Happy Monday to you all. I hope you had a fabulous weekend. On Saturday night we gave a dinner to thank some very special folks for being so good to us. Joining us were Spencer, Allison, LaToyin and Neil of Black Tie Barbecue, Laura Scholz, her husband, Tim and our new friends Teresa & Nicholas.
Menu
Grilled Shrimp w/cocktail sauce
Chips w/cheese dip
Grilled Ribeyes wrapped in bacon
Twice-baked stuffed Potatoes
Salad w/raisins, almonds and red onion
Garlic Bread
Pound Cake soaked in Lemoncello
Apple Pie
Sesame and Chocolate Cookies
Vanilla Ice Cream
Malbec, Chardonnay, Cava
Pellegrino
But first, you have to start with a pretty table. I dressed the table in all metalics to give it sparkle. Gold runners, candlesticks and napkins rings paired with silver chargers.
Before guests arrive. I ended up moving the candelabra because it was in the way of the a/c and blowing madly everywhere.
Caren West, of Caren West PR sent me this reminder about next weekend’s Chili Cookoff. Oh, what fun this is. Here are the deets, Dolls!
THE GREAT MILLER LITE CHILI COOK-OFF RETURNS TO STONE MOUNTAIN, GA SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2010
100% of the Proceeds Benefit Camp Twin Lakes
All Ages Welcome; Kids 12 and Under Free
Atlanta, Georgia (September 17, 2010) – The 31st annual Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off will once again descend upon picturesque Stone Mountain, Ga. on Saturday, September 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. With 100% of the proceeds benefiting Camp Twin Lakes, approximately 300 teams from across the country will provide free chili samples to patrons on a first-come-first-serve basis. The event will also feature six hours of live music, food, drinks, games, contests and more. Fun for the whole family, tickets are $10 for adults; children 12 and under get in for free. Tickets can only be purchased the day of the event on site and will not sell out. For more information visit www.theatlantachilicookoff.com.
I have decided to devote the weekends to posts regarding exciting emails I get during the week. Some might be about destinations, some might be about fun products. This way we can still see each other on the weekends!
And you know I always give first priority to my friends at The Ritz-Carlton. In fact, I’m even thinking of devoting a brand new blog just for them. Let me know your thoughts on that.
Today’s exciting news comes from our friend Bonnie Crail, who is giving me the low down on a special offer at The Ritz-Carlton Charlotte. Take a look.
Tres chic in the heart of Charlotte
STAY AT THE RITZ-CARLTON, CHARLOTTE; DRIVE A BMW CONVERTIBLE
October 2010 Package Offers Early Check-In, Late Check-Out,
BMW Convertible Use and a Picnic for the Road
CHARLOTTE, NC. September 17, 2010 — Luxury car enthusiasts have the opportunity to drive a BMW convertible while staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte this October. The new weekend experience, called The Road Best Traveled, allows guests to drive a BMW during their extended Friday or Saturday night stay, and to use it to visit such nearby favorites as the North Carolina wine county, picturesque and artistic Asheville, or the many sports, nature and leisure destinations which dot North Carolina’s byways. A special benefit of the package is customized destination planning provided by The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, ensuring that each day-trip itinerary meets guests’ individual touring preferences.
Priced at $369 per night, The Road Best Traveled includes:
Deluxe accommodations for one weekend night (suite options available at a higher rate)
Use of a BMW convertible during the stay
Early check-in
Late check-out of 4 p.m.
Breakfast for two
Picnic Basket for two
Destination planning assistance
Valet parking
The Road Best Traveled is one of several October 2010 offerings announced by The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte. The hotel will celebrate Oktoberfest throughout the month with beer, pretzel and German wine menus in The Lobby Lounge, while EnjoyMINT, a new package celebrating the October grand opening of the Mint Museum in Uptown, will provide guests with an unprecedented new art experience located within walking distance of The Ritz-Carlton.
Reservations for The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte are available online at www.ritzcarlton.com, by toll-free telephone at 800.241.3333, or through a travel professional. The Road Best Traveled must be booked at least three days in advance and is subject to availability. Driver(s) must show current valid driver’s license, be at least 25 years of age, carry current auto insurance and sign vehicle usage liability agreement. The Road Best Traveled is available on weekends, only during the month of October, 2010, and blackout dates apply.
I see a trip to Charlotte in my future – Eric would love this!
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Rascal Flatts – Life is a highway
This week’s fun find is Mary Esther’s Baby Cakes. I met Jessica, the owner, this past Sunday at Tami’s Sip and See. Jessica gifted each guest with one perfect Red Velvet cupcake. Mmmmmm, yummy!
Everyone loves red velvet cupcakes
And let me tell you, they were luscious!
Jessica is so special that she doesn’t have website, so I am letting you in on the secret – because I love you so.
Prices start at $15 for one dozen minis and you will not believe the variety! OMG, listen to a few of the types of cupcakes Jessica is baking up for you:
• Apple Chai
• Apple Pie
• Bailey’s Irish Cream
• Caramel Pretzel
• Chai
• Cheese Cake
• Choc. Covered Strawberry
• Chocolate Truffle
• Coconut
• Crème Brulee
• Cookies & Crème
• Cookies & Crème Cheese CupCakes
• Drumstick
• Kahlua
• Lemon Drop
• Lemon Meringue
• Margarita
• Mochaccino
• Molten Chocolate
• Nuvo Red Velvet
• Pecan FrenchToast
• Pina Colada
• Pink Champagne
• Pink Lemonade
• Tiramisu
• White Chocolate Mousse
Oh, wait – don’t see one you love? Jessica will custom bake your favorite. How fab is that? AND she provides FREE delivery in the metro Atlanta area. Ohhhh whee!
You can find Jessica and all the news on her Baby Cakes here on Facebook.
Um….did I just read Caramel Pretzel? Oh, yeah, I’ll take a dozen!
As promised, here is the behind the scenes story to supplement my article in this month’s Design Is Magazine in my column, Living The Ritz Life. A magazine only allows so many words, but on my blog, I can blather on forever. So, if you want to hear the whole story about our stay at The Lodge, here you go.
Imagine a place where all your cares melt away at the door. A place where the phrase “my pleasure” actually means “my pleasure.” Imagine a place that is a retreat for the soul as well as the body.
A short one and a half hour drive from downtown Atlanta takes you to such a retreat. The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation is close to the big city, but a world away.
The Ritz-Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation
Arriving on a sultry Friday evening, this lodge of the well-heeled looms into view only after turning off the beaten path of Interstate 20. At the front door, friendly valets dressed in ivy caps, knickerbockers and argyle socks, ala golfer Payne Stewart, greeted us. Check-in was seamless and the weekend was now underway.
As we entered the club-level guest room, a roughhewn box on the hallway table caught my eye. Inside the box were graham crackers, Hershey bars and marshmallows, all the fixings for s’mores at the complimentary evening campfire. There were also notes welcoming my husband & me along with a jar of delicious spiced pecans (with the recipe attached). The king-sized bed was dressed with crisp white linens and the softest down pillows. Two wooden chairs and a table on our balcony ensured a view of the lush greenery.
Eric reminded me that I had an inkling to start a blog when we were in Los Angeles. I thought you all might get a kick out of a couple of those vintage posts.
From November 23, 2008.
Tonight we finally made the pilgrimage to L.A. from Santa Monica to Pink’s Hot Dogs for one of their legendary franks. After standing in line for an hour and ordering up, we enjoy our meal alfresco – a pastrami-swiss dog with fries and a coke for me and a chili dog and a sauerkraut, tomatoes, mustard and bacon with onion rings and a coke for Eric. Consuming the dogs took no longer than 10 minutes, I’m afraid.
Of course we had to check out the bathrooms – they serve over 2000 hot dogs a day and I was feeling brave. Although I took no photos of the bathroom, it was spotless. This was a well run operation.
So if you are in Los Angeles and craving a piece of history and have at least an hour to kill, get yourself a spot in line at Pink’s Hot Dogs and remember – cash only!
From yesterday’s post you know that Sunday was fashion day. It ended with Victor’s fashion advice, but started with some lovely bags at a “Sip and See” hosted by my friend Tami at Talking With Tami. Tami always gives the most fun parties and since I had missed a few of them, I decided I could not miss this chance to see her at brunch, hosted by Parker’s On Ponce in Decatur.
We all gathered to fete Tami’s friend Lori, CEO of Mocha Moon, makers of lovely travel bags and totes. And you know I love a tote.
And brunch. How I love brunch. There were yummy mini quiches, luscious pastries and some of the most decadent whipped cream coffee I have ever had. Also super tempting was the sparkling pink lemonade (and if you know Tami, everything has to be pinktastic – and it was!)
As always, I met some of the most remarkable women. Dang, we have a lot of fab folk in Atlanta!
What a wonderful weekend we had! Friday night we had dinner at Shaun’s (more on that tomorrow), slept in on Saturday and went to have our passport renewal photos taken (lots of trips coming up!) and Sunday saw me at two events, which is unusual for me, but they were both so packed with fashion and fab folks that I couldn’t pass them up.
One of those parties was at the home of my fun friend Elizabeth. Our friend, style-maker Victor was there to give tips on what to do with those fashion pieces in our closets that stumped us.
But first, a tour of Elizabeth’s adorable cottage. It is so her – fun and sweet and whimsical. I loved it!
It’s still pretty warm here in Atlanta, but in the early morning, I can feel a bit of Autumn trying to peek out.
Which convinces me that Fall is just around the corner. Almost.
And Halloween. Halloween is less than six weeks away. Halloween means candied apples. This year it means Amy’s Gourmet Apples. Look at these babies:
Photo Courtesy of Amy's Gourmet Apples
They are huge! And there are all types to choose from. Oh my goodness. I need them all. Well, maybe not need, but want. Definitely want.
Sure, you could make your own, but if you have no inclination for dealing with the mess of piping hot chocolate, this would be much easier.
Wouldn’t they make a swell hostess gift? Or a gift for that hard-to-buy-for boss? Or for yourself? Or for me! Yes, they would make a lovely gift for me.
And since they’re apples, that must mean they are healthy! You can get one of your daily fruits in for the day.
Rationalization is a wonderful thing.
Now, excuse me, I must go purchase some of those apples.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to Glen Campbell and Bobbi Gentry – Little Green Apples
As you may have guessed, I am still recovering from the paella party. Still. My goodness.
Eric and I did make the time to sneak in a trip to the Dragon*Con Parade on Saturday, after a scrumptious brunch given by our friends, Carrie and Steven.
Today is a photo journey that I think you will really like. The parade just gets better every year.
