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...]
Holiday Gift Guide: For The Gentleman
For the guys that like the finer things in life, this list is for you. Bow Try No. 1 (From Starboard Clothing Co. & The Old Try) | $45 This Colaboration between The Old Try and Starboard Clothing Co. comes just in time for the holidays. These 100% cotton ties are a limited run (30 total ties) so you better be quick. We hear there may be a Bow Try No. 2 in the works if you miss out though... EDG Pewter Hip Flask | $80 Classic and Sophisticated. This pewter flask is a stylish way to … [Read more...]
Rico’s World Kitchen: Metro Atlanta’s Best Kept Secret
For the past two years, Rico’s World Kitchen in downtown historic Buford, GA has been my best-kept secret. Despite my best efforts, I couldn’t keep it hidden for too long. Chef and owner, Rico Cunnington, has been turning heads and turned this once four table restaurant into a shining light in the Buford and Metro Atlanta communities. Urbanspoon currently ranks Rico’s the number 11th best restaurant in all of Atlanta. That is no fluke. Rico’s World Kitchen rocks so hard I sometimes dream about … [Read more...]
Midtown Market Is a Sweet Mid-Day Treat
Picture this: It's your first week at a new job in a new part of town that you are by no means familiar with. You're eager to get your bearings so one fine, sunny Thursday afternoon during your lunch hour you wonder down the street to see if anything strikes your fancy. Suddenly you see a crowd of people milling around a patio peppered with small stands like you'd see at an art fair. Your curiosity takes you closer and soon you realize that you've just stumbled upon a mecca of fine eats, sweet … [Read more...]
Southern Ties Defies a Generation’s Stereotype
The young folks in their teens, 20s and early 30s have been labeled the laziest generation to have ever lived. People seem to think that this my generation feels apathetic and entitled. I can't deny that though I never grew up rich, I was extremely privileged. While my friends all had new cars, I was still privileged enough to have four wheels and an engine, which is all a sixteen year old boy needs to feel like he is invincible. When developing and starting our business, Southern culture … [Read more...]
Charlotte Foster Dances Her Way to Success in the Atlanta Arts
A few months ago, I attended a showcase show at 7 Stages Theater in Little Five Points, a neighborhood in Atlanta. Dance had been something that I had grown up around, but let's just say that this 6'4", 200 lbs guy found his home on the football field and not the stage. Many of my friends in high school and college were involved in their dance programs, and I surprisingly enjoyed watching my friends perform their passions. During the showcase, I saw a handful of different companies … [Read more...]
What Dad Really Wants for Father’s Day
Times change, styles go in and out, but dads stay pretty cool for the most part. Whoever started giving dads ties, socks, and underwear for gifts should get a swift kick to the ass. If your dad still has his nose to the grind, then those items are perfectly fine as a stocking stuffer, but please, don't give the man who has provided for you, taught you how to play sports, and taken a few shots to give you a better life a six pack of Jockeys this year for Father's Day. The Southern man doesn't … [Read more...]
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
Buffalo Trace, the 2005-2007 Distiller of the Year, is responsible for some of the finest bourbon in production. Their stable of brands includes (but is not limited to) Blanton’s, George T Stagg, Eagle Rare and the legendary Pappy Van Winkle. In other words, these guys know how to make some bourbon! Buffalo Trace claims to be the oldest (not necessarily continuously-operating) distilling site in the United States. With this heritage in mind, I was excited to try the bottle that carries the … [Read more...]
Sippin’ Back on Costco’s Small Batch Bourbon
Over the past year, Costco has been making noise in the alcohol market. In Georgia, they are legally allowed to sell liquor, but it is shop separated from the rest of the building. I can only assume that they have done this to side step the liquor laws in Georgia. It was a good call! They have some pretty awesome prices for the spirits, especially if you are looking for a steal when it comes to handles. When I buy whiskey or vodka, I can usually find the best deal here. You Might Also … [Read more...]
Planning Your Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in Atlanta
We have all spent some amount of time at work or in a boring professor's lecture wondering what it would be like play plan the perfect day of hooky. I can't tell you how often I sat back in my chair, wondering what I would do if I had just taken the day off. A few weeks ago, I was finally able to do it. Well, the truth is, I wasn't playing hooky. I had a Friday off in between leaving an old job and beginning a new one. Yeah, I know, it really doesn't sound that crazy. The point is that … [Read more...]