Shopping
{ Friday, April 29th, 2011 }
Elizabeth Schneider, Wine For Normal People
Elizabeth Schneider is all about bringing wine to the people. A Certified Sommelier and Specialist of Wine, she’s the guru/normal person behind Wine For Normal People, an Atlanta based wine blog/podcast/edutainment company that’s making big waves in the wine world. If you like wine, you should listen up…
Q. Best Atlanta spots for good, affordable wine?
A. I’ve got three places that I shop…one which always seems to surprise people.
1. Tower on Piedmont. If you like European wines, especially, they have a great selection and terrific prices. If you pay with cash or a debit card they knock off a bunch of money. Huge thumbs up from me.
2. Savi Urban Market in Inman Park. Not just because I do monthly classes here (shameless plug) but also because they have a huge selection of eclectic stuff at good prices. If you haven’t been here, it’s kind of like Atlanta’s version of New York’s Balducci’s. A great gourmet market with awesome wine.
3. And here’s the big surprise…Kroger Ansley (yes, this location only). Talk about a little known Atlanta secret! The guys that run this place basically operate an autonomous wine shop in the back of this in-need-of-an-upgrade florescent jungle. Head straight to the back of the store and you’ll have unbelievable choice at great prices (especially if you have a Kroger card — get one just for the wine if not). Their closeout section (near the sodas to the right of the main wine area) has deals that would make any wine lover go crazy. I got a very high end (second growth) Bordeaux for $49 a few months ago. It will be worth $300 in about 2 years! I love Joe and Woody!
Q. John Schneider, who played Bo Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard, is coming to Atlanta for a day, needs a tour guide, and is insistent that a fellow Schneider shows him around. What’s on the agenda?
A. To be clear, I’m not related to John, nor to the heirs of the Schneider trucking dynasty (although I wish I were). Also, although I’d be happy to show him around, I’m not wearing Daisy Dukes…but I digress.
I’m hoping that John’s palate is a little more developed now (I assume he drank Beast and Nattie Light in his DoH days) so we can have a good day of it and drink some great stuff.
I’d start with brunch at Murphy’s…with a requisite Mimosa (they use fresh squeezed OJ — yum) and maybe a glass or two of dry French Rosé, since it’s perfect for spring! A walk around Piedmont Park to get keep our Schneider physiques svelte and then we’d stop at the Botanical Gardens for some tranquility and natural beauty in the midst of midtown high rises. That should take us into the late afternoon, just in time to head to Ecco in Midtown for the best wine list and small bites in all of Atlanta. Since one of the best things about Atlanta is the people, I’d invite my favorite friends to come down and join us on the patio to try the unbelievable selections from the list in this Atlanta wine gem (more people = more chances to try their varied selection of wines).
After all that drinking, we’d have to have Luke Duke pick John/Bo up in the General Lee (I’d like to see him squeeze in the GL after all that great wine and food!).
Q. What’s your favorite wine these days?
A. The weather is getting warmer so I’m on a white kick right now. Verdejo from Rueda, Spain is at the top of my list for balmy days. It’s kind of “green” with lime and green herb flavors but it’s got a creamy texture and slight bitterness, which I totally love. It’s so awesome with cheese and with Marcona almonds. Yum.
Q. Favorite neighborhoods?
A. Ok, I’ll admit that I’m a Yankee. That means that the more walkable a neighborhood is, the more I like it. That puts Midtown and Virginia Highland at the top of my list. That said, I love my former neighborhood, Grant Park, for the incredible historic homes and amazing neighbors, and my new neighborhood, Morningside, for it’s total bucolic tranquility (I feel like I’m on vacation when I get home from the day!).
Q. What is Wine For Normal People, and why is it awesome?
A. Wine For Normal People is a many splendored thing. It’s an internationally followed blog and a podcast, and soon to be a book. It’s a wine edutainment company that teaches people about wine in an unbiased, down-to-earth way through private events and classes. Regardless of how people come to know it, the message is the same — it’s for people who like wine but not the snobbery that goes with it. What makes it awesome is that even though I’m a Certified Sommelier, Certified Specialist of Wine, an MBA, and have years of experience in the California wine industry, I am really just a normal person who is passionate about wine and wants to share my knowledge and make people comfortable with the subject. I try to make people comfortable with wine and help them figure out what they like or don’t like without judgment. If you take the condescension out of wine and just look at it as an academic and sensory joy…or just fermented grapes, it’s a cool subject and one that you can never know everything about. A dork’s utopia!
{ Friday, January 28th, 2011 }
1439 Lachona Court Open House
A few weeks ago, I couldn’t help but brag about my listing at 1439 Lachona Court. On Sunday, I’m holding an open house at this beautiful, spacious, well appointed four bedroom ranch.
The open house is from 3-5 on Sunday, January 30.
A few reasons why you should either attend, or forward on this information to a friend or colleague:
1. The house itself is fantastic, and for four bedrooms in this particular location (and price point), you’d be hard pressed to find anything that can hold a candle to it.
2. Not to beat on the location drum too hard, but 1439 Lachona Court is minutes from I-85, Emory, CDC, Toco Hills Shopping Center(s), multiple synagogues, schools, churches and more. Spend more time walking, and less time driving.
3. According to weather.com, it’s going to get up to 60 degrees in Atlanta on Sunday. As much fun as it might be to surf real estate listings online, it’s even more fun to see them in person. Leave your jacket at home and come visit.
4. Scoutmob’s Deal of the Day is 50% off at Broadway Cafe, which is just a stroll away from the open house. Nothing like house hunting after enjoying half off at the best kosher vegeterian (and pizza) joint in town.
The Details
Where: 1439 Lachona Court, Atlanta, GA
When: Sunday, January 28, 2011, 3-5 p.m.
Why: It might be your next house (more information, pictures, etc.)
{ Monday, June 7th, 2010 }
Atlanta Farmers Market Feedback
Atlanta’s Farmers Markets need your help.
The Peachtree Road Farmers Market makes thousands of people happy and dozens of businesses sustainable.Atlanta's Farmers Markets need you.
A couple of weeks ago, the brouhaha began. According to the local peacock, a for-profit competitor to the non-profit farmers markets complained to the City about a lack of regulations (and fees) being attached to the mini-markets. And that’s where I’ll hand the baton off to Georgia Organics, who just sent out this call-to-action:
The City of Atlanta is evaluating the policies that govern the activities of farmers markets. Market managers in the Atlanta area are working with the city to create a set of policies that recognize markets’ needs and small budgets, as well as consumer safety.
The city has been very supportive in developing a solution.
Please let the city know how much you love your farmers market, and that extra expenses could have a debilitating effect on them, as they are largely run by a small groups of volunteers.
You can email the mayor at mkreed@atlantaga.gov. You can also call 404.330.6030 to find your city council member.
Photo Credit: USA Today
{ Wednesday, May 12th, 2010 }
Farmers’ Markets In Atlanta
I first fell in love with farmers’ markets when I lived here, fell deeper in love when I was here, and am now downright giddy when I spend my Saturday mornings here. So, I decided to write a blog post this past weekend, one in which I would list every farmers’ market in Atlanta, by day. I’d talk about how fresh the produce was, how strong the vibe of community was, and just how much fun it was to be a part of them. It should not have come as a surprise to me then that John Kessler of the AJC published his own paean to farmers’ markets yesterday.
Scooped!
Regardless, check out the list below, and try and make some time to visit one of these neighborhood markets. They will make you happy.
Saturdays
Marietta Square Farmers Market
Riverside Farmers Market (Roswell)
The Local Farmstand at Star Provisions
Tuesdays
Farmers Atlanta Road Market (Smyrna)
InTown Farmer’s Market (Ponce de Leon)
Whistle Stop Farmers Market (Norcross)
Wednesdays
Thursdays
East Atlanta Village Farmers’ Market
Paper Mill Farmers Market (Marietta)
The Local Farmstand at Star Provisions
Friday
The Local Farmstand at Star Provisions
Edit Credits: Georgia Organics, PickYourOwn.Org, AJC/John Kessler
Photo Credit: AJC
{ Thursday, November 12th, 2009 }
Fashion Over Atlanta
This weekend, Atlanta celebrates its unique, beloved and independently owned boutiques with Fashion Over Atlanta. The four day event showcases a couple dozen fantastic boutiques, with events, parties and lots of love.
From the organizers:
Remember shopping? The thrill of finding the perfectly fitting dress, or just the right accessory to set your look off – adding a kick to your step? Have you forgotten the smell of brand new shoes?
Fashion Over Atlanta invites you back with four evenings of events in boutiques all over the city – celebrating shopping and fashion. This is not just wine and cheese my dear – there are rumors flying about designer trunk shows, personal styling experiences, trend reports, musical performances, bourbon tastings – and that glorious feeling of going home with new clothes you can be excited about!
