barkley

Barkley’s owners are our great friends, the Sands.  We wanted to see them, too, of course.  They recommended that we have brunch at nearby Atmosphere Bistro and then head down to the Chattahoochee River Trails for Barkley’s first swimming lesson.  To me, that sounded like the best. day. ever. 

So, we met at Atmosphere pre-church crowd rush.  It was my first time at the restaurant, but even before setting foot inside I knew four things about it.

1 – I pass by it driving on Piedmont (Morningside intersection) almost every single day.
2 – It’s a French bistro that has won a lot of local dining awards.
3 – The patio looks like a great place to have dinner or brunch cocktails.
4 – Everyone I know who has tried it has recommended it to me.

Here’s a picture of Atmosphere at night.  So impossibly cute.

Anyway, we successfully snagged a table on the patio and ordered up some champagne cocktails + coffee.

We literally wanted to order everything on the menu.  It all sounded so splendid!  We ultimately decided on two appetizers to share – both of which I strongly recommend.

Crab with avocado, tomato + pineapple chutney served in a martini glass.

Breaded + fried brie with an arugula salad.  OOOOMMMMGGGG.  Awesomesauce, y’all!

After we’d effectively wet our whistles with a few cups of coffee, brunch-y cocktails, and delicious appetizers, we quickly eased on to our entrees.  The Sands both settled on Benedictine: poached eggs benedict over toasted bread, ham, and hollandaise sauce, served with homemade French fries and mixed greens.  A perfect brunch-on-a-patio dish.

Kevin selected the L’Omelette du Jour which happened to be filled that day with thick cut bacon.  There were no complaints from his side of the table.  His omelet arrived with French fries Oeufs and mixed greens, as well.  Kev thought that Atmosphere’s French fries were spectacular!  (Obviously cooked in duck fat and with love.)  He was thoroughly impressed.

I ordered the Carpaccio de boeuf: thin slices of raw Kobe beef with shaved Parmesan cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh lemon juice.  Simple and delightful.  I was very pleased with my selection.

By the end of the meal, we were completely stuffed.  I was so glad that the Sands suggested we try Atmosphere, and now the delicious restaurant is no longer just a quaint house with a sign that I pass by on Piedmont each day, but rather a destination for really enjoyable French cuisine.  I am looking forward to going back to try their dinner menu, and taste their famous French Onion soup!

Shortly after brunch, we headed out to the Chattahoochee with Barkley – who had been patiently awaiting our return. 

I’m sure you will all be pleased to know that he is a total water pup and had a very successful first swimming lesson!  The Sands are sure to become river regulars!

Hoping that everyone had as lovely of an Easter as we did! 

xx, L

Atmosphere Bistro
1620 Piedmont Ave.
Atlanta, GA  30324
678.702.1620
www.atmospherebistro.com

For those living under a massive pile of rocks, here’s the Q+DD on the Puppy Bowl:
The Puppy Bowl is an annual television program on Animal Planet that mimics the Super Bowl, using puppies.  Shown the same afternoon of the Super Bowl, the show consists of footage of a batch of puppies at play inside a model stadium, with commentary on their actions.  The first Puppy Bowl was shown on February 6, 2005.  The puppies featured in the Puppy Bowl are from shelters, and the show contains information on how viewers can adopt rescued puppies and help their local shelter.

It’s the very best thing on TV all year, folks.  FACT.

Check out the Puppy Bowl VIII starting line-up HERE!

There are some very serious contenders this year, I must say.  But, these three are my top picks…

FUMBLE
Breed: Chihuahua/ Terrier mix
Sex: Male
Age: 9 weeks
Fun Fact: Has every Bow Wow song on his iPad.

fumble

CALVIN
Breed: Dachshund
Sex: Male
Age: 10 weeks
Fun Fact: Restores classic cars.

abilene

AND, don’t forget the Kitty Halftime Show!  (That one is for you, Mrs. Wolkove…)

Don’t forget to set your DVR for Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl VIII on Sunday, February 5th at 3:00 p.m. E/P!

Can’t even WAIT! 

xx, L

hi, i'm barkley!

Call the hospital!  I’m DYING of cuteness. 

(That’s all.)

xx, L

…I’d like to DAZZLE you with my extensive collection of pets in Halloween costumes. 

Enjoy.

Have fun today, everyone!  Happy, happy! 

xx, L

I really, really LOVE this. 

Of all the gorgeous items I’ve bought from Anthro + loved dearly over the years, a furry friend might just be what I’ve been needing most…  I will definitely be there!   

xx, L

Anthropologie – Howell Mill
1207 Howell Mill Road NW
Atlanta, GA  30318
404.355.4889
www.anthropologie.com

(Totally kidding!!  Obv.) 

Here’s me with some of my favorite furry friends:

And, I even had the great honor of meeting this famous pooch at the San Juan airport in Puerto Rico.  I spoke to him in Spanish. 

Anyway, I was recently watching the local news while on one of my morning 3-Day treadmill training walks, when I heard about an incredible dog in Maryland named “Dozer.” 

Dozer is a 3 year-old goldendoodle who ran away from his home (broke out of his invisible fence!) and ended up running most of the Maryland Half Marathon! 

Here he is at the finish line:

dozer crossing the finish line

Dozer got out of his yard and joined runners near his home at the five mile mark of the race.  Runners saw him throughout the end of the half marathon and posted videos of Dozer crossing the finish line on YouTube.  After he completed the race, he found his way home. 

Race officials later presented Dozer with a medal for running in the half marathon.  In response to all of Dozer’s attention, his family set up a fundraising page to benefit the University of Maryland’s Greenebaum Cancer Center.  So far, Dozer has raised more than $23,000!!

so proud

What an unbelievable story!  This dog is AMAZING…and is now a celebrity on World News Tonight, Good Morning America, Fox News and all over local TV and radio stations!  Keep up the good work, Dozer!  You’re an incredible pup.

Check out Dozer’s Fundraising Page: Doggie Donations!
Like Dozer’s Facebook Fan Page: Dogster…What? I’m on Facebook!
See Dozer on YouTube: Canine Against Cancer!

Go, Dozer, go!  Good boy.

xx, L

It’s an event over seven decades in the making! 

The Atlanta Dogwood Festival is one of the largest + most diverse juried arts festivals in the country.  More than 250 artists exhibit in 12 categories, including painting, glass, clay, wood + mixed media.  Some of the country’s top painters, photographers, sculptors, leather + metal craftsmen, glass blowers and more will be participating in the 2011 Dogwood Festival Artists Market. 

As a special feature for the festival’s 75th anniversary, there will be a nine story classic Seattle Ferris Wheel built in 1963 to give visitors a whole new perspective of Piedmont Park and Midtown + a fully restored 1965 vintage carousel for the entire family to enjoy!

dogwood blossoms

Here are the festival deets:

Where: Piedmont Park
When: 4/15 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., 4/16 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., 4/17 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Special Event Info:  I’m Special…
Directions: I Can’t Find the Park!
Entrance Fee: FREE!  FREE!  FREE!
Pets: Sorry festival-goers, you can’t bring them to this one. 
More Information: Dogwood website

I’ve been going to this festival for years now + I am always the most excited about two aspects of it – neither of which are the artists, who are excellent, but I’m just saying…

1 – Disc Dog Exhibition
The 20th Annual Disc Dog Southern Nationals USDDN Qualifier will be held on-site at the festival Saturday and Sunday!  Find the schedule here:  Dogs w/ Ups

2 – Serious Festival Food! 
No. description. REQUIRED.

There’s a funnel cake w/ my name on it…

See you all there!  But first, my momma has one last reminder for you:

"don't forget your sunscreen!"

(You just gotta listen to Adele.)

xx, L

I saw Ryan Bingham for a sold out show at The Loft on Friday + he definitely fell into the “even better in concert” drop box for live performances.  Smoking + drinking on stage didn’t affect his perfectly raspy voice in the least, in fact it made it even richer.

The new Anthropologie was a warm + welcomed escape from the cold on Saturday.  If you haven’t been to the Howell Mill location yet, you need to check it out.  The store is just great + there’s something that I can’t quite put my finger on about the dressing rooms that makes me want to try on the entire store.

Slick + I chowed down on some “gator bites” at Six Feet Under on Saturday afternoon.  Kinda tasted like chicken…don’t be a’feared.

And then we fell in love with this handsome little guy at the Atlanta Humane Society.  We aren’t in the market for a furry friend right now, but this pup (Charlie Bucket) stole our hearts.  Adopt him!

Feeling brave enough to take on a potential tornado, we warded off cabin fever by spending a few hours at the Georgia World Congress Center for the 2011 Atlanta International Auto Show.  This Camaro caught our eye, but the Lotus stole the show in my opinion.

I went with LK + some lovely ladies to see Red Riding Hood on Sunday. 

I went in with seriously low expectations + ended up actually pretty pleased with the film.  Although that wasn’t the general consensus of the group, I think keeping your expectations low is oftentimes the best way to approach things.  Just sayin’…

We drew the weekend to a close at Mellow Mushroom in Sandy Springs for dinner.  Couldn’t have imagined a better way to end it.  MM truly is “happiness as expressed in pizza…”  Will always love my Pizza Sundays!

Slick did some shopping at Richards Variety Store + picked me up a Lite Brite (never had one as a kid) which kept me busy until I hit the hay.  (It’s certainly not an iPad 2, but it will do for now…)

It wasn’t the craziest weekend we’ve ever had, but it was super relaxing + now I’m rested for the excitement ahead. 

So, bring it.

xx, L

la de da de da!

When Saturday came along + it WAS gorgeous, a bunch of us decided to meet at Piedmont Park for a picnic.  I forgot sunscreen, but I made sure to bring along the $3.80 Richard’s Variety Store kite I’d recently purchased for Slick.

Richard's Variety Store

Pretty sweet, huh?  Richard’s has a nice little supply of plastic winged flapper kites for kids of ALL ages.

Please witness the short-lived greatness of ours:

Favorite kite-related quote from Saturday?  Slick to Lindsay: “Please don’t just leave me standing here in the field, b/c then I’m just the creep with the kite…”

However Slick was viewed, our kite’s flight was met with very positive approval from some of our favorite furry friends!

sir rowdy

princess olive

It was a GREAT day…and who knew that we could get so much enjoyment out of a $4 piece of flying plastic?!

Slick + G$ soakin' up the sun

Enjoy the little things in life. 

xx, L

He’s only 10 weeks old and only 3 lbs and made my little 7lb Olive look enormous!  Check out this picture of them on DK+DK’s couch:

Delish.

Leave it to my stylish little seestah to choose the cutest doggy things ever.  I just HAVE to show you his tags:

Click HERE to buy for $12 on Etsy!

Cute. Cute. CUTE.

xx, L