Why I Love It

Moving to Kirkwood was one of the best decisions of my life. The community here is diverse and interactive. Neighbors know each other. People are always out and about, especially in our parks and in our community garden. We are invested in making the community the kind of place that welcomes and respects everyone. As one of Atlanta’s oldest neighborhoods, we are central to everything the city has to offer.

Where to Eat

Le Petit Marché (lepetitmarche.net) is Kirkwood’s answer to an amazing breakfast, brunch, or lunch. The loaded oatmeal will make you weep with joy (that or it is just your body’s way of saying thanks for the great the combination of oatmeal, fruit and praline sauce), and the grits stack, topped with shrimp, bacon, and cheese, is amazing. The staff is friendly and attentive, and this is also a family friendly restaurant. Dulce Vegan (dulcevegan.com) to vegans and other bakery fans. Even without the butter and eggs, these treats are wonderful. Urban Pie (urbanpieatl.com) is local pizza at its best. The signature pie, with roasted garlic, spinach, roasted red peppers, red onions, feta and mozzarella cheese is fantastic, and for you meat lovers you can always add some prosciutto. Ann’s Snack Bar is the best burger shop in America! Just check with the Wall Street Journal, CNN, and many other national and international news sources. Get there early if you don’t want to wait (owner Ann Price only serves 7 people at a time), but even if you have to wait, it will be worth it. There’s no website or phone to call, just show up at 1615 Memorial Drive.

Where to Shop

Kirkwood Bark and Lounge (barkandlounge.net) is your one stop shop for all your pets’ needs. They also offer grooming and boarding. Gitche Yah Yah (gitcheyahyah.com) is full of whimsical gifts for your home and is a full-service florist, with original and awe-inspiring designs. You can also pick up your “antique” Kirkwood sign here. The Mission Motif (missionmotif.com) carries gorgeous home furnishings – all from the Mission Arts style. If you want to outfit your home to the Mission period, this is the place to shop. Jazmin Spa (jazminspa.com) is an oasis in the city. They offer complete spa services with one of the friendliest staffs in the business. Augusta Designs (augustadesigns.com) and PB&J Gallery (pbjart.com) are next door to each other and offer custom designed jewelry and artwork.

What to Do

The Kirkwood Spring Fling (kirkwoodfling.com) happens mid-May each year. There is an artists’ market, local food trucks, and live music. The Kirkwood Wine Stroll is the best fun on two feet. In September you can visit the local businesses and sample many great wines on a terrific wine stroll – each location also features excellent hors d’oeuvres. Don’t miss the Kirkwood Car Wash, which transforms into the Kirkwood Lounge for this event.

By Julia Turner

Food and beverage connoisseurs brace yourselves: on Oct. 22 and 23, Taste of Atlanta is going big for its 10th anniversary. Taking place on 5th Street between Techwood Drive and West Peachtree Street again this year, the festival promises to be a weekend that cannot be missed with more than 80 restaurants offering bites.

In honor of the big 1-0, Taste of Atlanta kicks off with The Big Grill event on Friday, Oct. 21. The evening will include an array of grilled bites, beer, live music and cake. Atlanta chefs Kevin Rathbun, Scott Serpas, Ford Fry and others will be present as well as Food Network’s Aarón Sánchez. The block party will support Georgia Organics.

This year the festival has added live cooking competitions, which will range from timed, secret ingredient contests to challenges to recreate the best dish the chef has ever tasted. There will also be a Top Chef Kids Cooking competition that will pair up three chefs-in-training with professional Atlanta chefs.

Also new this year is the Global Flavors International Stage where Atlanta chefs will be able to showcase their signature dishes. “Atlanta has such a diverse culinary landscape,” says event director Dale DeSena, “and Taste of Atlanta chefs represent flavors from every corner of the world.”

Old favorites will return for the 10th anniversary celebration as well. Both the Barcraft Competition and the Inside the Food Studio experience will be back, and the festival’s Silent Auction will take place on 5th Street Bridge. The auction will benefit Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters program.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $35 the day-of and are available at tasteofatlanta.com.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to create a sustainable and accessible greenspace in the heart of downtown that will serve as a model and educational tool for similar projects in the future,” said Mayor Reed. “I want to thank our partners at Wal-Mart for their generous support of the urban farm and their commitment to bringing fresh produce to inner-city neighborhoods.”

The design competition will transform the site of the old traffic court building – vacant for several years – into a thriving demonstration farm. The contest is open to students, educators and professionals across Georgia in fields related to urban agriculture and landscape architecture. Interested competitors must register online at www.trinityavenuefarm.org by October 15 and submit proposals by November 1. Once the winning design is chosen, the preparation of the land and design installation will begin immediately, with the farm scheduled to open to the public by the spring of 2012.  There will be a $25,000 grand prize awarded to the winning submission.

The Atlanta Food Rave presents food and cocktail lovers the opportunity to mix and mingle with an eclectic group of Atlanta-based chefs in an informal atmosphere. This year’s chef lineup includes: 2010 Rave Review Winner, Chef/Owner Alex Friedman of P’cheen; Executive Chef Monique Barrow of Buckhead Bottle Bar; Executive Chef Ryan Delesandro of Nava; Executive Chef Shane Devereux of Top Flr; and Executive Chef Willie Box of Straits.

Attendees are invited to sample each chef’s offerings in addition to catered fare that will be placed throughout four environments at the host venue. As with last year, attendees will be encouraged to vote for their favorite chef of the evening, helping him/her to win The 2011 Rave Review, an award reserved for the chef that is best in show. The evening will also feature premium bars with complimentary Blue Moon, Avion Tequila tastings and non-alcoholic specialty beverages, live entertainment and a number of surprises. The menu will be revealed upon arrival and vegetarian options will be present.

Leading up to this years event will be the Atlanta Food Rave Restaurant Week, September 7-15 from 7 to 9 p.m. Guests will be invited to meet the participating chefs at their restaurants on specified days, while enjoying complimentary appetizers and drinks as a preview to the main event. Sept. 7 – Nava, Sept. 8 – P’cheen, Sept. 13 – Top Flr, Sept. 14 – Straits, and Sept. 15 – Buckhead Bottle Bar.

Why I Love Decatur

Decatur is home to me.  I grew up here walking to school, the library and downtown for a movie at the Decatur Theatre or a banana split at Lane’s Drugstore.  Today it has the same feel even though the shops are different and there are more food options.  The streets are filled with folks walking everywhere.  The square is packed with festivals and events all year long.  Someone told me we are becoming known for our quality and variety of beer and pubs – a town for real beer connoisseurs.  I say we are known for our quality and variety of people – a true community where people are involved and belong.  I hear people say frequently “this feels like the town where I grew up” and they name cities in all areas of the country.  To me, the Decatur of today is progressive, creative and lots of fun.  I’m proud to call it my hometown.

What to Do

Visit the square in downtown Decatur and cool off in the misting fountain that is part of the “Celebration” statue on the MARTA Plaza.  Read about our first African American Mayor and community activist Elizabeth Wilson on the plaque dedicating the statue to her.

Take a stroll through the Old Decatur Cemetery – Free Second Sundays Strolls are held May through September beginning at the 1881 wellhouse at 2:30 p.m. with Cathy Vogel.  Or just enjoy the 58 acres with headstones dating back to 1825. decaturpreservationalliance.org

Spend some time at the Oakhurst Community Garden amidst the community plots, chickens, bees, garden pond, Cobb Adobe playhouse made from the earth, and peace pole.  The Garden is part of the Gardens for Peace network along with Agnes Scott College and Columbia Theological Seminary. oakhurstgarden.org

Where to Eat

Pastries A Go Go is my favorite go-to spot for Sunday brunch – homemade sticky buns, biscuits and sausage gravy, and cheese grits along with the traditional Southern fare.  Lunch is great there also – try the chicken salad or the BLT.  pastriesagogo.com.  Plus owner Bob Light made my daughter’s awesome wedding cake!

A week is not complete without at least one lunch at Taqueria del Sol.  Follow the line, order your food, sit down and enjoy delicious “from scratch” Southern, Mexican and Southwestern tacos, enchiladas, yummy guacamole and shrimp corn chowder – all at a great price. taqueriadelsol.com

No. 246 just opened in downtown Decatur and so far I have been twice in two weeks. Owned by Ford Fry with Chef Drew Belline this Italian inspired, locally driven restaurant is a little loud but the food is superb.  Try the Hairloom Tomato Salad and the Spaghetti with Georgia White Shrimp.  I’ll be back to try the pizza and see what the latest special is.  no246.com

Where to Shop

Little Shop of Stories is a must-visit bookstore for children (& adults).  In addition to books, they host special events, authors, and much more.  I took my grandson to the release of the newest Pete the Cat book – Rockin’ in My School Shoes with James Dean and Mr. Eric. We rocked the house! littleshopofstories.com

Right next door is Vivid Boutique (vividdecatur.com) with handcrafted artisan jewelry created on-site, affordable gifts, candles, vegan leather handbags, vintage-style tea towels and aprons – eclectic and very affordable!  Scoot right across the street to Wild Oats and Billy Goats (wildoatsandbillygoats.com), a whimsical, colorful folk art gallery filled with paintings, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and more – all from outsider artists.

Don’t leave Decatur without visiting Heliotrope – my all-time favorite shop to find everything I didn’t know I needed and more.  Everytime I walk in there, I find something I can’t live without and my friends love their birthday gifts – especially those by Decatur artist Erin Smith (erinsmithart.com). heliotropehome.com

Coming Up

The AJC Decatur Book Festival is my favorite event in Decatur – and there is a whole year-round calendar of special events. The Book Festival is the largest independent book festival in the country and it is right here in downtown Decatur on Labor Day weekend.  Books, music, authors, funnel cakes and lots of fun. decaturbookfestival.com

Eddie & Agnes concert series featuring The Civil Wars on Oct. 9 and 10 and The Blind Boys of Alabama on Oct. 22.  Legendary acoustic music venue Eddie’s Attic teamed up with my alma mater Agnes Scott College to host an ongoing concert series.  Tickets are available at ticketalternative.com or eddiesattic.com.

In September, Decatur hosts three free concert series – Blue Sky Concerts on the Square every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m., Concerts on the Square every Saturday night (except during the Book Festival) from 7 to 9:30 p.m. and Jazz Nights at Scottish Rite every Thursday evening from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Solarium in Oakhurst. Visit decaturdba.com and oakhurstjazznights.com.

Led by chef Kevin Walker of Cherokee Town & Country Club, the evening’s epicureans include Mike Deihl from East Lake Golf Club, Gary Donlick from Bistro Niko, Chris Hall from Local Three, Heather Hurlbert from Cherokee Town & Country Club, Todd Mussman from Muss & Turner’s and Local Three, Abby Ryland from Atlanta Athletic Club, Hector Santiago from Pura Vida, Vince Scafiti from Persimmon Creek Winery, Jay Swift from 4th & Swift and Hilary White from The Hil.

Adding to the evening, guests will enjoy a detailed and educational commentary for each wine and food pairing by five of Georgia’s best sommeliers, including Bill Bolin of Bistro Niko, Stephen Clark of The Mansion on Forsyth Park, Silvio Garcia of Cherokee Town & Country Club, April McCollum of Big Boat and Seth Roskind of 4th and Swift.

In addition to gourmet food and wine, attendees will enjoy live and silent auctions that will feature a variety of unique items, including some from each participating chef. Tickets can be purchased online at www.givemefivedinner.org.

“Part of our awesome success since we started in 2009 at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market is the fact that we are owner-operated,” says Brounstein. “Our downtown hit led us to open our second wildly popular restaurant on Piedmont earlier this year, and I simply do not have the time to continue to manage the downtown location. For that reason, I am looking to sell the business to a like-minded individual who is passionate about food and delivering a quality product, understands the exciting potential of the Sweet Auburn Curb Market – and loves burgers!”

“Buying Grindhouse Killer Burgers lunch-only counter at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market is an amazing opportunity for someone who has always dreamed of owning and running his or her own restaurant, but is not interested in working late nights and grueling hours, or risking the potential failure of a new concept,” says Brounstein. “I am looking to train and set that person up for long-term success and build a lasting relationship.”

Brounstein is offering owner financing in order to find the right buyer who may not have the up-front capital to open his own restaurant.  The sale of this business would include the right to continue to operate Grindhouse Killer Burgers at the Market, use of all logos and recipes, and the ongoing training and support that is typically provided to franchisors. For more info, contact Brounstein directly at info@grindhouseburgers.com.

By Sydia Bell

A few months ago, my Twitter timeline was buzzing with news of the first Street Food Thursday at the Woodruff Art Center.

Since I wasn’t in walking distance but still wanted to sample the good eats from the trucks, I drove down Peachtree Street in search of a parking spot. By the time I got to the trucks, there seemed to be thousands of people in line. In 30 minutes, most of the trucks announced they were out of food. I decided, with my unappeased appetite, that food truck rallies were not for me.

Street Food Thursday is still happening, with more trucks than ever and plenty of food for the lines of hungry people, but waiting in the heat is not my idea of a good way to spend a lunch hour.

So, when Atlanta INtown asked me to go on another food truck adventure let’s just say I was a little apprehensive. I decided to invite a friend, because if I had to do this I wasn’t going to suffer alone. Our destination? Somewhere behind the Willy’s on Howell Mill Road. To which my friend responded, “Behind Willy’s?”

Every Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. a gravel lot behind Willy’s becomes the Howell Mill Food Park. You can find a good majority of the city’s food trucks and carts here, including King of Pops, The Tamale Queens, Westside Creamery and The Good Food Truck.

I knew immediately, this wasn’t going to be your usual food truck convergence. As we drove behind Willy’s, a friendly police officer was directing cars to parking. And since there were more trucks, that meant the lines were shorter. There were even picnic benches set up, so we didn’t feel like we had to “eat and run.” Some people sat on the grass to enjoy the food, while many brought blankets to make a picnic.

And not a single truck ran out of food.

We started with tamales, then it was onto the tofu tacos and, finally, the flavor combustion of maple cinnamon ice cream for me and a coconut key lime sorbet for my friend.

By the time we were ready to leave, our bellies were full, new people had been met, good conversations were had, and my mind was changed about food truck gatherings.

To find out more about the Howell Mill Food Park and to see which trucks will be there  each Tuesday, visit facebook.com/howellmillfoodpark.