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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This winter, I spent more money going to the movies than almost anything else.  It was money well spent.  I really tried to see it all…

Lincoln
Twilight
Argo
Skyfall
Silver Linings Playbook
Les Miserables
Life of Pi

There are a few others still on my list (Django Unchained, This is 40, etc.), but I think I had a pretty solid theater sweep going.  On Sunday, however, I saw the very best of them all at Midtown Art Cinema with the Sanders-steins.  IMO, Zero Dark Thirty easily takes the cake.  (No exclamation points needed. Simple statement of fact.)  Maybe it’s my undying love for all things Homeland-ish, or that Jessica Chastain is so totally awesome, but whatever the case – I was on the edge of my seat for the entire movie.  There is so much to this story that I didn’t know from reading/ watching the news.  (Yes, I do realize that ZDT is historical fiction.)  Regardless of how completely factual it is, it made me feel very proud to be an American.  Truly incredible movie.  Best of the year.

My very close runner up is Life of Pi.  It’s one of my favorite books – with such a special message – and Ang Lee did it so much justice bringing it to the big screen.  I cried several times throughout the movie; I couldn’t believe how beautiful it was through Ang’s eyes.  Read Life of Pi first and then go see it.  It does not disappoint.  It might even change your life.

If these two movies do not sweep the Oscars, I’m boycotting them going forward.  FEBRUARY 24: I’m ready for you…

xx, L

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Many, many heartfelt congratulations to Lauren and Greg on their nuptials over the weekend!  The COHENS at last!  So exciting!!

What a fun time celebrating such an awesome couple!  Wishing them the very best! 

xx, L

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Our good buddies and ketubah signers-to-be EXTRAORDINARE, the Shapiros, have been checking in at Treat Your Feet on Foursquare with some regularity over the past year for what appeared to Kev + I as creative date nights.  We had no idea what TYF was or what the heck they were doing, but it seemed different and we were intrigued.  So, we asked if we could tag along sometime.

chillin' w/ the shapiros

A few weeks ago, we joined them for a TYF date.  Stac instructed us to wear shorts and bring booze, and we trekked up Buford Highway past I-285 until we saw this flashing sign.

Massages on Buford Highway??  I mean, I guess I’ll try anything once…

As you may have guessed, it was not at all what I was anticipating.  Obviously, I knew that we were getting foot massages, but I did not expect TYF to look like an actual spa on the inside.  I kept saying to Kevin, “wow – this is so nice!”  He got it after the eighth or ninth time, I think.

inside TYF

Treat Your Feet Massage & Spa is an OTP haven for relaxation and therapy.  The spa offers comfortable massage chairs and purifying sauna and shower rooms.  You can select from a variety of one to two hour body massages (acupressure, lymph, sport, Thai, Swedish, etc.), 30 minute to one hour foot and reflexology massages, or candle ear wax removal.  And, the place is super peaceful and CLEAN!

We all opted for the one hour foot massage for $30 each.  Is that a steal or what??!

TYF massage chairs

Our massages began like this…

stac's toesies

…and ended like THIS.

= bliss

We didn’t want to leave.  Seriously.  If they weren’t closing for the evening, I am pretty sure that we would have stayed for a second round.  The foot massage was so fun and totally relaxing.  I felt like I was walking in a cloud when I left.  And in case you were wondering, the boys enjoyed it just as much – if not even more – than we did!

TYF makes for an very fun, out-of-the-ordinary date night.  I highly recommend the trip up to Doraville to check it out.  $30 is next to nothing for the luxurious experience, too!  I mean, where has this been all my life?

TYF: I have a maj. crush on you!! 

xx, L

Treat Your Feet – Buford Highway
5938 Buford Highway NE #103
Doraville, GA  30340
770.452.8688
http://treatyourfeetatl.com/

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Check it: Cypress Street Pint and Plate’s weekly Beer Geek Tuesday will feature Frozen Pints Craft Beer Ice Cream!

If you haven’t tried Frozen Pints…YOU SHOULD.  Immediately.  Beer.  AND ICE CREAM.   Yes.  Yes yes yes.

xx, L

Cypress Street Pint and Plate
817 W. Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA

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