atlanta – Page 7 – tide & bloom

henry & june

Coffee and clothing. Espresso and style. Caffeine and design. They are simple things that permeate my daily life and they nourish my soul as much as they are just my everyday fuel. I might sound like a narcissistic hipster when I say these kinds of things, but it’s really the truth. Sipping a smooth latte is like zipping up a well-tailored dress; you stand a little straighter, you hold your chin up, and you are ready to face the day. Jim Chambers and Camryn Park (with the support of veteran barista Daniel Mueller) have tapped into this poetic alignment and presented this pairing at Henry & June, their brand-spanking-new coffee and clothing gallery in the Virginia Highland neighborhood.

I’ve been on the edge of my seat for months waiting for this dreamy duo to bring their cafe boutique hybrid to life, and I must say that they definitely did not disappoint. When you step into the space, it’s evident that you’re stepping into something special. Their collection of curated goods is an obvious representation of their personal style; modern, playful, at times retro, and always with a strong and elegant sense of self.

Combing through their products becomes a series of finding one treasure right after the other. There are no filler tees and tanks here, no random tchotchkes to divert your attention. With a well-brewed Crema drink in hand (for those hot summer days, be sure to try the new arabica palmer!), it’s really quite easy to stay a while.

ration & dram: monday oyster night

Monday night oysters at Ration & Dram are a buck a shuck! So, a dozen blue point oysters for $12? I’m all in. Tucked away on Arizona Avenue in the Kirkwood neighborhood, R&D is the perfect spot to kick those Monday blues. With smooth cocktails and charming patios, it’s hard to feel anything but bliss when you’re here.

varuni napoli

If you’re an avid local restaurant eater like me, then I’m sure you know that pizza is super hot on the street right now. Neapolitan style, in particular, is having a great 15 minutes of fame on the Atlanta food scene. Ever since Antico made waves among the Buckhead crowd, new spots have been popping up all over town. Varuni Napoli, one of the newest, has taken its stand in the heart of Midtown and Ansley Park at the corner of Monroe and Piedmont. An ideal spot for sure, but was the pizza going to live up to its rustic Italian namesake? Last week I found out.

First impressions can make quite a difference and by looks alone, Varuni has all the makings of a great culinary spot. The decor is clean and modern with a hint of homemade here and there – just enough to feel of the moment. Their sweet little back patio is also quite quaint, a nice spot to eat your pie as the sun goes down.

We sat with baited breath waiting for our pizza to come to us. Though all the choices sounded pretty good, we opted for a classic combo of mozzarella, sausage, mushroom, onions, and roasted smoked peppers. As you can see by these pictures, it looked every bit our dream of the perfect neopolitan pizza. By all accounts, things were looking good.

guest post at the not-so-southern belle

I can’t tell you how grateful I am to have this outlet to explore my thoughts and creative journey. It still stuns me to this day that people even take note of what I post (I’m still a bit shy IRL about it). Today, I’m guest posting over at The Not-So-Southern Belle; I wrote a piece about my love affair for Atlanta, which is obvi a central theme in my life. Be sure to check it out here!

creative makers: audrey of tiny buffalo

I’ll never forget the first time I had a Tiny Buffalo cookie. My boyfriend brought it to me at the first Root City Market and I was immeeeediately hooked. The baker, Audrey caught my reaction and proceeded to hand me more cookies because of the ridiculous happy face I was making. Right there and then I knew that I’d have to keep an eye on this girl to hold onto this deliciousness in my life. Her granola, her scones, her hand pies… everything I’ve ever tried from Audrey’s kitchen is like a little piece of home and heaven. And of course, Audrey is as humble as the day is long – the epitome of a joyful baker, making it her business to put yummy in your tummy and a smile on your face.

When you were little, what did you want to be when you grow up?

A gymnast. Which is hilarious because I am super clumsy and awkward! Then I discovered coffee shops and was hooked.

Where does the name “Tiny Buffalo” come from?

Tiny speaks to portion size – I studied nutrition in college and think that little indulgences can be part of a healthy lifestyle. Buffalo represents nature – being active/outside. It also represents the ingredients; I use local when possible, eggs and dairy from animals not treated with hormones, etc. But honestly… it’s just fun to say!

What is your goal as a creative entrepreneur?

Not to have to get a real job 🙂

Does baking run in the family? How did you begin to start making all these delicious things?

I definitely remember baking with my mom – we’ve made the same Christmas treats every year since I was two. I had an Easy Bake Oven and loved sampling batter off the beaters (still do). But I think we bake/talk about baking more since I started TB. And my dad has never complained about being a taste tester 🙂 They are my super fans.

What inspires you?

Chocolate milk and naps!

flip burger boutique

For how big a fan I am of Richard Blais, I surprise myself by how few times I actually visit his restaurants. I’ve been to Flip Burger a number of times now, but with the Ponce location having just opened their rooftop patio, it was time to make another visit. I went on a weekday, so it was pretty empty and for a little while, we had the brand new rooftop patio all to ourselves.

julianna’s crepes

As you’ve heard (or read) me say over and over, there are always more hidden gems in Atlanta to be found. I’m guessing this is true of any growing and thriving city full of wonderful and creative entrepreneurs. Last week I found myself stumbling into Julianna’s Crepes for a lovely mid-afternoon snack, thanks to the suggestion of my new blogger friend Lucy.

As quaint and charming as ever, this cafe serves up a menu of both savory and sweet crepes. Since I hadn’t had lunch yet, I went for savory while Lucy went for the classic sweet combo of strawberries, banana, and honey. Both tasted a bit like the French/Hungarian childhood I never had.

an afternoon with the stacktone slims

I recently had the honor of spending an afternoon in Grant Park with The Stacktone Slims, trying to get them some photographs that do their music justic. Here are some of my favorites of these dapper dudes!

le petit marche

Per Shellane‘s glowing recommendation of Le Petit Marche, I made it a personal mission to visit this cute little Kirkwood spot. I don’t visit the Kirkwood neighborhood nearly as much as I should, as evidenced by the fact that I had never been to this adorable cafe. Walking up to it (especially on a bright sunny day) immediately put me into a good mood and walking into the front door, my happiness level continued to skyrocket.

Their menu provides a plethora of sandwich options plus breakfast all day every day! They were definitely after my heart (and obviously, my empty stomach). Thankfully I had a lovely date for lunch, my ex-coworker Katie, who was willing to split everything with me. She’s easy on the eyes too:

salvage atl 2014

Salvage, put on by the same geniuses who created Indie Craft Experience, is one of the many Atlanta events I look forward to. Here, vendors can sell all their vintage finds and vintage-inspired creations to people like me who like to fancy themselves connoisseurs of pretty things. Not only that, it also gives me an excuse to purchase delicious treats from The Little Tart, King of Pops, and Atomic Ice Cream Sandwiches (there goes my wallet and my diet).

My two purchases of the day were the Missouri plate you see above (for the STL beau) and a sweet little Etienne Aigner wicker shoulder bag from Red Tag Affair (you can see it in her picture way up above)!