Whew! What a workout. I love my spin classes but Cyc Buckhead takes it to a whole new level. I was excited to hear about the new Cyc Fitness studio opening because I love spin class. One thing I really like about Cyc compared to other cycle studios is you get access to the entire gym! Cyc Fitness is located in The Forum Athletic Club (in Lenox Mall – it shares a parking deck with Macy’s). The gym itself is a really cool facility, so overall Cyc is a bit more bang for your buck because after your ride you can lift weights or strength train.
“I think what we’re doing here is pretty special,” said Stephen Nitkin, CEO & Founder of Cyc Fitness. “We chose The Forum Athletic Club because we wanted to open up at the best gym in town. It feels authentic to come here for an awesome workout.”
The studio itself is stocked with amenities – fresh towels are waiting on every bike, and there are KIND bars for snacks pre/post ride energy. The staff are all super helpful and show true Southern hospitality. Cyc is also cheaper than other spin studios. Available now is a 7-pack of classes (5 classes + 2 bonus to celebrate the opening) for $120, averaging to roughly $17 per classes compared to $25+ at FlyWheel or Soul Cycle.
“We’re a little less expensive, Nitkin said. “We made that shift trying to give our clients more bang for their buck by giving them access to all of the amenities of The Forum. You can ride the treadmill, stretch, or take a sauna after your Cyc class.”
Another aspect of Cyc that I really like is the social engagement piece. When you sign up for a class, you can find your instructor on Twitter and Instagram. My “Cycologist” Annie Czarnecki and I were Tweeting before class, and she Tweeted the lovely picture above after we worked up a good sweat.
“Cyc is all about the socially active lifestyle,” said Nitkin. “People need to fee comfortable caring about their fitness. Our riders have active social lives, so we’re trying to help them say ‘Let’s go for a class instead of straight to the bar.’ If they want to get a drink after that’s fine too.”
Cyc is a great option for anyone who loves to spin, or is a newcomer to the world of studio cycling. I’m already looking forward to my next session with a “cycologist”! Be sure to keep up with Cyc Fitness on Facebook and #CycBuckhead. Sign up for classes at Cyc Fitness – Atlanta now.
Lauren Patrick is a native Southerner, UGA graduate, and the editor of Pretty Southern.com. Y’all can find her writing, wining, dining, and working out in Atlanta. She’s a member of the Atlanta Blogger Network and Atlanta Food Blogger Society. Keep up with her & Pretty Southern on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
If 2014 set any precedent for this year, then 2015 is gonna fly by!”
This is a big year for me. I’m turning 30 this July and it’s kind of freaking me out a bit. My 20s were awesome. I’ve had a blast writing, traveling, got married, bought a house, paid off my debt, and did all the things grown ups are supposed to, right? I even launched this website and with the help of you, dear reader, have kept PrettySouthern.com going strong for four years! But my body has paid the price.
Me on my honeymoon in 2010
When I got to college, the world of late nights drinking, eating Pokey Sticks from Gumby’s, and the 3 a.m. trips to the Pita Pit packed on 20 lbs over four years in Athens. I was able to lose some of that weight after graduation (I dropped 15 lbs my two years out of school) plus I got “wedding skinny” where a gal stresses herself out so badly she drops weight during the last few days before the wedding. After getting married, the weight from “happily ever after” came back. Launching a food blog hasn’t helped for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
I’m not posting the obligatory before and after pictures because I’m not unhappy with the way I look, quite the contrary actually; what I’m not happy with is that I can’t run a mile in under 12 minutes, and I’m stuck at a desk most of my day (the curse of being a writer is you have to keep your butt in a chair). My routine now doesn’t factor in 30 minutes of cardio each day.
The jiggly bits have got to go.
Therefore, over the first six months of 2015, I’m on a quest to lose 15 lbs before my 30th birthday. I’m calling it my #15in15. That’s about 3 lbs a month, and to burn a pound of fat takes roughly 3,500 calories. For all your FitBit users out there, y’all know it’s a lot of steps.
The good news is, I have friends to help me. PrettySouthern.com is going to shift gears a bit. We’ll continue to post our food blogger adventures with a few helpings of fitness. I’m going to get my butt kicked by personal trainers, check out some classes at Cyc and Pink Barre turn, plus try more healthy recipes. I’m also going to try and get at least 15 more minutes of physical activity in every day.
If anyone else out there has fitness resolutions for 2015, please share your story in the comments section below. Let us know your tips, tricks, successes and “opportunities”. We’re all in this together. After all, as my new friend Ulrick Bien-Aime says…
“Your health is your wealth.”
Lauren Patrick is a native Southerner, UGA graduate, and the editor of Pretty Southern.com. Y’all can find her writing, wining, dining, and working out in Atlanta. She’s a member of the Atlanta Blogger Network and Atlanta Food Blogger Society. Keep up with her & Pretty Southern on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.
In honor of the 75th anniversary of “Gone With the Wind”, our pal and fellow journalist Abby Westcott designed this amazing illustration. This iconic scene is when Rhett Butler sweeps Scarlett O’Hara into an embrace although she’s mourning the death of her first husband, Charles Hamilton. “You should be kissed often, and by someone who knows how,” he tells her, but he doesn’t actually kiss her. No, Scarlett and Rhett don’t actually spark that magic until after she’s gone through her second husband, Frank Kennedy. This is an image that will truly stand the test of time. As much as we love “Gone With the Wind” over here at Pretty Southern, we’ve started a Pinterest board dedicated to all things #GWTW. Thanks to Abby for sharing her talent with us! Here’s a bit more about our designer:
Abby Westcott is on a quest to design 365 daily illustrations in 2015. Follow her on Twitter @abdub29 using #designaday and #project365. She’s worked for Gannett for the past five years with roles including design editor at USA Today, news designer for Asbury Park Design Studio, and currently a news designer at Gannett’s Louisville Design Studio. You can find her work daily in the Cincinnati Enquirer. You can find her portfolio here. Abby is a Ball State University graduate with a degree in journalism graphics.
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!
Lauren Patrick is a native Southerner, UGA graduate, and the editor of Pretty Southern.com. Y’all can find her writing, wining, dining, and working out in Atlanta. She’s a member of the Atlanta Blogger Network and Atlanta Food Blogger Society. Keep up with her & Pretty Southern on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. 
Abby Westcott is on a quest to design 365 daily illustrations in 2015. Follow her on Twitter 
