When I first heard that a journalist from Atlanta published her first novel, “You go girl!” was my first reaction, as I’ve been slacking on finishing my own book. I started reading up on Colleen Oakley and her first novel “Before I Go”, then my pal from UGA’s Grady college — now editor of Eide Magazine, Tova Gelfond — invited me to attend her book party.
The event was hosted by Jenn Hobby, Kirsten Palladino, Tucker Berta, Vikki Locke, Meg Reggie, Lisa Shore and (of course) Eide Magazine. Family, friends, fellow journalists, and new fans gathered at Room & Board to celebrate “Before I Go”. Guests nibbled on JCT Kitchen snacks and sipped cocktails from Candoni Wines and Vixen Vodka.
Yours truly, Colleen Oakley, and Tova Gelfond
Turns out, Colleen and I are both graduates of UGA’s Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, along with Tova Gelfond and one of the other hosts from the party, Tova Gelfond. It was neat to see so many other writers, editors, and UGA grads come out to celebrate one of our own. Here’s a bit more about “Before I Go”
“Twenty-seven-year-old Daisy already beat breast cancer three years ago. How can this be happening to her again? On the eve of what was supposed to be a triumphant “Cancerversary” with her husband Jack to celebrate three years of being cancer-free, Daisy suffers a devastating blow: her doctor tells her that the cancer is back, but this time it’s an aggressive stage four diagnosis. She may have as few as four months left to live. Death is a frightening prospect—but not because she’s afraid for herself. She’s terrified of what will happen to her brilliant but otherwise charmingly helpless husband when she’s no longer there to take care of him. It’s this fear that keeps her up at night, until she stumbles on the solution: she has to find him another wife. With a singular determination, Daisy scouts local parks and coffee shops and online dating sites looking for Jack’s perfect match. But the further she gets on her quest, the more she questions the sanity of her plan. As the thought of her husband with another woman becomes all too real, Daisy’s forced to decide what’s more important in the short amount of time she has left: her husband’s happiness—or her own?”
Bless my mother’s heart because she’d never been to New York City. One Christmas, we decided to surprise Momma with a trip to NYC. Since I had a limited amount of vacation days, we decided to maximize this trip as best we could with just three (3!) full days and nights away.
We left on Friday around lunchtime and came back early Monday afternoon so I could still get a few hours of work done on both Friday and Monday. This wasn’t my first rodeo with The Big Apple so I had a pretty good idea of what we could accomplish with just a few days in Manhattan. It also helps to have pals/former Southerners in New York – special thanks to Katie Cooper, Liz Krebs, Polina Marinova, and Cody Williams who helped with planning and suggestions!
Below is my agenda and tips. This 3 days in NYC agenda works well if you’re planning to do a long weekend in the city, especially for tourists who have never visited. Here’s how to spend three days in New York City.
Because Southern Sisters do #duckface in NYC!
Friday
We left ATL and flew into LaGuardia (LGA). I reserved a car via Blacklane so we had a luxury ride waiting for us upon arrival. If you’ve never used Blacklane, it’s like Uber but it takes reservations and you know your exact fare. We got into Manhattan pretty quickly (the airport is in Queens) and our Blacklane driver said we were the nicest passengers he ever had, but goodness he probably doesn’t have three Southern ladies in his car very often!
We stayed at The Affinia Shelburne which was in a stellar Midtown location at Lexington & 37th just down the block from Grand Central Station. They offer free wine every day from 5 to 6 p.m. The restaurant, Rare, is pretty good and open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That evening we had dinner at Dos Caminos (make a reservation) which offered some of the best margaritas in Manhattan. Yelp said to check in to get a free prickly pear shot, which I did and our server gave us shots for the whole table.
One World Trade Center
Saturday
We started with breakfast at the hotel. For coffee, orange juice, two pastries, a side of bacon, and a bowl of fruit, we paid $40 for breakfast. It was delicious but expensive. We hopped in a cab and drove from Midtown to the Financial District. You pass some great landmarks en route down 5th Avenue including the Empire State Building and the Flatiron building.
For brunch: Sarabeth’s in TriBeCa. This was a great spot for omelets, mimosas, Bloody Mary’s, and other brunch fare. We even got to meet up with my pal Shane and have lunch with his momma and sister who were also visiting from the South.
From there we walked down to One World Trade Center. The 9/11 Memorial Fountain is truly a sight to behold. All of the names of the victims are engraved in the marble.
Speaking of sights, there’s a great vantage point of The Statue of Liberty just a block away. Instead of hiking it all the way down to Battery Park, we went to Battery City Park and looked across the river at Lady Liberty.
Oh hello Lady Liberty!
It was about 1:30 p.m. when we hopped in a taxi back to Midtown where we were dropped off near Central Park (ask for a taxi to 59th & 5th). We did a bit of window shopping on 5th Avenue, and stopped by Rockefeller Plaza to see the tree. Next up. it was the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
That evening we had dinner at Keens Steakhouse. I made our 8 p.m. reservation a few weeks in advance to ensure we got a good table. My goodness y’all, the hospitality was on point! Keens is definitely one of the top 10 steakhouses in Manhattan.
So many famous celebs have dined & signed pipes at Keens.
Special thanks to the manager, Ronnie, for taking the time to treat us like VIPs and show us some of the history. One of the artifacts on the second floor includes the playbill President Lincoln was holding when he was assassinated! Apparently, the original owner had a huge passion for history. To this day, every celebrity who dines at Keens signs his/her autograph on a clay pipe.
Sunday
We grabbed bagels near the hotel before walking a few blocks up to the Empire State Building. We bought our tickets in advance for the 86th and 102nd observatory decks, as this way we were able to cut the lines. Also, going on a day when the weather is overcast helps cut down the wait time. The day before it was sunny and the guides said the wait time was three hours!
Here’s our bird’s eye view from the Empire State Building.
We had an early lunch before grabbing a cab to Broadway. For discounted Broadway tickets, download the Today Tix app for your smartphone. Instead of paying full value for Broadway tickets, you enter a lottery for shows you would like to see. Our seats were 20th row orchestra and cost us about 1/3 of what we would have paid purchasing through Broadway.com.
Our Playbill from On The Town
Our neighbor from growing up & Pebblebrook High School grad, the amazingly talented Cody Williams is currently in “On the Town” at The Lyric Theatre. This show is a perfect example of everything great about Broadway.
After the show, we walked across Times Square to The Marriott for drinks at The View. This rotating restaurant offers a 360-degree view of New York City, and it was a great way to end our last night. The drinks awee pricey and the food didn’t look great so we grabbed dinner at Docks Oyster Bar near our hotel. We went to bed early because our flight the next morning was at 11 a.m.
So here are a few tips for traveling to NYC:
Book an afternoon flight so you can arrive and check in to your hotel
Make reservations for brunch, lunch, and dinner. I use Yelp a lot and mapped restaurants within walking distance to our hotel and activities.
Bite the bullet on the price and stay in Midtown Manhattan. It’s much easier instead of commuting into the city from a hotel in Newark.
To save a bit of money on meals, instead of eating breakfast at the hotel, eat like the locals. The bagel place around the corner is probably decent, and there are Starbucks practically on every block. It beats paying $40 for a continental breakfast.
What would you do if you only had three days to spend in New York City?
2014 has been the best year yet for PrettySouthern.com. We have so much to be thankful for, especially you – dear reader. Thank you for coming along as we noshed, sipped, and strolled throughout the South. In Atlanta, our home town, the blogosphere continues to grow and we were privileged to join both the Atlanta Blogger Network and Atlanta Food Blogger Society. Our post Words Only Southerners Say reached more than 92,000 people who were looking for Sh%t Southern Women Say and more Southern colloquialisms. We got to travel, meet awesome folks, and are so excited to see what the future has in store.
Here are our top 14 moments of 2014 on PrettySouthern.com
Of course, what really knocked our socks off at BLT Steak was the fabulous, savory maple bacon donut.
1. BLT Steak – if y’all follow me on Twitter and Instagram, you know I blog about food…a lot. 2014 was truly special because I got invited to some awesome tastings. But the best of them all was at BLT Steak at the W Atlanta – Downtown. After naming BLT Steak to our Top 10 Atlanta Steakhouses, we were treated to a preview of their new blackboard menu specials. After more than 10 courses with wine pairings, we were both amazed and stuffed. This wasn’t just the best meal I had in 2014, but arguably the best meal I’ve ever had in Atlanta.
Michael Turchin, me & Lance Bass!
2. Toast to Marriage – On June 16, I joined Lance Bass and his adorable partner Michael Turchin at SKYY Vodka’s Toast to Marriage kickoff. At the W Atlanta – Midtown, more than 500 people turned out to set the world record for the largest linked arms toast. In partnership with Freedom to Marry, the goal was to raise awareness for legalizing marriage in more states and end federal marriage discrimination once and for all. Also, I learned Lance Bass is a Southerner! He’s a Mississippi darling and I loved getting to meet him and his fiancé.
3. A Legendary Dinner – I got to check two more items off my bucket list this year when I met both Vince Dooley and David Greene at Shula’s 347 for Sports Radio 92.9’s legendary dinner. Y’all know I’m a big Georgia Bulldogs fan so this was a pretty special night.
Yup. I took a selfie with Vince Dooley.
Yours truly & David Greene
Special thanks to Karen Caravan PR and The Atlanta Food Blogger Society for making this dream come true happen. Surf & Turf with N.Y. prime sirloin & seared sea scallops over pea risotto.
4. The Atlanta Food Blogger Society truly rocked my 2014. It all started when Denise Romeo of We Like to Cook reached out to me on Twitter to join this prestigious group of culinary bloggers. My first dinner at Horseradish Grille with the #ATLFBS group would set a precedent for delicious tastings throughout the year. My top tastings include:
6. “It’s All About The Guest” – Davio’s Northern Italian steakhouse proprietor, Steve DiFillippo, penned a book chronicling his experience as a restaurant entrepreneur called “It’s All About The Guest”. He invited The Atlanta Food Bloggers for a five-course meal and conversation. That night, it truly was all about the guest (check out our food pics here) and we especially enjoyed dining with our pals Eve & Roger from Friday Date Night.
Kevin Rathbun & I at the 2014 Atlanta Food & Wine Festival
7. Atlanta Food & Wine Festival – another item I checked off my foodie bucket list this year was attending the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival. It was a perfect day of sampling cuisine and cocktails from across the South. My favorite moments included meeting Kevin Rathbun, and learning how to make cocktails in batches with Arianne Fielder and Tyler Hudgens, two Southern gals who are rocking the bartending scene, plus Erica Smith from A Taste of Our City and I got to help polish off all the leftover punch from their class!
8. Taste of Atlanta – since we launched PrettySouthern.com in 2011, we’ve been privileged to partner with Taste of Atlanta to help promote this annual event. Our favorite restaurants from our hometown are represented in this 3-day indulgence. The highlights for us were serving as judges for best booth decor, plus the Friday night kickoff party “Culinary Matrimony”.
9. Tastemade – all of these tastings led to making great connections, including Atlanta’s own media maven Mara Davis. This fall, I was invited to help launch Tastemade Atlanta. The Tastemade app (available to download for free on any smart phone) allows you to film videos of your dining experiences, plus add music and filters for customization. It’s a great way to share your favorite places to eat in your hometown. You can see all my #TastemadeATL videos here, and check out this one from Red Sky Tapas.
10. A Flying Circus – we were invited to attend a performance of “Amaluna”, the newest Cirque du Soleil extravaganza at Atlantic Station. This show was incredible! “Amaluna is a tribute to the work and voice of women,” explains Director of Creation Fernand Rainville. “The show is a reflection on balance from a woman’s perspective,“ he adds. We totally agreed, and were delighted to giveaway tickets to a few of our loyal readers (thanks y’all!)
11. GlowDry Makeover – one of the best parts about being a blogger is getting to help promote local business, and there’s no prettier biz in the South than beauty! GlowDry proprietor Paige Perkins offered up a free blowout and makeup application in honor of GlowDry’s 1st anniversary (woo hoo!) Y’all can keep up with GlowDry on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for specials, including discounted blowouts.
“Margaret Mitchell” and I on the Atlanta Movie Tour
12. Oakland Cemetery – Pretty Southern was invited to join the Oakland Cemetery Ambassadors to help spread the good news and latest happenings at Atlanta’s historic landmark. On our first tour we visited the “graves of the glorious dead” of Bobby Jones, thousands of Confederate soldiers, and many famous Southerners.
13. Meeting Margaret Mitchell – during my tour at Oakland Cemetery, I learned that Margaret Mitchell is still alive and well in Atlanta. Well, sort of. The Atlanta Movie Tour invited me to join their “Gone With the Wind” tour where “Margaret” showed us her old stomping grounds including her house on Peachtree Street and her final resting place in Oakland Cemetery
14. A Southern Journey – this year I did a solo road trip of 1,100 miles across the South through Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia. It was a great way to explore this part of the country I love so much. The South is an enchanting place, quite unlike anything in the world. Accents are sweeter, folks are more willing to strike up a conversation, and even share their life story.
2014 was a year of making new friends, and I owe a few folks shout outs because without y’all I wouldn’t have gotten these amazing opportunities: Allied Integrated Marketing – Marissa Miller, Lee Schroeder, Leslie Hochsztein, Carolyn Sloss; Melissa Libby PR – Alex Kukler; Liz Lapidus PR – Tucker Berta and Kelsey Walker; Kitsy Rose PR, Caren West PR; Karen Caravan; Tara Murphy of 360 Media; Lorrie Dixson of Eskimo Advertising; Debbie & Jody Rosen of The Rosen Group; The Reynolds Group especially Katherine Ames, Andi Hill, Julia Baker, Julia Ott, Erica Hinchman, and all the lovely PR gals; Becca Dorr and The Atlanta Bloggers Network; Denise Romeo & The Atlanta Food Blogger Society.
Last but certainly not least, PrettySouthern.com has an amazing team of contributors including Katy Ruth Camp, Kate Robertson, Angela Sun, Jamie White, and Kevin Patrick. If it wasn’t for y’all, Pretty Southern wouldn’t be possible.
Cheers to 2014! Thanks for a fabulous 365 days, and bless your heart!
To celebrate the culmination of the South’s favorite season, BLT Steak Atlanta has expertly crafted specialty cocktails just in time for the big game at the Georgia Dome. SEC fans can cheers to Alabama with the Crimson Spice and toast to Missouri with The Tiger.
Infused for 72 hours, the Crimson Spice combines Jack Daniels Un-aged Rye, Fresh Cranberries and Mexican Cinnamon served hot to warm school spirits as the temperature drops. The Tiger is a delicious blend of Woodford Reserve, Fee Bros. Orange Bitters and Cherry Heering Liqueur.
Additionally, Chef de Cuisine Matt Ratcliffe has created a championship winning feast with a tailgate-inspired blackboard menu including a 14oz New York Strip with Roast Marrow Bone and Red Wine Butter, Hot “Chicken-Fried” Oysters with Sweet Pickles, Angel Biscuit Puree and Cilantro, and Roasted Chanterelles with Popcorn and Pimento Cheese. Diners can round out their meal with Pumpkin Doughnuts with Cranberry Coulis and Pumpkin Pie Milkshake.
For more information on the menu and to make reservations, please call (404) 577-7601 or visit BLT Steak’s website. Also keep up with them on Facebook or Twitter @BLTSteakATL.
A Nightlife, Dining and Hospitality Job Fair will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and Thursday, Dec. 4, from noon to 4 p.m. inside Andrews Entertainment District at the Improv Comedy Club located at 56 East Andrews Drive NW in Buckhead. Positions available include Front of House (Host/Hostess, Fine Dining and Upscale Casual Servers/Cocktail Servers, country club or hotel experienced Banquet Event Captain, Busser/Server Assistant and Food Runners), Bar (Bartender, Bar Back, Cashiers & Security), Kitchen (Line Cooks, high volume Expo and Dishwasher), Marketing (Street Team, Flyer and Poster Distribution Personnel), Entertainers (Dueling Piano, DJ and Top 40, Swing/Rat Pack or Salsa House Band), Facility Maintenance (Janitor/Custodian, Weekend Handyman and Facilities Engineer handling restaurant equipment maintenance, HVAC from 75degreeac, plumbing and electrical), as well as Interns (Marketing, Catering and Event Sales). A leader in the dining and entertainment industry, Andrews Entertainment District is looking for candidates with a minimum of two years hotel or high volume restaurant or bar experience. All interviews and hiring will be conducted at the two day job fair and applicants need to arrive with two forms of ID.
“We are looking for candidates that fit our ideology. Our goal is to provide each guest with the most memorable experience, always looking for opportunities to exceed each guest’s expectations, while maintaining a sincere gracious attitude,” said Andrews Entertainment President Steve de Haan. “We do this to experience personal and professional fulfillment, and to build a lasting relationship with our guests.”
Located in the heart of Buckhead at 56 East Andrews Drive NW, Andrews Entertainment District is a world class destination with exceptional dining, entertainment, and nightlife scene. With diverse and distinct venues, conveniently located in over 30,000 square feet under one roof, Andrews Entertainment District is the home of East Andrews, Atlanta Improv Comedy Club & Dinner Theatre, Cellar 56, Czar Ice Bar, Stillhouse Craft Burgers & Moonshine, Andrews Upstairs, Prohibition, and Sal’s Pizzeria. Featuring Atlanta’s hottest DJs, live entertainment, the best cocktails, and a lively bar scene, Andrews Entertainment District is where Atlanta goes out for a night out on the town.
On 10-10-10, October 10 of 2010, Kevin Patrick and Lauren Morgan tied the knot at JCT Kitchen. Atlanta’s quintessential restaurant in the revamped Westside district served as the perfect location for their modern, Southern wedding.
Wedding photography shot by Achor & Eden. Lauren’s dress was found in a sample sale at Demetrios and her hair & makeup were by Ashley Nicole of Bob Steele Salon. Here are photos from their JCT Kitchen wedding.
Lauren Patrick is a native Southerner, UGA graduate, and the editor of Pretty Southern.com. Y’all can find her writing, wining, and dining in Atlanta. She’s a member of the 
