Perhaps like me, food, fashion and wine get you giddy. If so, Urban Flats at Lindbergh Center is the place to be tonight when Atlanta Fashion Incubator welcomes all to their Project Runway watch party at 8p.
The event is ticketed and is a fierce way to support Atlanta Fashion Incubator, a non-profit organization charged with supporting emerging fashion businesses and brands in the ATL, as well as promoting Atlanta’s involvement in the industry at large.
Indulge in one of six wine flights being paired with an all you can handle buffet of Urban Flats very delicious fare. More importantly-NETWORK with Atlanta’s real fashion community over season six of PR, which so far, looks like it will be the shows best yet.
Meet Your Next Mayor:
My attempt to get educated about the 2009 mayoral candidates begins at 7a today, when SEABA or Southeast Atlanta Business Association hosts a mayoral forum at ZooAtlanta from 7:30a-9:30a.
All lead candidates, Lisa Borders, Mary Norwood, Kasim Reed and Jesse Spikes will all be engaging a very tough crowd of business and community leaders.
Founded in 2006, SEABA was created through a merger of Reynoldstown/Cabbagetown Business Association and the Grant Park Merchants Association.
Doors will open at 7:30, with remarks beginning at 8.
Coca Cola World Studio at Zoo Atlanta.
800 Cherokee Avenue, SE, Atlanta, Ga. 30315.
Enter through the C-5 entrance on the southwest end of the Cherokee Avenue parking lot.
The mysterious minds of men are unlocked tonight at 8p at Uptown Lounge, when the ladies of Ella Blu host their inaugural event, titled “Exhale: Every Woman’s Desire, to Know the Minds of Men”. Doors open at 6p,beginning with free Barefoot Wine, hors d’oeuvres and Chicago step dancing lessons.
The events focal point centers on a roundtable of men answering all of women’s burning questions. Featured participants include actors Malik Yoba as “The Renaissance Man”, Boris Kodjoe as “The Good Guy”, and Morehouse Alum and radio show host Brock Mayers as “The Married Guy”.
The Renaissance Report had an opportunity to speak to Brock about how he was selected to be a panelist and why these events can actually be helpful to women.
If you’ve ever wondered what is on the minds of today’s man, feed your curiosity at Uptown Lounge tonight!
Cascade UMC is just a local church with a large heart. An army of their members showed some love to the community by opening their doors to middle and high school students during their 2009 Youth Explosion this weekend.
Such a great event should happen more than once a year. Those who came out only gave up one Saturday. In return Youth Explosion armed each of them with a wealth of support and information able to put them miles ahead of their peers. Ranging from grades 6-12, Youth Explosion exposed all to college admission info, and gave them a sampling of what to expect as they move from school to career, pupil to professional. Students were able to discuss opportunities to grow in their Christian walks or show off their many gifts and talents, be it on the basketball court, or behind the pulpit.
Youth Explosion’s 2009 culmination centered on a nontraditional service led by Cascade’s next generation of leaders. It is one thing to do church differently, but how about doing church with creativity? Infused into their Sunday worship service, were skits, dance, steppers, singers, orators. Headlining remarks were given by Terrence B. Lester, a 26-year-old author, mentor and minister known for counseling troubled youth and parents through difficult times. Lester preaches what he himself has practiced. As a young man, Lester was one of the kids he works with diligently to keep on a promising path. Lester made a u-turn, also the name of his groundbreaking book, where he implores teens to do what is right in the eyes of God.
Even though Youth Explosion 2009, has concluded, yet, the interactions, information and empowerment experienced will go a long way in the lives of all who attended.
The freaks do come out at night, on Mondays you can find them at The Graveyard. Tavern that is, located in the East Atlanta Village. DBDC, is networking for the hospitality industry, especially if your industry can be described as a Dive Bar or Dance Club. $3 Jameson’s, Grand Marnier, music by DJ Brian Paris.
The Graveyard Tavern:1245 Glenwood Ave Se Atlanta, GA 30316 (404) 622-8686
2009 Youth Explosion @ Cascade United Methodist Church
Kids of all ages are invited to join Cascade UMC for a weekend filled with soul stirring surprises at their 2009 Youth Explosion
Cost is $30 for 3 full days of events inlcuding a live concert by God’s Image, 3 on 3 basketball tournament, laser tag, dunk tanks and much much more.
Interested? Email Cascade by clicking here!
Looking for something 21+…..?
Go to Agave, sit at the bar between 5p-7p, order 2 for the price of 1 appetizers until your stomach is sore. Don’t forget, a frosty margarita helps the mexican go down.
Agave Restaurant
242 Boulevard SE
Atlanta, GA 30312
Saturday//Buckhead Shopping at its best: Nomatique
The most refined retail experience around, describes the privilege and pleasure Saturday was at Nomatique. A high end shopping collective designed to provide shoppers access to Atlanta’s top boutiques, but at prices that went beyond bargain. Adrene Boutique, Drew Lewis, Jedal, Mizzae, K-la, Standard and so many, many more took the time to recreate a mini version of their very popular stores in a Buckhead location formerly known as Comp USA.
Today’s consumer expects more than just a piece of clothing or jewelry off the rack. True fashionistas want more than just a name brand; they demand originality, expertise, and value, which Nomatique completely delivered.
The Renaissance Report spoke to both Adrene Ashford of Adrene Boutique, as well as, Jennifer Dainelli, Principessa, Jedal Italian Fashion, about why they both, already having strong names in ATL’s fashion community, thought it was important to support Nomatique.
Downtown Atlanta Restaurant Week//Terrace on Peachtree
Long have I wanted a dinning experience set inside the Ritz Carlton on the terrace of the Atlanta Grill. My fantasy was fulfilled yesterday across the street. Terrace on Peachtree inside downtown’s Ellis Hotel was scenic, sumptuous. Atmosphere is everything at this eatery. Look across Peachtree Street, you can see the Atlanta Grill and I’ll be damned if it didn’t feel like what I always imagined or better. Terrace on Peachtree provides a pure alternative with the same city-scapes and is a dream environment for a true night on the town.
Terrace is a sweeter and more relaxed approach to traditional Atlanta dining. If feels more hospitality, less southern. What some may not enjoy is the street noise. Option to dine inside for a quieter, tinkiling glasses type of meal. Terrace dining similar to what you see almost every where in New Orleans is an expensive rarity in Atlanta, which has always made Atlanta Grill so alluring. Terrace on Peachtree provides even more gorgeous setting, gorgeous food in the heart of a grand city.
On the final evening of Downtown Atlanta Restaurant week, I selected Terrace on Peachtree for its menu as much as its metro sexy. Fundamental foodie favorites seem to be their specialty. When compared with other hotel eateries including Marriott Marquis’ Sear and The Glenn Hotel’s newly named 30 Tables, (formerly, Bed and then Maxim Prime) it is a Godsend in terms of a true food philosophy, a clear concept, well excuted too.
Restaurant week was a steal and a deal at $25/pp for a three course meal. Not including bevs, tax, or gratuity of course. Terrace can boast superior service, starting with the host who confirmed our reservation, called, confirmed again. Water glasses which were never found empty, left on the table was a very non obtrusive bottle of water. Flavor popping desserts prepared with fresh strawberries, a classic straightforward creme bruleO
Our entree selections included, a roasted Amish chicken breast, risotto and a light red pepper cream sauce-chicken so light yet, fresh it inevitably melts in your mouth. The taste of the actual chicken stands out beyond anything else along side it on the plate. My husband ordered the sweet pea and mushroom ravioli, my least favorite of the evening. It read very good on the menu, wilted spinach, crisp fried onions, thin sliced radish sweet peas, mushrooms, finished with a sweet pea, garlic, cream sauce and a drizzle of aged balsamic reduction. It all sounded great, but together there was no stand out moment or aroma. All ingredients were insanely fresh, just too much going on.
I ordered the terrace meatloaf. Nice and simple. Meat and potatoes. Yukon gold mashed potatoes so golden and creamy, it could almost be mistaken for grits. A small garnish of snow peas and a organic tomato gravy. For starters, we enjoyed organic tomato soup, scented with celery, parsley, red peppers. Sidelining was a grilled cheese made with Cypress Grove Chevre lamb chopper from their creamline. A deep long lasting flavor characterized the grilled cheese continuing Terraces penchant for comfort food amplified and then doubled. Another starter worth raving over was the kettle mac and cheese also mixed with a blend of Cypress Grove Chevre, bread crumbs made in house and mornay sauce- a bechamel often blended with white cheese.
Atlanta Grill offers its own version of posh peachtree feasting. Soak it in from across the way at Terrace where you can get a more modern meal, major ambience and miss all the overpriced old Atlanta bougerie.
I was very excited to attend AB+L both as an art lover and a lover of the culture. I was disappointed by last evening’s exhibition. It had very little to do with the efforts put forth by founder Jabari Green, the uber talented Dubelyoo, who’s “My Uzi Weighs a Ton” show is still a favorite. Blame not the organizers, Fadia Kader, Senor Kaos, lead sponsor Gentleman Jack or countless others who worked to make 2009 AB+L Atlanta possible.
I blame you Atlanta. You classless scenester gluts. The best observation of the evening was made via @kebo_1 on Twitter when he truthfully remarked about the very large and déclassé crowd outside of the W Hotel, all wearing shoes from DSW.Comedy. Few truly were representing on the fashion front, another artistic aspect of the event that was so sorely missing.
When something is hot in Urban Atlanta, it’s a kiss of death. For us who really live the streets, the underground, the unknown is where its at. The huge attendance, W Hotel as a hosting venue, even a major sponsor, Gentleman Jack, should have all made the right combination for a stellar show. Yet, it was uncomfortably crowded. It was more like a huge networking opp than a place where you could peruse the top names of the art craft. It was so obvious upon walking up most were there to be seen/scene.
It was impossible to really enjoy the art. You kind of had to fight to get close, but now you were too close, so someone is now fighting you to get a good look themselves.
Much like Urban Hype’s S-Class Affair earlier this summer, there is a mad rush to culturize some folk in Atlanta. Either you have taste or you don’t. You can appreciate finer things, or you can’t. Appreciation only requires an open yet, critically thinking mind. All of our cousins in the A aren’t yet on that level, many have no real desire to get there either.
What I have traditionally enjoyed about AB+L, is you see urban art and culture happening live. Breaking, djing, impromptu cyphers jump off as well. The only place this occurred was on the dance floor. Minus, the gentleman who felt he needed to peel off his suit and monopolize the space with his drunken gyrations. (Thanks Gentleman Jack!)
Speaking of Gentleman Jack, I never got to try any. Unfortunately I’m a part time lush so this is a major point of contention for me. As a bartender, I enjoy liquor sponsored events, because if it’s good, I’m going to start pouring the stuff at my establishment and indulge myself in making new drinks with said libation. Because all of the ATL was in the building, drink lines were incredibly long, forcing most of us to just head inside the hotel to get a quick drink. Damn the fact that it’s free, while all of Atlanta has now had Gentleman Jack, lets see if sales go up as a direct result.
I’m almost off of my 404 snobby tastemakers soap box, our major event purveyors, Fadia, (who I love her events b/c when I see her at them she is actually working and not all over the damn microphone or stage,) Jabari, Dubelyoo et. al have to rein the crowd back in. They know who these folks are. Those of us who call Atlanta home and don’t just come downtown cause it’s the weekend, or because we heard about some art show. I wish AB+L much continued success, I’ve heard wild reviews in other towns, I just hope when re-originating the original in Atlanta, in the future it will have some…originality.
Midtown is where you can find D*jango, a spirited gypsy kitchen known for its food, folks, and on Thursday nights, its fun. Vibes provided by DJ Larmarrous, free parking, $2 beers and no cover. Why start your weekend anywhere else?
If your idea of a good time does not include driving past Candler Road, I have three words that may make you reconsider. Carl Thomas. FREE!
That’s right, tonight Carl Thomas is performing LIVE and for free tonight, on the Eastside.
Is it me, or does this show have a whatever happened to…type of feel to it?
