Simply Buckhead Magazine

The end-of-the-year November/December issue of Simply Buckhead is out and it's TIME TO ENTERTAIN!???? ‘Tis the season for gathering. From Friendsgivings to Hanukkah parties, Christmas brunches to New Year’s Eve celebrations and everything in between, our calendars are sure to start filling up with exciting engagements. Whether you’re looking for an excuse to get together with friends and loved ones, building a home bar to appeal to imbibers and teetotalers alike, hunting for the next trend in events or searching for the perfect hostess gift, we’ve got you covered. Party on! Pick up the NEW issue of Simply Buckhead at over 400 area locations, or click the link in our bio to read more!?? ______ Producer: Jennifer Franklin Photographer: Erik Meadows Hair & Makeup: Nyssa Green for The Green Room Agency Models: Liz P., courtesy of CLICK Models of Atlanta, and Juan Fernando Cortes, beverage manager at THE CHASTAIN. Special thanks to Universal Diamonds and Tootsies for outfitting our model.?? #SimplyBuckhead #HolidayEntertaining #PartyPlanning #EventPlanning #HolidayDecor

NEWS CLIPS Emilia George to Open at Buckhead Village New York-based lifestyle brand Emilia George is set to open at Buckhead Village this month. The boutique presents clothing for expecting and new moms, as well as baby gear and gifts, making it a one-stop shop for parents-to-be, new families and gift givers. The 2,500-square-foot space also includes a dedicated play area for kids, so adults can shop “hands-free.” ?? Nicole Letts #BuckheadVillage #NewOpening #EmiliaGeorge #MaternityFashion #BabyEssentials

PIG OUT The iconic Pink Pig is back for 2024! Another generation can participate in one of Atlanta’s favorite holiday traditions this year. The Pink Pig, a train ride that debuted at Rich’s department store downtown in 1953 and took up residency at Lenox Square from 2003 to 2021, will return, this time as a part of the Georgia Festival of Trees at the Gas South Convention Center in Duluth. Penny, formerly known as Priscilla, will make her debut at the festival’s opening night gala on Nov. 22 and remain open until Dec. 1. The new train has a new name and is trackless. The open ride provides a meandering trek through the festival . Tickets to the festival are $13.95 for seniors over 62 and $18.95 for adults and children ages 3 to 12. The Pink Pig, cookie decorating, Santa’s Workshop and photos with Santa are extra. gafestivaloftrees.org Georgia Festival of Trees ??Nicole Letts #PinkPigReturns #AtlantaHolidayTradition #GeorgiaFestivalofTrees #HolidayTrainRide #PennyThePig

GIVEAWAY AND NEW RESTAURANT ALERT! Behold the deliciousness that awaits at your new favorite restaurant in Buckhead Landing (at the former Disco Kroger Plaza). Burtons Grill & Bar offers boldly-crafted dishes – like juicy burgers, bountiful salads, premium steaks, and fresh seafood – in a vibrant atmosphere. Pro-tip: they’re a safe-haven for food allergy and gluten-free guests. To celebrate their opening, we’re giving away (1) $100 gift card so you and a friend can enjoy Burtons Grill & Bar together. Visit @SimplyBuckhead on Instagram for the contest rules. GOOD LUCK! Burtons Grill & Bar offers a wide-ranging menu, swipe to see some of our favorites: Crab-Crusted Haddock Maxx Burger Lobster Roll NY Strip General Tso Cauliflower (starter) Ahi Tuna Bowl Chicken Milanese Alfredo Seven Layer Chocolate Cake #BurtonsGrill #BuckheadLanding #AtlantaEats #GiveawayAlert #RestaurantOpening

SUPPORT FOR SOBRIETY BEN’S FRIENDS LAUNCHES MEETINGS IN BUCKHEAD. Ben’s Friends is a support organization for food and beverage industry workers struggling with addiction and substance abuse. Founded in Charleston in 2016 by Mickey Bakst and Steve Palmer, the group serves 23 cities across the country. Atlanta is its most recent addition for in-person support meetings. Jessica Gamble, chef de cuisine at KR SteakBar, is one of four Atlanta chapter leaders. “After COVID, I decided to get sober. Through some online research, I found Ben’s Friends, and it turns out there are a lot of people in the industry that [choose to be] sober, from bartenders to winemakers and chefs,” she says. Three years later, Gamble is guiding others seeking their sober path. She describes the meetings as laid back with a strong sense of camaraderie. “It’s not always super deep. Sometimes it does get deep, but it’s also just good to be around like-minded people who share both the desire to not use any substances but also have the same restaurant industry experience and the stressors that come along with that,” she says... Read more in the latest issue! By Nicole Letts bensfriendshope.com #SobrietySupport #FoodAndBevRecovery #BensFriends #AtlantaChapter #RestaurantIndustryHelp #RecoveryCommunity

GRACIOUS GIFTS ’Tis the season for holiday parties. If you don’t want to show up empty-handed, a thoughtful host or hostess gift is always a kind gesture. Here’s some festive inspiration to help you find just the thing to show your appreciation. Verveine 32 Classic Candle ($87) A luxury candle is always a welcome gift, and this one from French perfumery brand Le Labo is fresh, clean and universally likable with scents of verbena, lime, eucalyptus and violet. Hand-poured in the U.S. and beautifully packaged, you won’t even need to wrap it. Pick one up at the location in Buckhead Village. Le Labo lelabofragrances.com Le Labo Fragrances Read more in the latest issue! ?? Jennifer Franklin #HolidayHostessGifts #LuxuryCandleLove #FrenchPerfumeVibes #ThoughtfulPresents #BuckheadVillageFinds

FIGURING OUT FACT FROM FICTION Buckhead novelist’s latest work keeps readers guessing! These days, sifting the truth from the tall tales is getting harder to do. The problem struck a chord with Chastain Park’s Katherine Wood, who based her fourth book, Ladykiller, around that premise. “Sometimes I do pull ideas from real life or get a hankering for a certain kind of story,” Wood says. “With Ladykiller, it’s told from two different points of view and plays with truth and perception. How do we decide what is true when two people see something two different ways?” For this book, Wood presents two competing versions of a woman’s mysterious disappearance in the Greek isles that leaves readers questioning each narrator’s reliability. At the same time, it sticks to Wood’s favorite genre: escapist thriller tinged with romance in an exotic location. “I’m always traveling and looking for my next place to set a book,” says Wood, a former actress, screenwriter and producer who spent 24 years in California before moving to Buckhead three years ago. “I always wanted to set something in the Greek islands that are such a wonderful place to go in summer. I honeymooned there in 2012, but even if you haven’t been there, you can conjure an image of what it’s like. And with oppressive heat and Aperol spritzers flowing, you know bad decisions are coming.” Among Wood’s favorite destinations is Atlanta, the city she and husband Alex Petrovitch specifically picked to be their home base. During the pandemic, Petrovitch did his TV editing job from their LA home, and Wood was on leave from a production company to stay with the couple’s two young daughters. “It was always a dream of mine to write a book, so I used that time to do it,” she says. “Nap time was novel time for me...” Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! ??Helen Cauley katherinewoodauthor.com #FictionVsFact #MysteryThriller #GreekIsles #EscapeThriller #UnreliableNarrator #BuckheadAuthor

FEATURED RESTAURANTS OAXACA Photo-ready dishes pop out of the open kitchen at Oaxaca (wah-hah-kah) in Chamblee. Vibrant colors and abundant garnishes advertise the robust aromas and flavors packed into each creation. Rooted in Oaxaca, Mexico’s indigenous culinary traditions, a variety of moles and salsas dot the food menu while mezcal reigns over the cocktail list. The popular Agave Rising Sun pairs tequila with crisp cucumber, sweet pineapple and tart lime juices. Guacamole arrives studded with herbs, flowers, nuts and radishes. Tetela de pato showcases duck confit, black beans and Oaxaca cheese in a triangular masa nestled atop tamarind mole. Enchiladas divorciadas smother its chicken-stuffed tortillas in green and red sauces divided by a stripe of sour cream. Green mole pipian covers braised wagyu short rib in an herb-nut sauce. The restaurant’s modern decor has an outdoorsy vibe, and high-volume music pumps up the energy; the aesthetic flows from the dining room onto a covered patio. Drinks: $5-16 Tacos: $7-8 Starters: $8-19 Entrees: $17-45 Sides: $7-10 Desserts: $15 Oaxaca 770.450.4805 oaxacaatl.com ?? Hope Scamehorn Philbrick ?? Erik Meadows #OaxacanCuisine #ChambleeEats #MoleLovers #MezcalCocktails #InstaFoodWorthy #VibrantFlavors

RE-DRESSED FOR SUCCESS SCAD students debug Orkin’s uniforms. The phrase “dressed to kill” is certainly apropos when it comes to the Orkin corporation’s new uniforms, which were recently distributed to more than 10,000 Orkin professionals around the country. To achieve its employees’ new look, the 123-year-old Buckhead-based pest-control firm turned to another Atlanta mainstay, the Savannah College of Art and Design, in a unique collaboration that began four years ago. “Our uniforms are an iconic part of our brand, and we needed help reimagining them,” says Brian Harrison, Orkin’s director of marketing, noting that the uniforms hadn’t changed in more than 20 years and had issues that needed to be addressed. So the company reached out to SCADpro, an innovation hub that teams with brands like Apple and Walmart to come up with creative business solutions. SCADpro does approximately 15 to 20 projects per quarter and it’s not the first time the team has redesigned a uniform, as they recently revamped the flight suits for Zero-G, a Florida space tourism firm. A team of 16 students and two faculty members worked with Orkin leaders to devise the new design. The students chosen, who were studying everything from fashion marketing to art history, were divided into a fashion team and a graphics team. The design brief they were presented with was to improve the fit, form and functionality of the uniforms while keeping the silhouette simple yet elevated. “The old uniforms were hot, stiff and uncomfortable,” Harrison says. They also needed to address practical issues like fabric sourcing and industrial laundering... Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! ??Jill Becker Orkin Egypt - Pest Control Service Savannah College of Art and Design #SCADPro #Orkin #FashionDesign #UniformDesign #CorporateFashion #SustainabilityInFashion #InnovativeCollaboration

NEWS CLIPS Blue Heron Art Director Sally Eppstein has been named art director at Blue Heron Nature Preserve. Eppstein is an accomplished artist who has five sculptures in three metro Atlanta parks as well as downtown Hapeville, Georgia. One of her pieces, Freedom, is at Blue Heron. She is also a former participant in the center’s artist-in-residency program and was once the director of the onsite art gallery. “What draws me to the Blue Heron Nature Preserve is the community, watching the land change as it is sculpted by Nancy Creek, founder Nancy Jones and all the wonderful artists we get to exhibit there, both indoors and out. The Blue Heron is a true hidden gem,” Eppstein says. In 2025, Eppstein plans to deep dive into the indigenous tribes who lived next to Nancy Creek. bhnp.org ?? Nicole Letts #BlueHeronNaturePreserve #NewArtDirector #SallyEppstein #AtlantaArt #HiddenGem