Slick + I spent a gorgeous day at Lake Lanier over Memorial Day weekend with our friends Seth + Loren (SeLo).

(seth: this is your big break!!)

Although I have been living in Atlanta for the past seven years + have done a pretty swell job – if I do say so myself – of exploring our great city, I somehow avoided ever spending time at Lake Lanier.  My lake trips have been confined to a work-related event I throw each year at Lake Burton – which is a calm + peaceful, relatively uncrowded lake that looks like THIS: 

lake burton

Lake Lanier, however, looks like THIS:

sunset cove - lake lanier

Eighteen boats tied up next to each other to form a massive party on the water!  How have I missed this awesomeness?!  Shame on me.  Shame on me!  The fact of the matter is that I HAVE been missing out.

Anyway, as I was saying…we spent a phenomenally beautiful day on Lake Lanier with SeLo.  About halfway into our Firefly + diet lemonade drinking, sunscreen-protected sunbathing afternoon, we were pretty hungry and wanted to stop to grab lunch.  SeLo highly recommended a restaurant located in Aqualand Marina (a little trivia: AM is the world’s largest inland marina) where they had recently eaten the “best burger they’ve ever had.”  Slick is kinda on a hamburger kick for some reason + I really needed to check out this “best burger” for myself, so we docked for lunch at Dockside Grill.

Behold its wooden quaintness:

And, freshly-laminated menus:

I started to believe the bold burger rumor a bit more as we sat down + glanced over the menu which proudly announced that Dockside Grill was voted “best burger” by Southern Living.  Not quite as skeptical, I ordered a huge burg and out came THIS guy: 

The picture doesn’t quite do it justice.  The burger was MASSIVE + super juicy.  I devoured it in every sense of the word.  It was, indeed, a great burger.  And best of all, it reminded me of the burgers my dad used to grill when I was a kid.  It tasted homemade + like home – which may sound silly, but really added to the dockside burger-eatin’ experience.  It was the perfect way to cut the alcohol, get us out of the sun for a bit + satisfy a burger craving without grease dripping everywhere and a mandatory post-lunch nap. 

I ate so much that I felt like I needed to wear my cover up on the boat for the rest of the afternoon, but I didn’t mind one bit.  That meal was worth it + it certainly didn’t stop Slick from enjoying the rest of the day on the lake…

Lake Lanier:  I’ll be back for you, new friend!   

Dockside Grill:  Your burger is pretty darn amazing.  I can’t think of a place I’d rather eat at on the lake.  Keep up the excellent work!  I’ll be back for another burg soon!

xx, L

Dockside Grill – Aqualand Marina
Open Fridays, Saturdays + Sundays (Seasonal)
Call for Hours: 770.363.2318
Menu: BIG BURGERS
Map: FIND DOCKSIDE

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Y’all are going to have a jam-packed weekend ahead of you!  So start planning NOW. 

As you know, Camp Dance is this weekend + I’m sure you’re all super pumped for it!  If you are looking for plans during the weekend days, I strongly recommend that you check out these two exciting festivals!

1 – Smyrna’s Spring Jonquil Festival
(April 30 & May 1, 2011)

The Jonquil Festival is located on the beautiful Village Green in downtown Smyrna.  It will showcase arts + crafts by more than 150 artists/ crafters from across the country.  The event also offers fun for the entire family to enjoy with continuous entertainment, a children’s section + a wide selection of festival foods.  The show will draw a crowd of around 15,000 people.  Hours are 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday and 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. on Sunday + admission is FREE!

More information + directions to Smyrna’s Spring Jonquil Festival here: Spring HAS Sprung!

And (THIS IS EXCITING NEWS), just guess who will have a tent at the Festival….

J. Rishel Woodworks!  You will not want to miss his tent!  Justin is an amazing woodworker – so be sure to look out for him!

my j. rishel woodworks cutting board

Read more about J. Rishel Woodworks here: Got Wood? (Ahh, couldn’t resist.)
J. Rishel Woodworks’ Etsy Page here: Buy Some Wood! (Not nearly as funny…)

2 – Inman Park Spring Festival
(Also, April 30 & May 1, 2011)

Inman Park Spring Festival takes place in one of Atlanta’s oldest + most scenic neighborhoods.  First developed in the late 1800s, Inman Park is home to many historic homes + parks.  The Festival began in the early 1970s as a means to attract attention to gentrification efforts that sought to revitalize the community.  Now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the festival offers something for everybody.  Music, kids activities, a Tour of Homes, a marvelous street parade, an artists’ market + some of the city’s best people-watching. 

inman park festival parade

I’m a serious fan of this Festival + blogged about my love affair w/ it last year…please review here: I Heart the Inman Park Spring Festival.

More information + directions to the Inman Park Spring Festival here: Inman Info!

This is going to be SUCH a great weekend.  Enjoy the festivals, festival-goers! 

xx, L

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If I didn’t have plans to witness this gorgeous couple’s nuptials (can’t wait to see them tie the ol’ knot!) on Saturday, May 7…

www.becomingthecaseys.com

…you can bet that I’d be planning to go to Derby Day 2011!

The 29th Annual Derby Day will be held on Saturday, May 7, 2011, at the Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers, GA.

Derby Day has been an Atlanta tradition since 1983.  Each year, the event is held on the first Saturday in May to coincide with the Kentucky Derby.  Considered a highlight of Atlanta’s spring social calendar, Derby Day attracts more than 1,000 people every year, as well as hundreds of sponsors.

All proceeds generated from the event go to support the Shepherd Center’s Therapeutic Recreation Program.  Derby Day is organized by the Shepherd Center’s Junior Committee.

The Georgia International Horse Park in Conyers was the site for the 1996 Olympic Games equestrian events.  The Derby Day location within the horse park is a beautiful natural setting along the Yellow River in an open, grassy infield where driving events + polo matches are often held.

If you ask me, the best part of Derby Day – aside from the day drinking + horse watching, of course – is definitely the HATS.  Oh, the hats!

I. love. them.

Just think!  You could be Derby chic like Audrey, above, or Derby legend-wait for it-dary like the lady in red below.  The world is yours!

life is so happy in my big, big hat!

(Dressing up for a horse race is almost more exciting than putting together a Halloween costume!)  Just look at my friends next door:

Perfection.

And, the mint juleps.  Don’t mind if I do…

mint julep heaven.

Is there anything better than this?   I think not.

Here’s the Q+DD on Derby Day 2011:

Location: Georgia International Horse Park
Date: Saturday, May 7, 2011
Time: Gates open at 2:00 p.m. – close at 10:00 p.m.
Tickets: $60 in advance/ $70 at the gate.  Price includes entry, food, alcoholic + non-alcoholic beverages, music + optional bus transportation to and from the event.
(That’s a pretty amazing deal for $60!)

There will also be live + silent auctions, two live bands (daytime: Crash Davis/ nighttime: Sweetwater Junction), games + drawings and a live broadcast of the Kentucky Derby on two big screen TVs.

Buy your Derby Day 2011 tickets here: Mint Juleps + Enormous Hats…Life IS Grand!

I can’t wait to hear all about it! 

xx, L

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Recently, I had a lovely girl date with the gorgeous Mandy Nuwar of Premier PR and fabulous fashion/beauty/lifestyles writer Laura Carson Miller at Purple Rain in Duluth.  (Sidebar: On repeat in my head for the entire drive up there?   My man, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince. of course!)

TAFKAP

Aaaaanyway… the Q+DD on Purple Rain is that it’s a bar, a restaurant, a lounge, and a late-night hangout all in one.  It’s mission is to bring a first-class dining/playing experience to the area and serve creative fare in the form of small plates for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

When Mandy told me about Purple Rain, she described it as “a restaurant suited for Vegas…but in Gwinett” and she was right.   When I rolled up to the 9,000 square foot space and viewed the glossy, uber sexy interior filled with pretty people, I immediately wished I were wearing something a little slinkier than a sensible skirt suit from work.

I found Mandy and Laura gabbing away at a buttery booth in the back of the spacious main dining area sipping on Lychee Sparklers which looked DELISH:

Grey Goose, blended with lychee with syrup and topped with champagne

The super attentive wait staff made sure I didn’t experience cocktail envy for very long and within minutes, I had a Cloud 9 – their version of a white sangria – in my hot little hands.

White wine blends, tangerines, lychees, pineapples strawberries, and ginger ale.

For dinner, we tried all kinds of deliciousness starting with the Risotto Fritti (risotto croquettes, buffalo mozzarella, and romesco sauce, the New England Lobster Roll (butter poached lobster, lemon and saffron aioli), and the Moroccan Yucca Fries (spiced yucca, roasted garlic, parsley and lemon essence)

Then moved on to the Duxelle Stuffed Artichoke (roasted artichoke, wild mushrooms, red peppers, gruyere cheese, and lemon beurre blanc)  
For dinner, I chose the appetizer plate Beef Negimaki (beef rolled with enoki mushrooms, scallions, and oyster sauce) and polished it off before I could snap a photo!

For dessert…we couldn’t resist the “Tempura Goodness” – which is basically whatever goodies the chef happens to have on hand, tempura fried, served with salted caramel.    As luck would have it, they just happened to have Swiss Cake Rolls and Twinkies back there….check it out:
I had a fantastic time there…if you’re in the area, I’d recommend you check it out for yourself.  With both and enormous space and menu, there’s truly something for everyone!

Personally, I’d like to meet the person who orders the “Purple Rainmaker.” At $1000, this dessert consists of a Criollo Chocolate Soufflé, a chocolate truffle,  and gold nugget streusel  dressed with a genuine amethyst necklace on a spun sugar sculpture.  Check it:

Need something a leeeeeeetle more reasonably priced this Valentine’s Day?  Enjoy a prix-fixe 3 course menu and live music by Stephan Lee for $60.

“Let me guide you to the Purple Rain.  Purple Rain….Purple Raiiiiiinnnnn…”

xx, L

Purple Rain Restaurant & Lounge
(770) 418-9086
3550 Mall Blvd.
Duluth, GA 30096
www.purplerainatl.com

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Now HERE’S a promotion that was MADE for me… “High Heel Night” at Atkins Park Smyrna!

Beginning tomorrow, Saturday January 29th, Atkins Park Tavern in Smyrna is offering a 3% discount for every inch of high heels! PLUS: live DJs, $3 shots, and girly sips sponsored by BACARDI.

It gets better – “High Heel Night” will be held EVERY Saturday starting at 10PM and there is NO cover.  What a deal, ladies!  Time for those Louboutins to earn their keep! 

(Although…you know those babies can score you free cocktails any day of the week...)

xx, L

Atkins Park Tavern

2840 Atlanta Road Southeast

www.atkinspark.com

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