grrrr8. The menu had a ton of gluten free and vegan options, which is always a plus. I loved the vibe - I sat there for three hours reading blogs, eating breakfast and sipping coffee. How's that for an unplanned Saturday?

Timone's: New to Atlanta, from Ron Eyester, who also owns Family Dog and Rosebud. We LOVED the atmosphere. Duke loved the pizza. For me, the sauce was a little too sweet and I didn't love the cheese mix. However, next time I would just add jalapenos for spice and ask for Parmesan only. I think that would do the trick. And, with it being just a few blocks away, I will definitely give it another try. 

Chicken Biddy: New to me, one-year-old in ATL. This place is my jam. I love the decor and the food was amazing. I had black bean soup, GF cornbread and a quinoa spinach salad. How I've never ventured here when it's just a mile from my house is beyond me. It will definitely be a new favorite. The ONLY complaint I had is that the food is small. If you're starving, order more than you think you'll want. 

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Since posting, I've checked off quite a few more places, including Zoo Atlanta, Octane Coffee, Oktoberfest in Helen and I went to Paris on Ponce, but didn't buy anything. So it doesn't count. 

I've added a few new things, too, including Chomp & Stomp (it feels like a Cabbagetown staple), Juicy Jenny (new to town, from Souper Jenny) and running in Lullwater Preserve. I forgot what a gem Lullwater is until I took Duke this weekend. He was speechless as we explored the park, which made me realize I've been holding out on you fare readers. 

Here's what's on my agenda for the rest of 2013. Think I can do it all? 

Grant Park Farmers' market 

Live music at Eddie's attic

Atlanta Botanical Garden (Garden Lights, Holiday Nights!)

Falafel King in Emory Village

Tour Oakland Cemetary

Here we go :) 

{eat}lanta

I love going into a weekend with the whole thing planned out - big events and dates and travel. But, there's something to be said for that rare weekend when you start Friday wide open and (mostly) unplanned. There's so much opportunity - your expectations are low, and yet anything can happen. And that's just how this weekend was.

Friday night, we celebrated Katie's birthday at Watershed. It wasn't on my bucket list before, but it definitely is now. I'm a sucker for good ambiance and anything themed, and Watershed is both. Not to mention the food was pretty amazing.

I was so happy to celebrate the start of Katie's 25th year. It's going to be a great one :)

Saturday, I went to yoga with my friend Jen, which was almost as crazily packed as church was Sunday. Everyone is going after those resolutions! After that, I met my friend Kacie at Souper Jenny. Are you beginning to see that we ate our way through Atlanta this weekend?

Saturday night, we went to half priced sushi at Kiku in Buckhead. Half priced on a Saturday? Enough said.

After that, we ventured far down Buford Highway to Happy Karaoke (bucket list #47). I didn't know what we were getting ourselves into, but it was everything and more than you could imagine. The exterior is less than thrilling, but inside those karaoke walls - well, that's where the magic happens. 

I hope you had a wonderful and tasty weekend!

an atlanta weekend: full of places and people I love

Last weekend the forecast said rain, rain, rain. But the days rolled on through - sunny and beautiful for every minute, which was absolutely perfect, because my mom was in town and we had a lot to do!

Thursday night, Chris and I kick started the weekend with a date to the Dekalb Farmers' Market (Bucket List #105). He'd never been and it's kind of the equivalent of Disney World to me - so it was high time we took a trip.  

We bought tuna, asparagus, purple potatoes and wine and went back to my house to cook&feast. It was such a good dinner and I'm always blown away by the freshness and price of the market. 

For dessert I made this cookie cake, which was insanely tasty. If you're in the baking mood, bake it ASAP :)

Friday morning, I worked and then took the afternoon off so Duke, Sam and I could head to the airport to get my mom. From there, we hit the ground running with a walk in the Morningside Nature Preserve near our house and a night on the Westside. We ate dinner at Bartaco, walked around Westside Provisions and played cards at our house with Melly and Chris. 

Saturday morning, we had coffee at Octane and went on a mission to find the Bellwood Quarry. I recently added it to my Atlanta Bucket List after Sam saw it named as "something you need to do in Atlanta but might not know about." It sits between Bankhead and the Westside and, as it turns out, does not want to be found.

To simply enter the property, we found an abandoned road, which was blockaded by a barbed-wire fence. My mom and I climbed around and my brothers went over - navigating broken glass and the wire. After that, we hiked for about an hour - through an odd mix of city trash, abandoned buildings, fields and nature so pure you'll forget you're anywhere near Atlanta. That is, until you turn the corner and see the skyline. 

Had I been alone, I'd have quit a lot sooner. But with my mom and brothers alongside, we were all determined to get to the quarry. 

Upon arrival, we realized it was absolutely worth the work. The quarry was gorgeous - I wish the pictures did it justice. Sitting below hundreds of feet of rock walls, the calcite-rich blue and teal water was majestic. 

After we left the quarry, we returned home to shower off burrs, bugs and some poison ivy. And then, we all agreed it was time to feast. 

We headed over to Souper Jenny for lunch, then did some boy friendly shopping, which culminated at the Home Depot, where we bought a ton of plants because my brothers are slowly becoming horticulturalists.

Saturday night, we got carry out from Yeah Burger and played at my house - rearranging furniture and trying to mix up our sun room.

Sunday, we got up early for breakfast before the crowd at Highland Bakery and hiked at Lullwater. After that, my mom and I did some non-boy-friendly shopping, then thrifted with them in the afternoon. Sunday night, we went to church (showed my mom Grace Midtown for the first time!) and then had dinner at Whole Foods. 

Monday morning, we got coffee & breakfast at Belly then took my mom to the airport. I kept thinking: didn't we JUST pick her up!? But now that I look back on all we did, I realize exactly why it felt like a whirlwind 48 hours! 

Thank you, mom, for an amazing weekend! Come back soon please! 

atlanta bucket list, here we go...

Atlanta is a city of transplants, natives being a rare breed. It leads to a widespread attitude of: I might leave Atlanta tomorrow. Or I might stay forever.

Which is exactly how I feel. Some days, I am in love with this city, and can imagine myself raising my family here, sweet little y’all saying babes. And other times, I think: what’s next? Where will my next adventure take me?

Regardless of how long I will be here, it’s high-time I put my bucket list into writing. So here we go. Every ATL must-do, for your partaking pleasure. I've already checked off a few long-standing bucket listers. But there are still quite a few to go.

Let's do this...

1. Dahlonega to hike and wine taste
2. Dogwood Festival ✓ done
3. Grant Park Farmers’ Market ✓ done
4. Braves Game ✓ done. a lot.
5. Peachtree Road Race ✓ done, albeit a last minute decision and a bandit entry.
6. Triathlon at Lake Lanier ✓ done
7. Serenbe Farm for brunch and exploring ✓ done
8. BBQ at Fat Matt’s done
9. Breakfast at Ria's Bluebird ✓ done
10. NASCAR at Atlanta Motor Speedway
11. World of Coke Museum ✓ done
12. Live music at Eddie’s Attic ✓ done
13. Six Flags Over GA ✓ done
14. Pizza and gelato at Antico ✓ done
15. Go to the original Chik Fil A in Hapeville ✓ done - with this crazy broad - not even on purpose
16. Fernbank ✓ done
17. Night out at MJQ and El Bar ✓ done
18. Gladys Knight Chicken and Waffles
19. 420 Fest ✓ done
20. Live music at Northside Tavern (must be there for band's entrance) ✓ done
21. Dinner&bocce at Empire State South ✓ done
22. Jimmy Carter Library and Museum
23. Explore the BeltLine ✓ done
24. Bottomless wine night at Barcelona
25. Atlanta Botanical Garden ✓ done
26. Taste of Atlanta
27. Atlanta Hawks game ✓ done
28. Free Beer Friday at Diesel at 5:37
29. Concert at Chastain ✓ done
30. Concert at Aaron’s Amphitheater ✓ done (Jimmy Buffett, Toby Keith and Def Lepperd. Kind of an assortment...)
31. Burgers at Ann’s Snack Bar
32. Prohibition
33. Drive in movie at Starlight
34. Johnny’s Hideaway ✓done. but not until this weekend. how did i go that long without it?
35. Blast 900 ✓done and was so sore.
36. Go to a political debate at Manuel’s Tavern
37. Atlanta Falcons game ✓ done
38. Georgia Aquarium ✓ done
39. Dad’s Garage
40. Oyster Fest ✓ done!
41. Volunteer at CHOA ✓ done
42. Monster Truck Rally at the Georgia Dome ✓ done
43. Sweetwater on a Friday afternoon ✓done
44. When it Rains We Pour at Park Tavern ✓ done
45. Explore ethnic restaurants on Buford Highway ✓ done
46. Holeman + Finch burger ✓ done. good burger. not so good date.
47. Karaoke on Buford Highway ✓ done
48. The Goat Farm ✓ done
49. Hike Stone Mountain ✓ done
50. Shuffleboard at Twain’s ✓ done
51. Tuesday nights at Star Bar
52. Martinis & IMAX
53. Picnic in Historic 4th Ward Park
54. Eat at Vortex (Little Five Points) ✓ done
55. Drinks at the Sun Dial ✓ done
56. Rocky Horror Picture Show (in costume)
57. Kayak the Chattahoochee at sunrise ✓ done
58. Brunch at West Egg ✓ done and a major addiction
59. Shoot the Hooch ✓ done. many times. (and will do many more times)
60. Ride the Silver Comet Trail ✓done, while tri training
61. Eat at Waffle House ✓ done, but only had chocolate milk. so did it count?
62. W rooftop pool ✓ done
63. Feed to duckies at Piedmont Park ✓ done
64. Tailgate for Tech ✓ done
65. Tailgate for UGA (I know. It’s a blog divided) ✓ done
66. Brunch at Sun in my Belly ✓ done
67. Decatur Farmers' Market ✓ done
68. Ice skate at Park Tavern ✓ done
69. Summerfest in the Highlands ✓ done
70. Lunch at Mary Mac’s Tea Room ✓ done
71. Go to Flip Burger, Farm Burger and Yeah! Burger (but not in one night) ✓ done, done and done
72. Buy something at Paris on Ponce ✓ done
73. Scott’s Antique Show ✓ done
74. CNN Center
75. Falafel King in Emory Village
76. Zoo Atlanta ✓ done
77. FlyWheel Atlanta ✓ done
78. Coffee at Octane in Grant Park ✓ done
79. Tour Oakland Cemetery
80. Lucky Fest ✓ done
81. Dinner at TOP FLR
82. Jewelry making class at Brina Beads
83. Drive and sip coffee down Tuxedo Road
84. Games at Ormsby's ✓ done
85. Helen, GA Oktoberfest ✓ done
86. Hot&fresh doughnuts at Krispy Kreme
87. Eat at One Midtown Kitchen and Two Urban Licks ✓ done and done
88. Hummus plate at Cafe Agora ✓ done
89. Pumpkin Carving Contest at P’cheen
90. Screen on the Green 
91. Thrashers game ✓ done
92. Food Truck Park ✓ done
93. King of Pops ✓done
94. Fireworks at Lenox ✓ done
95. Eat at the Varsity ✓ done
96. Callaway Gardens
97. Music Midtown
98. Milkshakes at Woody's ✓ done 
99. Yum Yum cupcake Truck ✓ done
100. Souper Jenny ✓ done
101. Piedmont Park Arts Fest ✓ done
102. Café Jonah ✓ done
103. Yacht Rock ✓ done and done
104. PureBarre ✓ done
105. Grocery shop at Your Dekalb Farmers' Market ✓ done
106. Stone Mountain Laser Show
107. Carryout from Little Bangkok ✓ done
108. Governor's Mansion at Christmas
109. A show at the Fox done
110. Brew at the Zoo
111. Atlanta History Center ✓done
112. Hike Sweetwater Creek State Park
113. Apple picking in north Georgia
114. Christmas tree lighting at Lenox
115. Fox Bro's BBQ ✓ done
116. Tasting at Red Brick Brewery (formerly ABC) ✓done
117. HIGH Museum
118. Improv at Village Theatre
119. The Glen Hotel Rooftop Bar
120. Green Market at Piedmont Park ✓done
121. Dinner at Watershed ✓done
122. Juice the town: Arden's Garden, Juicy Jenny and Kale Me Crazy ✓ done
123. High tea at Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Party ✓ done
124. Chomp & Stomp ✓ done
125. Run in Lullwater Preserve ✓ done
126. Drinks at Wrecking bar ✓ done
127. Downtown Ferris Wheel ✓ done
128. Dinner at an Underground Supper Club ✓ done, but really want to try PushStart, too. 
129. Brunch at Murphy's ✓ done
130. Spin the rock at the corner of 10th and Piedmont ✓ done
131. Breakfast at Highland Bakery in Old Fourth Ward (must have sweet potato biscuit) ✓ done
132. Chattahoochee Coffee Company ✓ done
133. Explore the Bellwood Quarry ✓ done
134. JCT Sunday Supper ✓ done
135. Doughnuts at Sublime (strawberry shortcake for me!)
136. Bottomless wine & cheese plate at Parish ✓ done
137. Victory Sandwiches (+spiked slushies) ✓ done
138. Games & Moscow Mule slushies at the Painted Pin ✓ done
139. Grab a glass of wine and see a movie at Midtown Arts Cinema ✓ done
140. Westside Provisions District crawl: dinner at JCT, dessert at Jeni's ice cream, games at Ormsby's and music at Northside Tavern ✓done
141. Rooftop dinner at Six Feet Under 
142. Dinner at Bartaco ✓ done
143. Brunch at Buttermilk Kitchen ✓ done
144. African food at 10 Degrees South
145. Music at Blind Willie's ✓ done

What am I missing?

PS: A HUGE thank you to everyone who added to this list via comments and emails. I love that it is a work in progress and a compilation of the ideas of so many amazing people! Let me know what you try :)

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