Whew, what a weekend. Lets get started with the recap.
Friday night we attended FLUX, the art installation in Castleberry Hill. It is more of an art installation than art festival because it is interactive and a bundle of fun. Called Le Flash last year, this year’s incarnation had a ton more partiers and more things to see. There were zebras running on buildings, movies projected onto high rises, singing heads, food carts and much more. Eric and I went with besties Crystal & Teague, said hello (and Happy Birthday!) to our friend Denise Jackson in her gallery, and then stopped for a drink at our other besties loft, Matt and Clint. It was delightful, exhilirating and cultured.
Roll the footage!
Crystal and Teague party down at Miss Jackson's gallery
Whew! The past week has been crazy busy. Last night we celebrated Eric’s birthday with a handful of our besties. It was so nice. And I’m hoping that I can get by today by just posting photos. Because I am lazy and the laundry is piling up. And I’m lazy. Wait, did I say that already? Well, it’s true today.
Thanks to our nearest and dearest for making Eric’s big day so special. Boy Howdy, do we have a bunch of beer at the house. And now a contraption for making beer can chicken! But that’s a post for another day.
Thanks for allowing me to be lazy today. And a million thanks to all our darlings for helping Eric celebrate his birthday by eating chili dogs, chips & dip, donuts and mac & cheese.
xoxo, Patti
Today blogging to The Macaroni Cheese Song (I love all the hilarity of You Tube!)
Yesterday was a wild whirlwind of a video shoot, but today, it is time to celebrate. It is my perfect husband’s birthday. Tonight we will celebrate by recreating all his childhood faves. Chili dogs, Groovy Mike Sells Potato Chips, Onion dip, Real Coca-Colas in glass bottles. A group of our besties will gather together in our home and it will be a ball.
And macaroni and cheese. Apparently it’s everyone else’s childhood favorite. What was yours?
Anyhoo, I am going to indulge myself by posting some of my favorite photos of Eric from the past year. Happy Birthday, Honey. I love you madly.
xoxo, Patti Today blogging to Three Dog Night – Celebrate
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.
I know a lot of you have been waiting patiently for the details of our paella party. Here you go!
The party started the day before when Vickie arrived and Jeff, Crystal and Teague joined us for some brainstorming about the fire and flow of the party. Pizza and beer followed. A pre-party is always fun.
Sunday we all woke early and Eric got the fire started. Early, y’all. It was blazing by 10 a.m. and was ready for the paella pan by 3 p.m. And then Eric cooked. And cooked. And cooked some more. We have realized that the paella still takes about 3 hours to prepare. But we were ready this time.
I bet you are getting ready for Labor Day. Me, too. Eric and I are hosting around 70 of our nearest and dearest for paella in the backyard. Someone asked me the other day how I do it. My response was that it is just as easy to cook for 70 as 10 friends. You just add extra chicken. lol
Remember last year’s paella soiree? We learned a lot from last year’s bash.
First, we will build a big wood fire this year. No wimpy propane for us. And we will start the fire early. Eric plans on having the fire up and roaring by 9 a.m. so we can eat at a decent hour. Last year it took 3 hours for that paella to cook and everyone was half in the bag by dinner. Now everyone will only be 1/4 in the bag by dinner, so that’s an improvement.
Secondly, we are asking our darlings to bring wine, beer and booze. That stuff skyrockets a party budget. Everyone is in a bit of an economic crunch these days, so our buddies are happy to contribute.
Thirdly, this year we will buy cleaned and deveined shrimp. Holly and I spent a billion hours peeling and deveining the four pounds of shrimp last year. Not this time.
Dessert will be paletas, or in english, popsicles. As I write this, the strawberries are bubbling on the stovetop with sugar and strawberry nectar. They will go into our popsicle molds and I will start all over again tomorrow with a new flavor. Maybe Mexican chocolate would be good. And easy. Pretty much just chocolate milk with cinnamon. That would be good. When you are making 70 popsicles, easy is key.
Here’s a link to the recipe we’re using. It says it will feed 25-30, but don’t you believe it. It will easily feed 60. With leftovers. Seriously. Maybe 25-30 linebackers.
Some of my favorite shots from last year.
Rick, Teague and Eric discuss the browning of the chicken
I love the look on Eric's face as he stirs this monster...
Have you ever met folks and just knew you all would be great friends? My new friend Victor is one of those folks. Victor is an image consultant and just the loveliest person. Our mutual friend Elizabeth introduced us and on Sunday we all met at Victor’s house for brunch. His house is one of those wonderful places you immediately feel at ease and could stay for hours.
You all know how much I adore living in Atlanta. It’s a town filled with surprises. We are genteel, we are foodies, we love a parade, we love a spectacle. Sometimes we like it rough.
Saturday night was one of those rough nights. Besties Crystal, Teague, Denise, Rick, Eric and I all packed up the food and tailgated before the Atlanta Rollergirls bout at the Shriners Temple. This was my first time seeing the Rollergirls in action, and what a treat it was. But first, we must eat.
Whew, I am finally at home after being gone since last Wednesday. Three days at the lavish Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island on assignment for Design Is, and then up to Sky Valley for some R&R with our sweet friends Clint & Matt in their cozy mountain cabin in North Carolina. Even though Eric and I were there to relax, I couldn’t help but see a story in the weekend. Those two really have this weekend guest thing down to a science. Everyone is responsible for a meal (including happy hour snacks), so no one is stuck doing all the cooking. Brilliant, yes?
Eric and I were in charge of Saturday night supper, since we got there too late to enjoy Friday supper with everyone.
Over the past year you have met so many of our favorite folks. Chioke has been a guest star in many of these posts. Remember his movie night here, our taco and candy night here? Those are just a few of the times we’ve shared and I’ve shared with you.
But now Chioke is moving to THE big city, New York City, to continue his education, and will be gone for three years. Three years I will not be able to walk two blocks for a hug or a special cocktail. Three years I will not be able to hear the sound of his smooth voice and laugh at his wicked jokes.
My heart is a little heavy today.
We spent our last evening together for a while doing what we do best – eating. Eric, Holly, Chioke and I met up at JCT. Kitchen in Atlanta for a (semi) celebratory meal. I first introduced you to JCT on my first meeting with Eddie and Jaithan.
Since JCT. does southern cuisine best, it was a fitting place to say our goodbyes.
