Saturday, October 1, 2011
If you need a new local bar and restaurant to call home, try Three Blind Mice in Lilburn.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Denise Mann
-
Saturday, October 1, 2011
So I took advantage of pre-school’s Parent’s Night Out last Friday. I wasn’t sure how the boys would do, so we needed to pick a local restaurant for dinner. I wanted a great restaurant and wine bar, fit for mature adults, not too commercial, and right in the heart of Lilburn. Lilburn has not had too many restaurants that we can call home. The Blue Rooster was a great lunch stop, but that era is over. Where are the locals to go that feels as cool at Atlanta but as welcoming as, well, your own hometown? I found my happy place at Three Blind Mice, also known as TBM. Located near Five Forks and Killian Hill, this wine bar has a great selection of seasonal beers and extended wine selection. The bar is loft chic and the bartender a local …
Friday, July 8, 2011
If your children are going to college, and they still don't have a baby book, we have a fun event for you.
Does going to a scrapbook convention sound a lot like a root canal? Well, let me challenge you a bit. Did you previously do really creative things for people? Do you love the idea of scrapbooks if other people do them for you? Do you have photos of your cute little kids, grand-kids or dogs you think are kids filling up drawers or disk space? I am confident you answered yes to a few of these questions. I am also confident that you have a really good friend who loves to scrapbook. For all those times you told her you were busy on scrapbook night or during cut parties, it is time to make it up to her. Take her to the Scrapbook Expo at the Gwinnett Center on July 8 or 9. Tickets are $9 and workshops range from $20 to $50. What does a …
Friday, June 24, 2011
A perfect evening of music, entertainment and limited pressure to dance for your spouse. There is an event at Aurora Theatre Saturday night. Act fast for tickets.
Well, I am thankful to be celebrating my 13-year wedding anniversary this week. I haven’t looked up the official symbol for this year, but I am guessing it’s not a disco ball. Regardless, I wanted to have a dance date night out. Honestly, I have been called “The Dancing Queen” once or twice in my life, but my husband is more P90X than ABBA, so he cringed at a dance evening. What is an anniversary girl to plan to celebrate a great marriage and maybe get a musical groove on? My research brought me to a fun event happening at Aurora Theatre (Lawrenceville) this Saturday, June 25 at 8:00. This is a concert of 70s and 80s music performed by incredible local artists. The Metro Jazz Club, the foundation of the concert, is a 17-piece band led …
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Reclaim the lake-time pleasures of your youth with a great selection of adult activities and events.
Remember the summers of our youth? For those of us that grew up in North Georgia, summertime fun often included trips out on a boat to Lake Lanier, maybe some music and water skiing. Although this nearby family fun hot spot seems to have focused growth on its kids’ water park, Lake Lanier Islands Resort still remains true to its more mature fans. Now is the time to plan a great beach-like getaway weekend but save on gas by heading just up the road to Buford. Daytime activities can range from scenic golf on the lakeside, horseback riding, boat rentals at Harbor Landing, and kayaking. Or, if you need to rest and refocus your energy, hit the spa, fitness center or walk some of the 15 miles of hiking trails around their four islands. As …
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Venture to one of Atlanta's famous gardens at night to enjoy music, entertainment and flowers. Sounds like the perfect date!
Summer is often full of outdoor adventures with the family -- the beach, parks, Lake Lanier. A full schedule keeps the kids entertained, but it also inevitably wears out the driver/tour guide/ lunch packer extraordinaire -- Mom. A surprising way to recharge is to actually visit one of these outdoor attractions without your children. Flowers, music, some stimulating conversation - sound good? I have an escape for you. On any given sunny day, the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is a visual splendor that invites you explore secret gardens and glorious orchids in a steamy greenhouse. Usually kids run rampant through the butterfly gardens and we take only a few minutes to marvel at the size of an elephant ear plant. But, at night, the scene …
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Create an summer escape for friends by planning a creative menu and shopping local farmers markets.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Denise Mann
-
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Friends and food help make the dog days of summer a little easier to manage. Although we don’t actually need a holiday to call upon friends to bring dish and drink, sometimes the barbecue basics -- hamburgers, slaw, potato salad, beans -- just get a little dull. Try a new twist on your next barbecue picnic. Grab a friend and make a plan. Take your favorite comfort foods cookbook, a great little entertainment guide (a friend recently gave me The Get ‘Em Girls’ Guide to the Perfect Get Together) or even the latest issue of Cooking Light or Everyday with Rachael Ray. Select recipes that create a picnic to remember from spritzers to dessert. Photo copy a recipe for each invitee, but let guests know that ingredient substitutions are welcome …
Sunday, May 29, 2011
To appreciate art, sometimes you really only need to take a few extra minutes to understand the artist and her inspiration.
A few weekends ago I had the honor of helping my friend Liza promote her art at the Altanta Baby and Child Expo. In addition to children’s murals, she plaster casts a pregnant mom’s belly and then adds texture and custom painting to create a piece of art that is totally unique. What I discovered as I helped promote her craft, is that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. Meaning, moms either saw the beauty in a one-of-a-kind art piece or simply did not. But beheld or not, what they all appreciated was the splendid detail and emotion in the art. Honestly, I admit I did not fully understand her art until that day. I had not taken the time to feel the intricate textures, read the messages or learn about why the moms chose different…
Friday, May 13, 2011
Enrich yourself in Atlanta's unique history and marvel at one of our most iconic garden homes.
For many of our young children, the best history lessons are not the ones read from information markers on hot summer days. Moreover, they are the ones told by parents and grandparents in the cozy lamplight glow during evening story time. Give yourself a head start and take a tour of Atlanta’s history before you teach your children. The Atlanta History Center located off West Paces Ferry has both history and beauty on display for locals to appreciate, and all for a mere $16.50. For the parent in you, the history museum, one of the nation’s largest, honors the people of the Georgia plains and provides a detailed timeline of the growth of our region highlighting the American Civil War. Sports fans will find the co-located Centennial …
Friday, April 29, 2011
Try hitting one downtown hot spot to enjoy some shopping with a friend and help you organize.
Many of my friends seem to always be on a quest to organize. Like me, they have this inherent belief that if your surroundings are more organized, you will feel more in control. As one can imagine, with kids leaving toys, clothes, school crafts and sports stuff just about everywhere, our home-front struggle for control in chaos becomes a very real battle. I suggest you take a trip with me to a place that is not too far, but large and unique enough to help you gain a foothold in organization. Let me take you to the idea store called IKEA in Atlantic Station. First, make a list of the areas in your home you want to bring some order to. Take measurements of the available floor and wall space for your project area. Then take your list and…
Friday, April 8, 2011
Experience this luxurious spa escape while keeping your family budget in check.
Do you dream of neck rubs, pedicures or hot tubs? Do you often wake to find that the dream is just too expensive to turn into reality? Well, now you can rethink your way to luxury. I love taking a long, well-deserved break at the Chateau Elan Spa in Braselton, Ga. The Chateau Elan website has many great package offers. They include overnight stays, dining, wine, and multiple spa services. But, if your family is on a budget like mine, you may be scared away by the listed prices. Here are some tips to enjoy this spa getaway for less. The first major tip is that when you purchase any spa treatment, you have full access to the spa for the day. So, that is how I recommend you go. First, review the list of services available on the website. …
Susan
1:01 pm on Sunday, October 2, 2011
We love TBM and so do our "ITP" kids who actually will drive outside 285 to join us there! more ›