Reason #20958206 why I love Broohaven: the newly-invigorated Brookhaven Farmers’ Market (Saturdays from 9am – 1pm in the Haven parking lot: 1441 Dresden Drive, Atlanta, GA 30319)

Last Saturday got there a little late – so I’ll have to go get the full experience another time, but even though everyone was packing it up as we arrived… DK+DK managed to score gold:

Mushrooms on a Log: everything you need to grow your own shiitake mushrooms on a log brought to you by 2 Fun Guys.(Props for the awesome name, dudes.)

Yup.  Just a log.  Inoculated with a strain of shiitake mushrooms.  Ready for you to take home, care for, and harvest yourself.  

Check out owners Todd Pittard and Howard Berk on their website HERE.  They’ll tell you how to care for them, even walk you through your harvest and give you suggestions on how to cook ‘em!  I couldn’t dig this idea any more.  

Dad walked off very happy with his log o’ shrooms. 

I’ll keep you posted on it’s progress!

xx, L

Here’s the Q+DD: Conveniently located at the intersection of Cool and Cooler (next door to Leon’s at Ponce and Church…on land plot #246 – go fig) No. 246 is the PERFECT addition to Decatur’s restaurant scene.  

Opened by Chef Ford Fry (JCT Kitchen) and Chef Drew Belline (Quinones at Bacchanalia and Floataway Café) this chic little 100-seater resto really hits the spot.

They don’t take reservations, so hauling my parents there (who were in from Birmingham this weekend) on the first Saturday they were open was a bit of a risk, but it definitely paid out in the end.   Plus, the lively bar scene definitely made the wait more fun:

LK + DK

Once we were seated, we were appropriately starving and ordered 3 “toasts” as an amuse-bouche and they were a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e. and delicious.

Pickled squash (I think?) and cannellini beans, figs, and ricotta “toasts”

We grazed on those a bit (even the bread was something special) and sort of laughed at the tiny salt dish on the table with like, 12 grains of sea salt: Greg thought the statement was, “Our food is seasoned perfectly – you won’t be needing this.”  If that was the case… they were right – our food was amazing.

We ordered the No. 246 meatball (I heard you HAD to)

Ken’s Wild Mushroom Pie

San marzano, mozzarella, parmesean, arugula

A half-order of the Garganelli pasta (with sofritto braised rabbit, plumped sultanas, broccoli rabe, pecorino), the chicken (roasted in their wood oven with sherry bacon vinaigrette, hen of the woods mushrooms, roasted baby carrots), a side of roasted beets, and my favorite…the Branzino:

Served whole, roasted, with shaved fennel, salsa verde, lemon, olive oil and sea salt...OMG.

Everything was spectacular – but this was the best.

For dessert, we went with the chocolate tart (with sea salt and olive oil) which was good… but we also ordered the buttermilk panna cotta with lemon ginger marmalade which rocked. my. world.   Plus, the presentation was SO cute.  Witness:Ok so listen – I’m suggesting you head over immediately if not sooner.

And take me with you.

No. 246…I love you.

Bacio di bacio,

L

No. 246
(678) 399-8246
129 E. Ponce de Leon
Decatur, GA 30030

But before we return to our regularly scheduled LK programming, I have a BIG THANK YOU for everyone involved with, everyone who donated to, everyone who supported and everyone who attended Camp Dance. I couldn’t even begin to start naming names – but just know I appreciate you so much.

It was INCREDIBLE.  Absolutely incredible.

I loved everything. The switch from the Zoo to the World of Coke was a game-changer – everything was so fun and peppy and whimsical and the WoC staff was INCREDIBLE.

The caterer was Bold American (I heart you, Mo!) who knocked our “camp” theme out of the PARK with  mini-fluffer nutter sammies, brie grilled cheeses, loaded baked potatoes, sliders and the clear winner of the night – CORN DOGS.

The corn dog is the new tater tot

and the desserts – oh the desserts!  I don’t even know where to start.  Witness:

I think everyone had an amazing time – I know I did because I was so busy dancing, I didn’t take a single picture. Thank goodness Greg was there!  Here are a few snaps:

G + me before the party started (dress is Halston Heritage)

Cutie Jona Sheer mixing a cocktail in "Taste It"

people filing into the WoC

M.F.E.O.

Proof.

Party people in the house.

Kraselsky women (and Dr. Amy) on the dance floor

Handsome men everywhere!

"The Beverly" and vodka, anyone?

It’s looking like we raised in the neighborhood of $85K for Camp Twin Lakes and we couldn’t be more excited!

Thanks again to everyone!  I can’t WAIT for next year….

xx, L

Team Katie!

We were stylin’ in the purple tiaras Katie brought us

Even my dad found a manly way to wear a tiara!

…and stayed hydrated thanks to the superawesome TEAM KATIE water bottles courtesy of Jennifer Kulbursh and Kamin and Associates!

Katie was a total rock star!  They gave her a tent for a home base

and she was interviewed by our local news station, CBS 42!

See the video here!

My family and I are so proud of my seestah…

…and SO grateful for ALL of your support. THANK YOU so much to everyone who donated and participated!

xx, L

PS Thanks for your excellent photography, Robin!  xo

My vacation personality is much more “push your toes into white sand, drink a cocktail, and chill” than “bingo and poolside games on the lido deck.” Additionally, I don’t like fruity drinks (except for the tiny umbrella part) and I loathe buffets.  Sorry, not sorry.

I am here to tell you that the Celebrity Solstice was anything BUT a floating conga-line in the sea.

From the ENORMOUS staterooms…

(stocked daily with chilled champagne, fresh raspberry or peach iced tea, and fresh fruit)

to the SPECTACULAR spa and gym area…

I enjoyed some amazing pilates mat classes, a fabulous mani/pedi and an incredible massage…all Bliss products… and took full advantage of the truly heavenly relaxation areas complete with eucalyptus steam rooms and heated stone loungers

to the unbelievable food and beautiful restaurants…

I think everyone’s favorite was the Asian-themed specialty restaurant where we ate our weight in dim sum and polished off a bottle of some of the best unfiltered sake I’ve ever had…but I think my favorite was the French restaurant…I can’t remember what I ate, but I certainly remember that I loved it!

to the beautiful décor, it really was a breathtaking ship.

space after gorgeous space…they even had genuine muppet-fur curtains!

Fancy!

Also wonderful were the excursions that my dad planned in each port! If you are ever in the following places, here are my recommendations:

1.    San Juan, Puerto Rico. YOU MUST CALL Leslie Wiggins who owns Flavors of San Juan.  Leslie, a native of EAST COBB, fell in love with her Puerto Rican husband and they moved right into the heart of San Juan where she guides small groups on a boutique restaurant and food tour.

OK so first of all, Leslie is precious. Total PLU. And each restaurant we went to was better than the next (and I was THRILLED to have resto recommendations for Linds’s trip this week!)

I can’t decide whether my favorite part was the mojito demonstration we received at Café Chic

Or all the delicious tapas we ate at each of the other adorable restaurants

or the whiskey shot we took as a family at local dive bar El Batey!

She also did a great job of giving us the lay of the land and educating us on the history of Old San Juan…without boring us in the least. If you ever find yourself in San Juan you’ve gotta call Leslie Wiggins!

Flavors of San Juan
info@flavorsofsanjuan.com
(787) 964-2447
www.sanjuanfoodtours.com

2.    St. Kitts – we booked an open-air Jeep tour of the countryside through Greg’s Safaris. We had a fun day, even though we kinda got the bait-and-switch from an open-air Jeep to an SUV with the windows rolled down…

…and if you like botany, this is the tour for you.   We learned a LOT about the plant-life in St. Kitts.

Right, B?

3.  St. Maarten – Ok so I LOVED St. Maarten. We all did.  I want to go back ASAP and park myself on the coast there.  We spent the day on a private boat with Carlos of Captain Alan.   

We went snorkeling  (well, Dad, Brian, and Katie went snorkeling while DK and I chatted on the boat and sipped cocktails), ate fresh fruit and sandwiches on an amazing French baguette (St. Maarten is ½ French and ½ Dutch so it was the real deal, yo) and went tubing

(I finally broke down and got my hair wet, oookaaaay?)

We had a wonderful, memorable, fabulous day and we all fell in love with Carlos!

Before we went out, the owner of the company asked Carlos to go over the day’s itinerary with us, to which Carlos winked – “I like to wing it!”

Kudos to my awesome dad for doing such a great job planning our non-sea days!

As far as our sea-days were concerned…we spent a LOT of QT with each other, some cocktails… oh, and Chelsea!

(I tore through this baby the first day while Katie burned through Are You There Vodka… and we and passed them around to the group!)

In conclusion, as it turns out, I may just be a cruise-person after all.  And true confession…

…nothing goes with a steel drum quiiiiiiiiiiite like a fruity cocktail. Trust.

Oh and happy 61st, Dad!

xx, L

Starting TOMORROW I will be HERE:

and HERE:

and HERE:

On a cruise with these awesome people (aka my family):

So… I will NOT be HERE:

or HERE:

or HERE:

But I will miss YOU! So have a great week and my tan and I will see you after the 11th!

Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do…

xx, L

P.S. You should know that I am absurdly excited about getting to use BOTH of my fabulous Marcia Leighter luggage tags:

Available here at Panache Gifts.

P.P.S. I’m on a BOAT

Everybody look at me 'cause I'm sailin' on a BOAT!

I got my swim trunks, and my flippie-floppies

Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on 03/02/04!

Throughout my whole life, I have ALWAYS been a big Dr. Seuss fan, I’m sure we all were at one point or another, right?  I mean, whose childhood didn’t include The Cat in the Hat, Horton Hears a Who, or Green Eggs and Ham?

Usual Suspect.

Sidebar: remember when Season 5 Top Chef contender Carla made Green Eggs and Ham during a quickfire challenge?

Don’t you think she kinda looks a little like a resident of Whoville?:

Coincidence? I think not...

Hootie-hoo, Carla! (I love you.)

I digress.

As I was saying, somehow Dr. Seuss always finds his way into my life at every stage. Some of my earliest memories are of my superawesome dad making up tunes to the silly songs in The Cat in the Hat Songbook…

Plinker Plunker!

…and as a suddenly environmentally-conscious 5th grader, I wrote what I considered to be a very moving paper on The Lorax.  Sometimes, riiiiight around wine-time, DK will dig it up to embarrass the heck out of me.

"I speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues!"

The Good Doctor Seuss even followed me to college when DK gave me a copy of Oh, The Places You’ll Go as I settled into my dorm room at the University of Texas.

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose."

Oh, and let’s not forget about Seussical the Musical (!!!) which opened on Broadway in 2000!  (…just to be sure that eeeeeeeevery last one of my tender little heartstrings were played upon…)

"Just tell yourself, duckie, you're really quite lucky!"

Then, when I moved to NYC myself, I met a wonderful guy named Andrew who educated me on the lost art of Dr. Seuss:

From www.drseussart.com: “Dr. Seuss single-handedly forged a new genre of art that falls somewhere between the Surrealist Movement of the early 20th Century and the inspired nonsense of a precocious child’s classroom doodles.”

Andrew had a truly mesmerizing (not to mention enormous) landscape painting in his apartment and I came to learn that Seuss not only worked in illustrations and paint, but also bronze sculpture and “unorthodox taxidermy”

Even now, as a full-fledged adult (scary.), I often find myself considering the wise words of Dr. Seuss.  Check it:

“Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is you-er than you.”

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I’ve bought a big bat. I’m all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

And finally, my favorite (my sister’s favorite too):

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”

Bringing it all full-circle for me, next Saturday my very, very dear friends Jess and Adam will be celebrating the first birthday of THE MOST ADORABLE CHILDREN EVER, otherwise known as their kids, my pseudo niece and nephew, Eli and Alexa, with a Seuss-themed birthday party…where the twin guests of honor will appear as Thing 1 and Thing 2!

Precious!

But if you’d like to have your OWN Seuss celebration, you’re in luck.  On SUNDAY, MARCH 21st the Breman Jewish Heritage & Holocaust Museum, will be hosting a “Seussian” Birthday Party in conjunction with their fascinating exhibition, “Dr. Seuss Goes to War…and More!”, a collection of Ted Grisel’s WWII political cartoons.

showing now through 08/31/10

Click here for details.

So, HAPPY 106th BIRTHDAY, Dr. Seuss… from the Q+DD!

oh, and happy 1st birthday, A + E! Aunt LK loves you!

Oh, the places you'll go!

xx, L

Yadda yadda yadda…

However, I recognize that there are times in which cooking is necessary and a smart girl always has a few tricks in her arsenal. For instance, last week was The Ginger’s birthday and and excellent excuse for my famous cupcakes!

Plus, making cupcakes is a RIOT:

Funfetti!

I’m hesitant to give away all my tricks of the trade, but doctoring up a cake mix is pretty darn simple. If I can do it, you can, too! (If you’re a super cook, you can just skip this post, because I’m going to write it r.e.a.l.l.y. simple for the culinarily challenged…like myself.)

Here’s what you need:

2 boxes yellow cake mix (I like Duncan Heins)
6 eggs
2 sticks (unsalted) butter
2 packages vanilla pudding mix
1 tub of milk chocolate frosting
1 tub of vanilla frosting
2c sour cream
Coarsely ground sea salt
Vanilla extract
Spatula
Muffin tins
Muffin cups
Hand-held mixer (I know, I couldn’t believe I had one, either!)

Suggested accoutrements:
Some type of round candy: I like the salted caramel balls by Choxie…found at Target…IF you can manage NOT to eat them all before you ice and decorate your cupcakes
Black and white sprinkles (separate)
Teeny tiny funnel

Ok, then it’s easy-squeezy. I do this in 2 batches.

1. Combine 1 box of cake mix, 1 stick of softened butter, 3 eggs, 1 package of pudding mix, 1c sour cream and a dash of vanilla extract, mix well and fill the muffin cups in your muffin tins about 3/4 full

(The box says it will make 24 cupcakes, but what they don’t mention that they will be weeny cupcakes. Fill ‘em fuller and each recipe will only make about 18 or so. Particularly if you, um, “taste” the batter. A lot. Don’t judge me.)

2. Bake according to the instructions on the box.

3. Repeat and let all cupcakes cool on cooking racks (I can’t believe I had these, either.) You’ll have about 32 nice, big cupcakes.

4. While the cupcakes are baking/cooling, spoon your chocolate and vanilla icing into two separate bowls. To each: add a tablespoon or so vanilla extract and a few grinds of sea salt. Make sure you taste along the way, so it doesn’t get too vanilla-y or, yuck, too salty. But ton’t be shy, either. The salt is perfect for cutting the supersweet frosting (Thanks to Cari of Sugar Sugar for the tip!)

5. Once the cupcakes have cooled, ice 1/2 with chocolate and 1/2 with vanilla. Then I decorate like this:

• 6 chocolate frosting with white chocolate round candy on top
• 6 chocolate frosting with white sprinkles JUST in the middle of the cupcake (use the funnel)
• 6 vanilla frosting with chocolate round candy on top
• 6 vanilla frosting with chocolate sprinkles on top

Then I arranged them in my double-decker cupcake caddy (also found at Target) and voilà!

BONUS: You’ll have about 8 extra cupcakes. Throw a couple of those bad boys in some Tupperware and a nice little note and BAM! Perfect “just because” gifty-gift for doormen, fabulous coworkers, neighbors, etc. Luckily I had some hot pink sprinkles on hand, perfect for Kindredly’s birthday last week!

I may not be a domestic goddess…
…but, as DK says, “fake it till you make it!”

xx, LK

That said, you should know that the inaugural Buckhead Restaurant week is right around the corner! 3 courses for $25? Yes, please!

Here are a few of my favorite participants:

Anis
Anis is such a perfect little date spot! It’s this amazing little French resto in a charming little house off Grandview. They have an outside patio (and allow pups!) as well as cozy inside seating. Love!

Aria
(Or Aria’s as my mom calls it.) If you have never been, you are seriously missing out. Aria is one of my favorite restaurants in the city – it’s romantic, the food is amazing, and it’s very glam in an understated sort of way.

Bistro Niko
You know a restaurant is cool when EZ elects to celebrate her birthday there!In the bottom of the Soverign building, this chic little French bistro is the newest addition to the Buckhead Life restaurant group. The bar area is especially cool.

Capital Grille
Two words: Stoli Doli. When l lived in the Eclipse (located just behind the restaurant) this was my go-to happy hour spot. It’s a higher-end steak joint, and everything on the menu is delish, but the lobster mac + cheese will change your life and the calamari is out of this world. Their signature cocktail is the “Stoli Doli” – a martini made with pineapple infused vodka. DELISH. Plus, it has the whole country club chic thing going on and I love that.

Kyma
Another Buckhead Life participant, and Lindsay’s favorite big fat Greek restaurant. Go get your taramasalata on, yo.

Nava
I celebrated a landmark birthday here and will always have a special place in my heart for blue cornbread, prickly pear margaritas, and lobster tacos…

Other participating restaurants are Aja (it’s pronounced like Asia, FYI, not Ah-zjh-ah- I asked!), Aqua Bistro, Atlanta Fish Market, Blue Pointe, Cantina (where Lola used to be), Craftbar, Gordon Biersch, Home, Market, Paces 88, The Palm, Pricci, Prime, Ruth’s Chris, Shula’s 347, and The Grape.

You can make reservations by calling the restaurants (duh) or on Opentable.com, a sponsor of the event.

Please note that alcohol and gratuity are not included in the $25.

Happy fine dining on a dime!

xx, L

Alternate title:

“An Open Letter to Anyone Who Wants to Buy Me a Present”

Or:

“Irresponsible Purchases I am Seriously Contemplating”

1. I ADORE my “play” watch. It’s the gold menswear Michael Kors:

Boss.

BUT: since I purchased it, he’s come out with one I want a little more:

I had been eying the tortoise shell version for a little while, but the deal was sealed for me on Saturday night: I developed a somewhat serious girl crush on one of The Ginger’s superchic and fabulous girlfriends visiting from Nashville.

f.a.b.

When she mentioned this watch, I decided it was love. Peer pressure works every time…

So, yesterday, I went to go visit the watch in the MK store with my mom and almost convinced her to buy it for herself (with the old bait-and-switch in mind) but, alas, she was on to me. So with a stick of the MK Leg Shine in my bag……and the watch still in the case, I made my way out the door. Ssssssigh.

2. As you may remember, I wear 2 perfumes. Either Ralph Lauren Blue or Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey. I have big bottles at home and small bottles in my purse and honestly? That’s more than anyone needs to be spending on fragrance, in my opinion. However, I am seriously considering the following as an addition:

Vintage Gardenia

It goes great WITH my current two, or alone, as Jo Malone is designed to do. It’s floral but not sickly sweet and I WANT IT.

3. Louis Vuitton  Speedy 30
I officially covet this classic bag. Before my mother starts hyperventilating while reading this post, I need to mention that I WAS once in possession of one. DK had one in the late 80′s – early 90′s (as many stylish suburban housewives did) and generously (and, as it turns out, foolishly) bequeathed it on to me while I was in college.

Since I am an idiot and and since I was overly concerned with ridiculous teeny tiny baguettes at the time, when I moved to Manhattan, the bag somehow stayed in Austin. (Sidebar: To whatever Hill Country Hippie or Spoiled Sorority Girl who is currently sporting my….well, DK’s… Speedy – YOU’RE WELCOME.)  Although, if I were to purchase one now, I’d go with the Damier:…but wouldn’t turn down the monogrammed version if you wanted to buy me one

OK. Other than an appointment with local Atlanta Dog-Whisperer, Ian and a standing blow-out appointment with Wael at Jamison Shaw, that is it for today.

“If wishes and buts were clusters of nuts, we’d all have a bowl of granola.”
- Strangers with Candy

xx, L