Reynoldstown
{ Monday, August 15th, 2011 }
Amy Handler, The Kids Are Alright
The Kids Are Alright is one of my favorite programs on my favorite radio station in Atlanta, 1690 The Voice of The Arts. Host Amy Handler’s weekly show is a cornucopia of all things fun, nostalgic, brainy, artsy and good. I was listening to it pre-baby, and still set my clock by it every Saturday morning at 9 (replays on Sunday at noon). I’ve always wondered where the inspiration came from, so I was thrilled that Amy shared a peak behind the curtain…
Q. Where do you find inspiration to put together such an original, wonderful radio program?
A. Aw, shucks- an thanks! I have always worked in the field of children’s entertainment – television, theatre, radio, dance, and education. When I teach I do the same thing that I do with my show – integrate every single facet into a shiny neat little package of info and fun for the kids. Because I like everything to relate and interconnect, I use what’s around me for show ideas. Examples: For Mother’s Day I played all mummy songs. When our best pals had their sweet baby Adelaide, all baby songs. And for April Fool’s day, all banana songs because don’t you know how hilariously funny bananas are? (the next week we did all monkey songs becuase the monkeys supposedly heard last week’s show and took over the radio station to get all those bananas they heard about). So, yeah, I come by it all very honestly – it’s how I live, what I do, what I love, and, suddenly most importantly, what I want my actual kids to be exposed to. Once I asked one of my student’s parents how they kept their kids from liking Barney and Brittany. They told me “we all listen to the same music together”. That really stuck with me. And that’s what I do with my family. You gotta expose your kids and lead by example. If not, they will turn into mindless zombies swaying and singing along to Justin Bieber. If I can inspire some kids to reach past that, I have done my job.
Q. You’re in charge of creating the ultimate ‘The Kids Are Alright Weekend” in Atlanta. What’s on the agenda?
A. First of all, you would wake up and listen to my show that has an appropriate theme for the weekend – places to go. Then we would get on our tandem bike tour (I am imagining a huge long Dr. Seussish bike that spans the whole block) and have coffee and breakfast at Parkgrounds in Reynoldstown. It has a dog park so we can watch the dogs play while we play battleship. Then off to the new BeltLine park with the spraying water and 3 people swings and a trampoline enveloped by ropes. Now we are tired and hot so we head to Lotta Frutta for fruit cups and smoothies. We grab some extra bags of chulpe (ecuadorian corn. a total obsession of mine) to fuel us for our hike at the Fernbank Forest. Did you know you can go to the forest in the middle of the city? Its behind the science center, not museum, and you feel like you’ve driven far, far away. Last we stop by Antico Pizza (all other pizza is dead to me) and pick up a pie and some cannoli to take to the Starlight Drive-In.
Next morning the Grant Park Farmer’s Market, where we will and always do have the King of Pops for breakfast. Then off to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Star Provisions for lunch (fluffernutter sandwiches- they’re are all you’ve dreamed of and more), then to the Oakhurst Community Garden to play with their chickens, hang out in their cob house, catch frogs in their pond, and wade in their stream. And then for dinner, how about a drive out to Marietta for amazing chinese food – Tasty China. Driveling messes falling asleep in car on way home if you are lucky but at least you squeezed it all in. Well, not all, but it’s enough for now.
{ Monday, July 18th, 2011 }
Deal of the Year In Reynoldstown
Today’s real estate buyer isn’t looking to “pay retail”, and it goes without saying that when a transaction closes in 2011, the buyer has gotten a deal. Some deals, however, are better than others.
My new listing in Reynoldstown is one of those special deals. Located at 54 Chester Street, it’s less than a 1/16 of a mile from the Atlanta BeltLine. Built in 2004, it’s a standout in a neighborhood where new construction isn’t the norm. It boasts two roomy decks, an open designer kitchen and modern finishes throughout.
The house, and it’s BeltLine location speak for themselves. The price, however, is what pushes this house to the top of the heap: $199,000 for 3 br/2.5 ba (for those of you Zillow/Trulia addicts at home, this represents a 30% discount on what it sold for just a few years ago). Whether you’re a potential owner occupant or an investor looking for a rental property, you won’t find a better deal in the neighborhood.
This one will not last long. View the vFlyer for more information/pictures, and contact me directly for more to schedule a showing.
* This listing is a Short Sale, final sales price pending Bank Approval
{ Friday, March 25th, 2011 }
Mike LaSage, P’Cheen International Bistro & Pub
Mike LaSage, Executive Chef at P’Cheen, is a renaissance man in the truest sense. His culinary chops are rivaled only by his musical stylings, but on Monday nights at the Old Fourth Ward spot you get the real goods: Mike’s Bone Lick BBQ, a weekly bounty of ‘cue that’s developed a stalker-like loyalty. Mike on Anthony Bourdain, barbecue, and what Reynoldstown needs most…
Q. You have a choice between showing Guy Fieri or Tony Bourdain around Atlanta. Who are you taking, and where are you going?
A. Guy Fa- whatever his name is, is not someone I would spend two damn seconds with, so I would obviously go with Bourdain. And, I would take him to a romantic dinner at the top of the Omni hotel. Drinks at some real Buckhead-y spot and maybe some dancing in one of those really nifty high volume clubs in midtown…..or….NONE of those things. I’d take him to Nick’s Greek Corner for a pork Gyro, maybe over to the Righteous Room for the jukebox and cold beers, maybe Fontaine’s for some oysters, order the porterhouse for two at Kevin Rathbun’s Steak, the maybe eat something psychedelic and go stare at the wall of fish at the aquarium. Once the high ended, it would be on over to Church for some late night bacon cheese grits and some more ice cold beers. Maybe we would end the night at the Pony if he’s into that sort of thing. And, obviously I would make him pay the tab everywhere.
Q. Most underrated thing about Atlanta?
A. Underrated….. Hmmmm… Not sure…. Me, I guess… Ha! Take that!
Q. You’re given free rein to throw your own block party. What’s it going to look like?
A. Block party. That’s a good idea. I think I am going to do that in May before it gets too hot, so here’s what it’ll look like:
A fire pit with a pig roasting, a bunch of kegs of Highlife, six or seven bands, including mine, playing on two stages and maybe some local artists. Ideally, there would be a lot of nakedness, we’ll see about that and a few DJs playing some fun indie rock jams in-between the bands. And, debauchery as far as the eye can see. My house, The Reynoldstown Playboy Mansion, May 7th-ish.
Q. Favorite neighborhoods?
A. I am a huge fan of Old Fourth Ward. The Edgewood corridor has become a great place to hangout, aside from the goddamn parking issues. I also love my neighborhood, Reynoldstown, it just needs a late night convenience store and a few more bars, preferably ones with hot women I don’t already know
Q. What’s Mike’s Bone Lick BBQ, and why should we be eating it?
A. Mike’s Bone Lick BBQ is my addition to the Atlanta BBQ scene. I love good cue, however I just haven’t found much that I give a damn for: Rolling Bones does a nice job, but it’s it’s own take on BBQ, and Wyatt’s on Memorial is fantastic, but it’s out of the way and you can’t eat it there. So, I decided that if ya want something done right, do it your own damn self. I like BOLD flavors, STRONG heat, dry rubbed, smoky as all hell BBQ and now I have it every Monday at P’cheen. It’s great. So if you’re into bold-spicy-smoky deliciousness,then you should be here enjoying it too. If bland and smokeless is more your cup of tea, well, I am sure there are plenty of places that can accommodate ya, but this ain’t it!
Photo Credit: Atlanta Magazine/ Josh Meister
{ Thursday, October 7th, 2010 }
Trees Atlanta Annual Tree Sale
Trees Atlanta is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a massive tree sale
this weekend. It’s a great opportunity to hand select some trees for your yard while supporting one of Atlanta’s greenest community organizations. Straight from their site:
Over 1,000 native and exotic trees and plants will be available for purchase. You will love the aesthetic and energy-saving benefits trees provide year after year. And the best part is that they’ll be trees you personally selected for your home.
In celebration of Trees Atlanta’s 25th anniversary,
Trees Atlanta will offer 25 species and varieties of trees, shrubs, and forest-safe vines that have NEVER been sold at a Trees Atlanta Tree Sale before! A few of these trees include bladdernut, butternut, Weeping Forest Pansy redbud, Emerald Knight fringe tree, Invincabelle Spirit hydrangea, and Devil’s Walkingstick. Non-invasive, unusual/exotic tree and plant varieties include Henry’s Dwarf, Parrotia, Colossus Oyama magnolia, Halka Ginkgo and Arnold’s Promise witchhazel.
The Relevant Linkage
Browse Homes For Sale In Reynoldstown
Everything that you ever wanted to know about Tree Rollins
