One of our favorite things to do is drive up to Southwest Virginia and enjoy the slower pace of life at Smith Mountain Lake. My wife and I visit SML each season, but you can't beat the summertime here. Due to the nature of my work, I'm often tethered to my phone and my computer. This is one of the only places where I'm forced, at least for now, to be unreachable due to nearly zero mobile phone service. Whether I'm on the dock, or walking by a field near the lake, this is living life for … [Read more...]
Spring Beer Festivals You Can’t Miss
After multiple winter storms, gloomy days, and a lack of outdoor eating, everyone in Atlanta has got the itch to jump head first into Spring. I don't know about you, but I'll take my lungs full of pollen any day over the winter blues. Let's toast to the 2014 Spring season with beer festivals galore. Here are the ones you won't want to miss. 2014 Spring Beer Festivals in AtlantaGeorgia Craft Beer Festival - March 22 - The number of high quality craft beer breweries and brew pubs have … [Read more...]
Get Roasted in Milledgeville – Beans, Beer, and Baked Goods
My first job while in college was as a barista at Blackbird Coffee in Milledgeville, Georgia. Not only was it a coffee shop, but it was also a small batch roaster. Once or twice a week, I'd walk into work to the smell of a freshly roasted batch of beans. The job gave me an appreciation for the craft of everything coffee.Up until Friday, it had been 4 years since I had walked through the coffee shop. Blackbird Coffee, set in historic downtown Milledgeville, was never lacking any character. … [Read more...]
Raleigh Is On the Rise
Raleigh, North Carolina is on my radar right now in a big way. The region isn't just attracting tech businesses these days, and I couldn't be more excited about it. I've teased my wife about moving there because of their up and coming start up culture. To be honest though, I'm more excited about the craft businesses popping up. Here are a couple businesses from Raleigh, NC that I love this year.Natty Greene's Brewing Co. - My wife introduced me to this brewery when she brought me a 6-pack … [Read more...]
A Weekend Road Trip to Tybee Island
After around 10 months of working two jobs, I was about ready for a vacation. As luck would have it, our friends decided to throw a joint bachelor/bachelorette weekend at Tybee Island over Memorial Day weekend. My wife (Andrea) is slowly but surely becoming a bit more of a Southerner (she just started mixing sweet tea and Yankee tea together) and she had never been to the Georgia coast before. I thought that this would be the perfect opportunity to enjoy a bit of a re-inspired road trip through … [Read more...]
Well Done S. Carolina – IPA by Westbrook Brewing Co
I visited Ale Yeah! Roswell* on this rainy Sunday with the intent of grabbing a 4-pack of a Colorado brewing company that I've become quite fond of over the years. They have a canned beer section in the shop which I enjoy checking out to see who is going to make it to the lake and beach with me this summer. I saw a few of my favorites like Deviant Dale's and Red Hare's Gangway IPA. Finally though, I found a six pack of Westbrook Brewing Co's IPA.I've been looking for Westbrook Brewing Co for … [Read more...]
How to Survive the 2013 Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival
Well folks, it's back and I'm already hydrating in preparation. The Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival was easily one of top highlights of 2012 for me. Or at least I think it was (still a little hazy). After a sellout crowd in 2012, the show geniuses at BB&BBQ have upped the ante. In order to survive this year's fest I have a few tips. Tip #1: If VIP tickets are available, GET THEM! BB&BBQ has expanded this feature of the show to include a bigger tent and more exclusive tasting … [Read more...]
Atlanta’s Newest Brewery: Monday Night Brewing
Get ready Atlanta, Monday nights just got a lot more fun. “Tie one on” and head over to the Westside to check out the spanking new Monday Night Brewery. In an old warehouse at the bottom of Trabert Avenue sit three gents making some killer brews. Monday Night Brewing is the brainchild of Jonathan Baker, Jeff Heck and Joel Iverson, who started making home-brews after a weekly bible study pre-2006. It took a while to get to this point, but when you walk around the space and listen to the guys … [Read more...]
Craftsmanship – Forged with Heart
I remember when I stopped paying so much attention to the end result and shifted my eyes towards the entire process of a product. It's like the first time when you sit back and actually take a minute to admire a sunset. In just five minutes, the sky can change dramatically, ending with a beautiful purple and blue crescendo as the sun dips below the horizon.Some call it artisanal, some say small batch, but I just call it handmade. Whether it's poured in a glass, or pressed onto paper, someone … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Give Back in Atlanta
Do Something Great for Someone in ATL Thanksgiving often gives me the opportunity to look back and think about how blessed I am. I would imagine that the majority of you do the same. Unfortunately, it's also a crazy time of year and I can easily become consumed with myself. It's easy to forget that there are families out there that won't have a Thanksgiving dinner, and there are kids that won't have presents on Christmas morning. In fact, there are kids in Atlanta who are being sold into … [Read more...]