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All Skate!

Saturday, November 20th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Our good friend Caren West sent me this marvy press release on the opening of an ice skating rink in Piedmont Park, our city’s best place to play.

Let’s get all the details from Caren:

THE RINK AT PARK TAVERN HOSTS BREAKFAST WITH SANTA ON OPENING DAY

The Rink at Park Tavern, a new covered ice skating rink located in the heart of Midtown in Piedmont Park, will open to the public on Monday, November 22, 2010. To celebrate its arrival, Park Tavern is hosting a special Breakfast with Santa at The Rink from8 to 10:30 a.m. that morning. For $10 kids can enjoy sweets from Santa’s bakery, cereal and fruit juices. Parents can bring a camera, but there will also be a professional photographer available to snap pictures with Santa. Park Tavern’s new homemade hot chocolate and new frozen hot chocolate will be available for purchase. Parents will also be able to purchase bagels, coffee and gourmet Danishes. Breakfast with Santa does not include the cost of skating or skate rental. Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.xorbia.com/tickets/therink/.

The Rink at Park Tavern will also host a second Breakfast with Santa for kids on Friday, November 26 from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Kids can also enjoy Frozen Hot Chocolate and Cookies with Santa on Tuesday, November 30 from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE RINK AT PARK TAVERN

Located in the spacious Garden Tent in Park Tavern, The Rink will feature modern amenities for day and night skating including a brand new rink created with harvested rainwater that is 85 feet long and 40 feet wide. Skaters will stay warm under a beautiful heated tent with a state-of-the-art sound system; while observers can enjoy rink-side dining, homemade hot chocolate, specialty cocktails, house-brews, ½ price wine bottles every Wednesday, 1/2 off sushi nightly from 10 p.m. to midnight, holiday decorations, and much more. With original woodwork, Stone Mountain-granite walls, stack-stone fireplaces, granite bars, new leather furniture and a natural slate floor, Park Tavern’s lodge-like feel will only enhance the overall experience.

Accommodating approximately 200 skaters, The Rink at Park Tavern will be open for evening skating experiences daily beginning at 5 p.m. on Monday November, 22, 2010 through Monday, February 14, 2011 and will offer four sessions on weekends and when kids are out of school on holiday breaks at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Each skating session is 3 ½ hours with ½ hour breaks to resurface the ice with harvested rainwater. At 9 p.m. each night, The Rink at Park Tavern will only be open to ages 21 and up.  The Rink is also available for private skating lessons, parties and even marriage proposals. Park Tavern will also host number of specialty events throughout the season. For the most up to date event calendar, specialty packages, and venue rental information, please visit www.parktavern.com.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Perry Como – It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

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Fun Find Friday – Improv Monster

Friday, November 19th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

My new friend, Bret Love, is a member of this cool improv group here in Atlanta. Don’t you get tired of doing the same old thing every weekend? Here’s your chance to mix it up a little bit and have some fun!

Stop! Improv Time!

December shows will be FREE with the donation of a new, unwrapped toy for the Atlanta Union Mission:

WHO: Improv Monster
WHAT: A troupe of Atlanta’s finest improv comedy veterans inspired by different performing artists every week
WHEN: Thursday nights at 8PM
WHERE: Relapse Theatre, 380 14th St NW, Atlanta, GA 30318. Call 404-541-9911 for more info.
WHY: Because it’s one of the city’s funniest and most innovative improv shows, and tickets are only $10 ($5 w/student ID)

• • • • • • •

What is IMPROV MONSTER? Imagine the irreverence of early Saturday Night Live, the colorful characters of Christopher Guest’s best work (Waiting For Guffman, Best In Show), and the madcap improvised mayhem of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Now imagine it performed live and unscripted by Atlanta’s best improvised theatre veterans, and you have Jackpie’s IMPROV MONSTER.

Co-directed by Jackpie Theatre founder Jim Karwisch and John Sexton, IMPROV MONSTER takes its inspiration from different guest artists every week, whose performances provide the source material for their long-form improvised scene-work. Recent sources have included burlesque troupes, circus acts, standup comedians, poets and musicians. Together, IMPROV MONSTER and their guests forge a unique artistic fusion unlike anything the Atlanta improv scene has ever seen.

In December the show’s theme will be Holiday Stories, with guests including Santa Sam Smith (Dec 2), the cast of Actors Express’ “Every Christmas Story Ever Told” (Dec 9) and
Kara Cantrell of Stone Mountain Christmas (Dec 16).

“Improv Monster makes Saturday Night Live look like entertainment for daycare kiddies. I read my poems, and they took my poems and ran with them, expanding them and finding the humor in them. The audience loved it. You will love Improv Monster!” –Poet Mikel K

Looks like they give out hugs, too!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Happy Tree Friends – Don’t Make Me Laugh

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Art of Such N Such

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Our neighbors are amazing. There is an expert for almost everything among our friends. One particular neighbor, Charlie Smith, is an incredible artist. And he has a polka dot van. I love polka dots. Not only that, but he also won the savory pie competition with his killer chicken pie at last year’s bake-off.  So when we all got wind of his show at Eyedrum, everybody went.

The show is a shoot-off from the Burning Man festival held in California each year. I always wanted to go, but Eric says I just like the idea of burning man, but the reality would not appeal to my delicate senses. But for just one night, I got to experience a piece of history at Charlie’s show, Art of Such N Such.

See the Wonder Inside

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Friendsgiving 2010

Tuesday, November 16th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

I love the holidays. I love get togethers. And food. So get togethers revolving around food, friends and the holidays are the greatest.

Our besties, Crystal and Teague, throw a big Friendsgiving party every year. It is for friends and friends that are basically family. This year about 40 friends (some old, some new), got together for the annual pot luck. Crystal and Teague provide all the meats and this year that meant pork shoulder and two turkeys! Everyone else brings the sides and desserts and a beverage. It is the best fun and a sure sign that the holidays are under way.

Enjoying the crisp, autumn weather.

Enjoy the bounty inside!

Posted in atlanta, Autumn, baking, Dessert, dinner, dinner parties, entertaining, Entree, Hospitalityaholic, party, Thanksgiving | 1 Response »
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Dinner for Persephone

Monday, November 15th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

POM Wonderful contacted me recently to let me know I was one of 100 folks chosen to throw a dinner party with them. A bundle of goodie bags and two cases of pomegranates landed at my door not too long after.

48 pomegranates. Big, red and heavy with seeds. How would I possibly store them all? Google came to my rescue and informed me they would stay fresh in a cool pantry for a month. Excellent.

I love the pomegranate and I love the story of Persephone, Queen of the Underworld, who, as she thought she was leaving behind her husband, Hades, forever, was tricked into eating several pomegranate seeds. You see, anyone who eats or drinks anything in the Underworld is doomed to spend eternity there. As Persephone only nibbled a few pomegranate seeds, she was sentenced to return to the Underworld every Winter, thus creating the seasons.

The Return of Persephone

If Persephone were in my home, you know I would have fed her so much more than a few seeds. Let me tell you how the menu would play out, like it did in our home last week.
Click Here To See the Menu

Posted in Appetizers, atlanta, Autumn, baking, cocktails, cooking, Dessert, dinner, dinner parties, entertaining, Entree, Recipes | 3 Responses »
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Reliving The Magic

Thursday, November 11th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

Last night was a dinner for 12 sponsored by POM Wonderful but given by me at our house. With a bundle of courses.

This morning I am staring at a kitchen full of dirty dishes.

Thus, my very belated Halloween post. And since a picture says a thousand words, here are several thousand words for you.

My costume was the Tooth Fairy, with my precious husband crafting my fleece tooth crown all himself. He is incredible. He went as a Juggalo. Google it for fun.

Our party hosts were the always charming Steve and Carrie Burns at their killer loft in Castleberry, overlooking the Georgia Dome. I especially loved the cockroach cupcakes. Brilliant.

Eric is the best at everything. Loved my softie crown.

Check out all the spooky fun!

Posted in atlanta, Autumn, Guest, Halloween, party | 4 Responses »
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Birthday, Belated, Belicious

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings! Okay, so belicious isn’t a word, but I liked how it sounded with the other words. Sunday night our besties John and Danny whipped up the most fabulous meal for a belated celebration for my sweetheart, Eric. You know we never need a reason to party.  What’s that you say? It’s Tuesday? Pop open the bubbly!

Poor Eric has been on crutches this past week due to a bad ankle, so he gave Danny a lesson on balancing on crutches when we arrived. Hilarity ensues.

Danny had never used crutches before. It's kind of a balancing act.

The food is insane. Come on in to take a look!

Posted in atlanta, Autumn, baking, cooking, Dessert, dinner, dinner parties, entertaining, Entree, Guest | 2 Responses »
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A Spaghetti Pie Housewarming

Monday, November 8th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

As I mentioned last week, my mac decided it had too many photos on it and refused to upload even one more. This was a tragedy because I lost all the photos I took at Erin & Chris’ new, beautiful home.

But I still want to tell you all about it, I will just have to substitute some pictures. Bear with me. The bonus is the recipe, sweeties!

You remember my adorable friends Chris and Erin, right? They are so funny and lovable, being with them is like a big hug. They just moved into their new house as newlyweds and it is awesome! A great kitchen, an amazing dining and living room and way, way, up the stairs, is a man cave for Chris, with all his media. I look forward to a dance party up there soon.

Chris and Erin

Lets get cooking with Chris inside!

Posted in atlanta, Autumn, cooking, dinner, dinner parties, entertaining, party, Recipes | 8 Responses »
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Fun Find Friday-Chastain Park Arts Festival

Friday, November 5th, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

The lovely fellows over at the AFFPS (that’s Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces), have asked me to come aboard as their PR and Partnerships Director. Isn’t that swell? Not only do they have a fab gallery in Decatur, but they are the folks responsible for that fantastic open market at Atlantic Station each weekend. I have picked up several darling trinkets for myself between checking out the sales at Old Navy and The Gap.

The Chastain Park Arts Festival opens tonight with a screening of “Grease” on the park lawn. Pack up all your Pink Ladies and head on over with your cozy blankets for a fun singalong in the park at 6 p.m.

Saturday morning you and your furry best friend can join in the pet parade at 10:30 a.m. Be sure to bring your own coffee mug for $1.00 refills! There is live music to enjoy as you take in all the marvelous art. You will also be able to see some of the artists at work (something you don’t see at many festivals).  And maybe pick up a few Christmas gifts while you are at it (or maybe something gorgeous for  yourself!)

Come by and say hi to me in the morning, or if you have other plans on Saturday, you can always catch the festival on Sunday until 5 p.m. I’ll be there both days for a bit.

All photos are courtesy of Chieu Lee Photography.

The festival is totally dog friendly

There's always time for shopping

Watch the magic being made right in front of you.

Patrick and Randall, co-founders of the festival

So come on out and join the fun. I look forward to seeing you!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to  My Chemical Romance – Art Is The Weapon

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Cafe Circa – Eric, Me and Johnny P

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

Good Morning Darlings!

My life has given me such amazing friendships and as you know, people come and go, but when one comes back, it is one of the greatest gifts. I received such a gift last week.

Johnny P and I go way back. Way, way back. I won’t even tell you how far. But it’s far, I tell you. He and I have lived in Atlanta for many years and although we don’t live far apart, we never get together. Life gets in the way.

But we changed all that last week. My swanky friend, Caren West, of Caren West PR arranged a very special tasting for the three of us at Cafe Circa, in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood of Atlanta.

How could this have been here for 3 years, without me noticing?

So, how did the reunion go? Come on in and join us!

Posted in atlanta, Autumn, cocktails, Dessert, dinner, Restaurants | 8 Responses »
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