Virginia Highland
{ Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 }
Bill Peace, High Style High Rise Home Tour
Bill Peace of Atlanta-based Peace Design is one of six top designers participating in the month-long High Style High Rise Home Tour at The Residences at W Atlanta – Downtown. His decorated model, created in conjunction with Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, is on display through April 1st, with ticket sales benefitting the High Museum. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you choose to “supersize” your time at the W Downtown by swinging by BLT-Steak and/or Bliss Spa….
Q. Atlanta hidden gems?
A. It may not be hidden to some, but my neighborhood is a true gem. I have walked, cycled and sometimes swayed my way through Virginia Highlands since the 1980′s. The intown community has a southern pace with a progressive energy– young and old who could live most anywhere choose this charming village. From the many established shops, to the hot eastside outpost for Jimmy Stanton’s stylish Stanton Home, to the modern classic fashions of 310 Rosemont to the restaurants I have designed over the years like Fontaine’s, El Taco and recently Genki– I continue to love working, shopping and eating my way through the best neighborhood in the city.
Q. You’re hosting a delegation of top designers from around the world, and you’ve got 24 hours to show off Atlanta to them. What’s on the agenda?
A. The Peace Design Tour of Atlanta would be centered around a few of my favorite things….architecture, art and food!
We would start the day at the original Highland Bakery for a hip take on a southern breakfast before a quick walk through the Sol LeWitt’s 54 Columns urban sculpture on N. Highland at Glen Iris. From there we’d go to the High Museum to catch the Picasso to Warhol exhibition and show off the elegant Richard Meier and Renzo Piano building. Stepping across Peachtree Street to MODA, we’d explore the current show on chair design…Stories in Form.
Enough culture already– for food we must first head downtown to the amazing new Alma Cocina for Chef Chad Clevenger’s inspired Latin and modern Mexican fare along with a few exotic Margaritas designed by the cocktail rock star, Vajra Stratigos. I am also proud to show off the restaurant’s interior– designed by Peace Design in collaboration with ai3.
Strolling through downtown we will of course check out the modern masterworks of modernist John Portman. Then back to the eastside of town to the Carlos Museum of Art and Archeology designed by Michael Graves. A quick stop for a bottle of something special from my friend Nick at Highland Fine Wine, light bites and a “Gigi Says” cocktail at Ecco in Midtown before an amazing feast with the food super star Kevin Rathbun at Kevin Rathbun Steak…another amazing interior!! If anyone is still standing we will finish it off with a late night martini at the Highland Tap.
Q. Big design trend on the horizon?
A. I have always avoided getting caught up in the trend of the moment. I believe quality and craftsmanship survive and trends fade. We will continue to see classic design, comfort and luxury thrive.
Q. Design trend that you can’t wait to see disappear?
A. Outrageous color and pattern with the attempt to imitate quality and good design! There is a trend to mix any and all color with pattern and call it good design and I believe color can be dangerous in the wrong hands!
In the space I designed for the High Style High Rise Home Tour there is a complete absence of color to demonstrate that the classic design ideals of form, scale, contrast, harmony, symmetry…or asymmetry are the essence of good design. It is important that the audience have an opportunity to contemplate design without it being camouflaged by random color and pattern.
Q. What’s so special about the High Rise High Style Home Tour at The Residences at W Atlanta- Downtown?
A. I believe the High Museum is a real treasure in our city. The opportunity for designers to invite the public through designed spaces for the benefit of the High is very special. The Residences at W Atlanta – Downtown offer an interesting range of living options that is captured in the variety of styles reflected in this tour with all the amenities of intown high rise living.
Photo Credit: Peter Block
{ Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 }
Kelvin and Mandy Slater, Blue Moon Pizza
Word-on-the-street is that Blue Moon Pizza is good. Very good. So, instead of taking word-on-the-street at its word, I figured I might as well go straight to the source. Kelvin and Mandy Slater are the owners of Blue Moon Pizza, and they were gracious enough to justify their pizza existence…
Q. There’s a guy in Wisconsin named Don Gorske who has reportedly consumed over 25,000 Big Macs in his life. How many pizzas would you estimate that your most faithful customers have ordered?
A. We would say that for the past 8.5 years, we have had some customers ordering at least one pizza a week. So, a conservative number would be 400-500. However, there are quite a few people that are in 3 to 4 times a week for lunch, ordering our Two Slice Lunch Special. There is no telling how many they have had.
Q. Favorite Atlanta neighborhoods?
A. We love Virginia Highland for the restaurants, shops, walkability, Piedmont Park, and of course the gorgeous homes.
Q. If you could create the ultimate home kitchen – cost not being a factor – what would it look like?
A. First it must be Viking and Sub-Zero inspired. Also very large, with lots of work and prep space, and a huge bar for everyone to gather ’round. Everyone would expect a pizza oven, so we wouldn’t want to disappoint them.
Q. When you’re not eating at Blue Moon Pizza, where do you like to dine out?
A. Some of our favorites are Rathbun’s and Kyma, however, we don’t get there as often as we’d like. But since we are on the go a lot between the four restaurants, we stick to places that we know are quick and easy and that the food and service are consistent. Houston’s is a great example of that. So often we will try the latest and greatest new spot ,but find ourselves always going back to the reliable spots.
Q. What is Blue Moon Pizza, and why is it awesome?
A. Blue Moon Pizza is a warm and friendly neighborhood restaurant that happens to serve pizza. It’s awesome because we have something for everyone, such as a full bar, a gluten-free menu, and other great menu items besides pizza. We are a great place for date night, families, office luncheons, softball teams…the list could go on and on. Our entire staff truly understands hospitality and knows that getting to know and taking care of our guests is the only key to our success. They are the people that pay them, not the two of us.
{ Thursday, December 8th, 2011 }
Brickworks Condominium For Sale
I’ve always been a huge fan of The Brickworks, an intimate condominium and townhouse community in Inman Park.
Its location is perfect: about a hundred feet from the soon-to-be-completed BeltLine Eastside Trail, the 2.5 mile path that’s going to link Inman Park and Virginia-Highland to Piedmont Park.
View of the Atlanta BeltLine, right behind The Brickworks. The trail is currently under construction, and is slated to open in Spring 2012.
It’s close enough for residents to enjoy the happenings on Highland Avenue… but not so close that the hustle-bustle of a live/work/play environment is going to keep anyone awake at night.
Access to the Stone Mountain Trail, and plenty of greenspace, is right around the corner.
I’ve just listed a one-bedroom unit, #6202 Brickworks Circle for sale. It’s spacious, in impeccable condition, and absolutely ready to roll for a home buyer looking for a fantastic condo in a dynamite location.
Learn more about Brickworks #2602- check out my vFlyer for the property. It’s a one bedroom, one bathroom beauty, listed at $145,000. If you or anyone that you know if looking for a swell deal on a swell place, let me know. I happen to think it’s a fantastic place.
{ Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 }
Josh Lindenbaum, Curbed Atlanta
If you haven’t visited Curbed Atlanta yet, you should do so immediately. Once you’ve spent a minute or two taking it in, you should bookmark it. Return and read often- you’ll be smarter for it.
Clearly, I like this website. So I was absolutely thrilled that its Editor, Josh Lindenbaum, took a few minutes to share some advice for the mayor, Atlanta dining tips, and real estate crystal ball reading…
Q. Crystal ball time- ten years from now, the most dramatically changed neighborhood in Atlanta will be…
A. Poncey-Highland / Old 4th Ward. Between The Beltline (and the private investment that’s already tracking it there) and the Atlanta Steetcar, huge transformation is under way.
Q. Mayor for the day- what’s on the agenda?
A. Expend significant political capital pressing for T-SPLOST to be passed. Buy 50% of the surface parking lots in the Midtown-downtown corridor and redevelop them into parks ringed with space for pocket retail and food/beverage businesses. Find some money to jump start local entrepreneurship in the downtown corridor, with Underground Atlanta converted into a new art & (local) restaurant district as the focal point. Convene a meeting with leaders from around the state and make a killer-app presentation illustrating in clear terms, once and for all, that what is good for Atlanta is truly good for the entire state.
Q. One day to eat your way through Atlanta- where are you going, and what are you ordering?
A. Jalapeno & bacon biscuit at Empire State South. Handmade marshmallow at Cacao. The Duck Mi sandwich at Muss & Turners. A cappuccino at Octane. Wild boar prosciutto at Star Provisions. Eggplant fries at Rathbun’s. Frisee Aux Lardons salad at Bistro Niko. Something with foie gras at Bacchanalia. Vegetable plate at Restaurant Eugene. Pommes frites at Leon’s Full Service. A salad selection from Metro Fresh. Pizza Diavola at Antico. Slice of Red Velvet cake from Piece of Cake. French press of Dancing Goats coffee from Batdorf Bronson. If I didn’t keel over, all to be followed by 48 straight hours of water and exercise.
Q. Favorite neighborhoods?
A. Virginia Highland, Candler Park, Garden Hills.
Q. What’s Curbed Atlanta, and why is it a “must read”?
A. Curbed Atlanta is an electronic magazine that combines information and commentary about Atlanta real estate, neighborhoods, architecture and the trends (economic, demographic, social) that affect these subjects areas on a macro scale. Taken together and presented in our editorial voice, we believe the site provides an easily-digested snapshot of Atlanta that’s a valuable resource folks working in the Atlanta real estate industries, as well as any businessperson operating in the Atlanta area. We also strive to be an essential daily read for generally curious Atlantans.
{ Thursday, December 1st, 2011 }
Atlanta Public Schools Redistricting
If APS Superintendent Erroll Davis thought his phone rang a lot before, he has know idea what he's in for...
Hold on to your hat Atlanta. Things are about to get crazy.
On the heels of the cheating scandal that’s rocked the nation, City of Atlanta Public Schools announced earlier this week that they’ve begun to study citywide school redistricting.
Deep breaths. Don’t get too crazy. Yet.
From the horse’s mouth, here’s how APS introduced their initial report:
APS is in the beginning stages of an arduous undertaking and we need input from the community. No decisions have been made about the scenarios/options posted. In fact, the process will take place over the next few months and will conclude in March of next year.
See, everything is going to be ok!
Maybe, maybe not. There’s no bigger NIMBY issue than schools, and the public hearings on this issue are going to be B-A-N-A-N-A-S. I’m still pouring through the study maps and options- haven’t jumped to any conclusions yet, although it’s looking like some very familiar intown neighborhoods could potentially see some fairly dramatic changes.
Like I said, deep breaths people. Deep breaths.
The Relevant Linkage
APS Demographic Study Home Page
APS Capacity Study (essential background information)
APS Scenarios and Options Summary (aka the meat and potatoes)
Option Maps (aka the meat and potatoes in color coded maps)
