So Brittany was all like: Let’s do something different this Saturday night!
And everyone was all like: Yeah?  What do you have in mind?
And Brittany goes: How about checking out Atlanta Rollergirls?
And we were all like: Do we have to rollerskate, because…
And Brittany was like: No, dorks!  Check out the Atlanta Rollergirls HERE.
And THEN we were all like: Heck yeah!  This sounds awesome!
And we bought our tickets. 

The Atlanta Rollergirls, a founding member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA), took shape in November 2004, when Angela Ward, a.k.a. Tanya Hyde, put a call out to strong, athletic women to join her in bringing Roller Derby to the Dirty South.  The sport, once on par with the theatrics of professional wrestling, evolved to become an all-female, full-contact sport that’s writing a new chapter in athletic history.

The Atlanta Rollergirls are proud to be part of the movement that has exploded into hundreds of leagues worldwide, and inspired women from all walks of life to strap on skates and take to the track.  Younger girls are getting in on the sport now too, as junior leagues like Atlanta’s own Atlanta Derby Brats take root.

The league features four home teams, the Apocalypstix, Denim Demons, Sake Tuyas, and Toxic Shocks, that compete each season for the championship trophy.  The home teams battle it out at the Yaarab Shrine Center on Ponce (pictured below) during their February-to-September season.

Sounds cool, huh?  This is what it looked like inside.

And here are a few more action shots (a few of which are borrowed) to give y’all a better idea of what roller derby is like!

It’s intense, to say the least!  These ladies are totally bad ass.

We went to the March 23 match up between the Apocalpypstix (the team I was going for + is pictured below) and the Sake Tuyas.  Tickets were cheap ($15 a piece) and the game was BYOB and BYOFood.  There were also vendors outside of the gym selling food and drinks, but it looked like most people brought their own refreshments.  It was a sold out game and the bleachers were completely full before we arrived, so we had to sit on the floor.  Good thing we all dressed very casually!

We followed the detailed paper program for the game very closely, and we appreciated all the info about roller derby rules, as well as the “Ask Me” folks walking around to explain to us what we were watching.  We eventually got it!

We had a really fun girls night out (although boys would totally be into this, too!) at the derby, and I definitely recommend seeing the Atlanta Rollergirls if you are looking for something different to do on a Saturday night!  It’s fun to see these women knock each other around on the track, and it is an excellent event (I can’t emphasize that enough) for people watching!

Great idea, Brittany!  Keep ‘em coming!

xx, L

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One of Atlanta’s most exciting restaurants is celebrating Easter in style this year.  Join The Spence on Sunday, March 31 for brunch and an Easter egg hunt! 

For more information click HERE.  Happy (early) Easter from the Q+DD!

xx, L

The Spence
75 Fifth Street NW
Atlanta, Georgia
404.892.9111

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Beginning earlier this month, Park 75 Restaurant and Lounge + the Four Seasons Hotel introduced Chocolate Nights, a weekend experience designed to satisfy everyone – from tentative tasters to true chocoholics!

Every Friday and Saturday night from March 1 – March 23, Park 75 offers a special chocolate menu featuring up to 10 uniquely decadent creations available from 6:00 – 11:00 p.m.  Guests are invited to try as many temptations as desired.

One menu item not to be missed is Pastry Chef Charles Barrett’s signature Chocolate Bomb.  Playing with your food is encouraged with this interactive sphere of chocolate melted tableside to reveal a make-your-own-brownie sundae.  All the fixins’ will be provided on the side and this dessert is perfect for sharing – available for two or four people.

The Chocolate Nights menu not only features chocolate sourced from around the globe, but also includes Park 75′s own ‘bean to bar’ chocolate, created in-house from fair trade cacao beans.

If you like a little dinner before your dessert, Executive Chef Robert Gerstenecker and the Park 75 culinary team have created a four-course menu called the Chocolate Experience, featuring three savory cocoa courses that conclude with the Chocolate Bomb.

Park 75′s Chocolate Nights is priced from $4-$5 per item on the a la carte menu.  The Chef’s selection plate features three pieces for $10 and five pieces for $20.  The four-course Chocolate Experience is priced at $55 per person, or $95 per person with wine pairings.  Click HERE for more information.

A whole month of chocolate??  Um, yes PLEASE! 

xx, L

Park 75
Four Seasons Hotel
75 14th Street NE
Atlanta, Georgia
404.253.3840

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Although this restaurant hasn’t really been on my radar for a few years, Gorms and I had an AMAZING pre-Oscars dinner a few weeks ago at Lobby Bar and Bistro in the Twelve Hotel and Residences in Atlantic Station.  You need to know about it…

As I was getting ready for dinner, I thought about how cool Lobby’s bar space is, but I couldn’t recall anything that really stood out in the past about my dining experiences at the restaurant.

Well, I was in for quite a surprise when we arrived, because since I last visited – Lobby got a face lift.  Lovely renovations to their dining room and a hip new Cellar space for private parties.  (I’m obsessed with the Cellar space…)

AND this…

…Chef Russell Hays (who is kinda a big deal, y’all) took over Lobby’s kitchen in November of last year.  Gorms and I spoke with Russell at length about the changes he’s making to the menu, his career path (worked in France/ at the Ritz Buckhead/ Joel/ Peasant Bistro/ Buckhead Life Group – in no particular order and among many other super exclusive gigs), and his personal take on the Lance Armstrong drama (he’s an avid cyclist).  This is huge that he’s now calls Lobby home!

We told our new friend, Russell, to just send over whatever he thought would really wow us.  He said he could handle that, so we set aside our menus.

I started off with some wine: a lovely red blend with a feisty name.  (Someone needs to wash out that bottle’s mouth with soap!)

And here’s where the rest of the night took us:

Korean BBQ Tuna: sticky rice, tempura eggplant, serrano chili.  This was an absolutely fantastic way to officially kick off our feast at Lobby!  It was delicious.

Heart of Palm Salad: orange, avocado puree, hazelnut, blood orange vinaigrette.  I’m not huge on heart of palm, but Gorms raved about this dish.  It sure was pretty, too!

Slow Cooked Chicken Thighs: smoked mushrooms, creamy polenta, parmesan.  This really won us over!  SCCT is not a dish I would have typically ordered on my own (do you have beef carpaccio or tuna tartare, please??), but I’m SO glad that Russell sent it over to our table.  It was succulent, flavorful, and it made me question what I’ve been missing for the past 30 years…  Okay, 31…  It’s an absolute “must try” on Lobby’s menu!

Lobster Risotto: carnaroli rice, thin beans, zucchini, black truffle.  So good.

Seared Scallops: brown butter cauliflower puree, asparagus, caper-raisin emulsion.  Beautiful and the scallops were perfectly cooked.

Grilled NY Strip: roasted potatoes, asparagus, hen of the woods mushrooms, peppercorn-brandy sauce.  Heavier than I’d normally order for myself after all of the food that preceded it, but it was still excellent.  If I were going to order this again, I might stick to one appetizer and entree instead of five, but other than that it was great!

We were stuffed, but that didn’t matter because everyone knows you have a separate stomach for dessert.  This was our outstanding dessert sampling:

Passionfruit Soup: exotic fruits, vanilla ice cream.  A complete surprise!  Reading about it on the menu, I would not have opted for this dessert over any of the others.  As it turns out, it was my favorite!  Tart and refreshing – it was exactly what I wanted to eat after our enormous meal.

Chocolate Ganache and Hazelnut Crunch Bar: espresso anglaise.  Although Russell learned how to make this in France, it reminded me of my favorite dessert at Rathbun’s.  I hope Kevin R will still let me visit his joint after I tell you that this was done better at Lobby!

Warm Chocolate Cake: vanilla bean ice cream, mi amere chocolate sauce.  I mean, it’s hard not to lick the plate when eating this one…

Pistachio Creme Brulee: red fruit jam, chocolate tuille.  Gorms liked this one best.  It was pretty special.

We. Ate. So. Much.  !!!

The only thing that Russell didn’t bring us that I wish he had was a cot to nap on after we finished our massive meal…  Don’t judge.

In all seriousness, we were incredibly grateful to have tasted such wonderful dishes at Lobby.  It was like connecting with an old friend who has really taken off in life!  Lobby is making significant strides to break away from being a hotel restaurant with hotel food and setting itself apart as something truly special in Atlanta.  And it is VERY special!  I’m so happy to have rediscovered it, and I see a big future ahead for it.  Their menu changes seasonally – so I am thrilled to head back soon to see what Russell has up his sleeve for spring!

xx, L

Lobby Bar and Bistro
Twelve Hotel & Residences – Atlantic Station
361 17th Street NW
Atlanta, Georgia  30363
404.961.7370

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I don’t eat at this restaurant often enough for how many super famous celebrity chefs have started their careers there and how close it is to our condo, but One Midtown Kitchen is a really fun place to celebrate a birthday!  Their creative cocktails + wine lists truly are something to write home about.

And, One Midtown Kitchen is home to my favorite piece of art in a restaurant in Atlanta.

I want this.  I need this.  I’m obsessed.  Truly transfixed whenever I see it.

Don’t come looking for me if it suddenly goes missing one day… 

(Obviously kidding, but still I really, really want it.)

xx, L

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