Pretty Southern

Category: Featured

Featured

  • In-Depth with Rosebud

    Morningside restaurant Rosebud has been known for its upscale comfort food and locally sourced produce since it opened in its current form in the summer of 2007. But ask Chef Ron Eyester what he would call Rosebud’s most important asset, and he’ll let you know it’s more than just the food. “I think we’re a great neighborhood oasis. I think we’re a true taste of Atlanta.”

    To Eyester, Rosebud is where people come to enjoy great food in a great atmosphere. “I’ve been here for a long time now… and I feel that Rosebud is definitely not just my vision, but that my vision has become a collective vision of this neighborhood. I mean, when you listen to what people want, and you see what sells, inevitably that’s how your business is going to take shape. I think it’s a true reflection of this neighborhood and a very unique place. I think it’s a place where we’re very serious about the food, but we’re more serious about having a good time and enjoying each other’s company.”

    Rosebud chef and owner Ron Eyester

    Mixing good food with good company is just the way Eyester wants it, but he says that not everyone sees dining that way. “I think some people—like some foodies—think that you can’t have a good time while you eat good food, that it’s not the point. [I say], why do there have to be these certain parameters guiding my dining experience? Why can’t I just rejoice in the fact I’m eating very fresh food that’s cleverly and fundamentally soundly prepared, in an environment that’s inviting and comfortable?”

    To visit this true Southern dining experience yourself, take Eyester’s advice and bring a gang of friends to 1397 North Highland Avenue in Atlanta. And try the buttermilk fried chicken—it’s delicious.

    For more information, call 404.347.9747 or visit Rosebud’s website

    [author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Parrish.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Elisabeth Parrish is a journalist and publications editor living in Atlanta. In addition to her posts on Pretty Southern, she runs the blog Love, Love, Love It! focused on awesome movies, books, music and more.[/author_info] [/author]

  • Our Southern Girl in South America

    Chi-chi-chi-le-le-le- Universidad de Chile! It was my first South American fútbol match, nay my first professional soccer match ever, and I was trying my best to keep up with the chanting. I read up on the top Premier League goalscorers of all time. For an authentic experience like a true fan I studied football news at https://footballaustralia.info to keep up with the game. At first I was a little homesick as I thought about my constantly cleat-clad stepbrothers the whole time.

    But this game was one of the wildest, cultural experiences I’ve had so far in Chile. The fans of each team sing different songs throughout the entirety of the game. Although I tried so hard to learn the words of the jumbled Chilean screaming and singing, I could only join in for the more simple songs. To be completely honest, I was nervous about entering the stadium. I had heard a few horror stories of gringos getting harassed by rowdy fans, and my blonde hair isn’t exactly inconspicuous. Although it was a bit of a hectic, crowded squeeze, it was nothing compared to my daily 8 a.m. metro commute.

    Once we found some seats in the galeria (a.k.a. the cheap seats) the fans sitting around us were very warm and jovial. There were several children seated on their parents’ laps and shoulders, wearing a flag as a cape or singing the chants along with their siblings.

    Even Universidad de Chile’s younger fans know the words to the several different songs and chants during the game.

    This sounds really campy, but this is really the only reason I like sporting events: there exists this familial camaraderie between strangers that doesn’t exist in the streets and in the subways. I’ve experienced this multiple times at my 90,000-seat SEC alma mater football (not fútbol) stadium, but there was something about the singing that made this experience… meaningful. Here was a five-year-old bundled up in a Cinderella overcoat, a 13-year-old with braces, a 35-year-old man with long hair and back tattoos, and an elderly man with tan, leather skin and white hair, all singing the same song and whistling. It was as if that old man was once the five-year-old, and they have grown up in this culture that worships this sport all their lives.

    The sun sets over the Universidad de Chile vs. Bernard O’Higgins fútbol match at Estadio Naciona.

    Lying below the surface of this camaraderie, it’s important to mention Estadio Nacional’s tragic past. In 1973, the arena was used as a torture center for the military dictatorship under the infamous Augusto Pinochet. The transformation of the structure into a fútbol arena is a tangible testament to how Chile has been able to recover from this horrible chapter in her life.

    1973 was not that long ago, so many people in this city still speak about family members who were murdered or went missing. Many still don’t know what happened to them. Evidence and inscriptions by these family members are carved and written on parts of the stadium: a reminder that although victory after victory has been celebrated in this space, loss hasn’t been completely healed and forgotten. That Saturday may live to be one of my favorite days of our journey. I am actively accomplishing my primary goals and purposes of this trip: I am seeing new things, speaking a new language and even learning a few new songs to sing.

    [author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/ChelseaCook.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Chelsea Cook is a journalist from Atlanta teaching English in Santiago, Chile. Check back each week to PrettySouthern for more of Chelsea’s adventures South of the Equator.[/author_info] [/author]

  • Boozy Pops

    There’s something so sweet about a popsicle in the summer. Like all things in life, the only way to make this treat better is to add alcohol. Booze brings the best out in everything and the newly opened Rooftop 866 at the Renaissance Atlanta Midtown Hotel is serving up their Boozy Pops this Sunday!

    Rooftop 866 bar and lounge offers Boozy Pops in a wide selection of flavors for only $3 apiece, making it easy for guests to chill out and unwind.  Boozy Pop flavors include basil peach margarita, mojito, pineapple mango rum, Bloody Mary and blueberry limoncello. These push pops will be offered throughout the summer months.

    To celebrate the launch, Rooftop 866 will be throwing a Boozy Pop Tweet-up tomorrow, Sunday, July 10 from 5 to 7 p.m., hosted by one of Midtown’s most fabulous tweeps @MidtownMile as well as Melissa Libby & Associates’ @AtlantaDish!  Join the fun to test-taste a Boozy Pop for yourself, plus enjoy complimentary treats like chips & dip from Rooftop 866’s delicious menu.

    Rooftop 866 is located at 866 West Peachtree Street NW and is open daily from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. weather permitting.  For more info, call 678-412-2402 or visit http://www.rooftop866atlanta.com.

    –Mandy Betts contributed to this article

  • Welcome to the SEC: Where Football Meets Fashion

    Granted it’s summer but that only means it’s time to start shopping for fall fashion pieces like Spell Dress! Every SEC girl knows that football is a lot more than what happens on the field. Tailgating, camaraderie and corn-hole are just the tip of the ice berg because, believe it or not, football also has a lot to do with fashion.

    While some sport game day T’s and athletic shorts, we’ve all seen the girls who dress up for the game. I was one of them. Yes, I wore black semi-formal dresses and four-inch heels to stand on bleachers for 3+ hours at Auburn games. Ah, the good old days. And if you have any kids, you can neatly place there clothes on options like a kids dressing up rail.

    Post-college, this attire didn’t make sense. Did it ever? Maybe not. However, I couldn’t simply jump from dressy to casual. Instead I’ve found a happy medium – cute, semi-dressy outfits in muted game-day colors. War Eagle instead of WAR EAGLE, if you will. Does it make me less of a fan? No. If anything, I’ve decided that it makes me more of a fan (and savvy shopper) because I don’t have ‘game-day’ clothes; instead, I have funny t shirts from Australia I can wear year round.

    One way I create my game-day looks is at Polyvore. Basically, it’s a site that hosts tons of shoes, tops, coats, and even mens lingerie. You can add to your favorites and/or use to create ‘sets’ of products, or outfits. Here are a few War Eagle looks I made for this upcoming fall.

     

    Q: Ever used Polyvore?
    Q: What’s your game-day look?

     

    [author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Kelly.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Kelly Shaw Martin is an organized pre-cooker, monthly goal-setter, and avid reader. Her blog Fitting Back In is devoted to healthy and happy living where she shares workouts, book reviews, meal plans, and ‘healthified’ recipes: traditionally-bad-for-you dishes transformed into lower-calorie fare. She loves life in Atlanta with her husband Austin, shihpoo Reuben, and maltipoo Remy.[/author_info] [/author]

  • First Looks of a Southern Wedding

    First Looks of a Southern Wedding

    I know that “first looks” are more of a trend than a tradition and today I want to know what your thoughts are.  The idea of the first look is that some time right before the ceremony the bride and groom get to share a quite moment together (usually only the photographer is present) before they take the big walk down the aisle.  I know some people are completely opposed to having any contact or seeing each other at all before the actual events begin, but for us it seemed like the right choice to have that little moment together.

    My husband and I, and our families for that matter, never even thought about trying to avoid each other before the ceremony.  It wouldn’t have made any sense, after all of the months of hard work we had put in together planning and creating for our wedding, all those hours sifting through those wedding veils and dresses, only to leave one person stuck doing all of the work and set up that day while the other stayed hidden somewhere.  So that morning we got up early, packed our car and headed to the venue.  We worked all morning until it was time for me to run across the street for my hair and makeup appointments.  I guess that is when the “hiding” began.  He left to get ready with his groomsmen and I returned to the venue to get ready with my girls.  Between the weather and the hectic morning schedule I was all nerves that hour before the ceremony began and the only possible thing that could have calmed me down at that moment was him.

    So about 10 minutes before the ceremony began our best wedding photographers in melbourne brought him upstairs to where I was getting ready, hid him around the corner, and had me head around for a first look.  It gave us a chance to see each other before the BIG moment and it was incredibly reassuring to see that we were both calm, excited, and ready to take that walk.  You are surrounded by so many people while getting ready that day, people that are excited, stressed, anxious, helpful, and hyper, but the one person you are thinking about is hidden away from you all day. Taking that moment together RIGHT before you have to stand in front of a huge crowd brings you back to the moment and reminds you of what this day is all about- you and them.

    This moment for us was brief but I remember feeling giddy and surprisingly calm. Even peaceful. I knew no matter how crazy that morning was, he would be the one thing that would bring me back down to earth.  This trend may become a tradition, maybe not.  Either way, I’d love to know what you’re thoughts on a first look moment between the bride and groom. I hope more weddings try out new trends like this! And if you are looking for the perfect wedding ballrooms, you might want to click on the link to learn more!

    Thank you so much for letting me share some of our special day with you!

    All photos by Joey and Jessica Seawell of Veil and Bow. Need photographers for your special events? Look online for experts who provide photography Cary, NC.

    [author] [author_image timthumb=’on’]https://prettysouthern.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/KatHeadShot.jpg[/author_image] [author_info]Kat Kraszeski-Jackson is an art teacher, artist, and diy crafter living in Greensboro, NC. She loves sharing her favorite artists, projects, and creative inspiration here on Pretty Southern.[/author_info] [/author]

  • Pretty Southern Puppy

    Every Friday, we feature a puppy available for adoption at the Atlanta Humane Society. We’re so excited to be working with our first philanthropic organization to help promote their adorable pets looking for owners.

    Meet Belle, a beautiful terrier/retriever is pretty puppy at only two months old. She came in with her pack of princess sisters: Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Ariel who are all available for adoption! The Atlanta Humane Society also offers basic obedience classes when Belle and the liter are old enough to understand her training. If y’all know anyone looking for a great puppy, please send over this link. Belle’s adoption fee is only $150 and (for reference) her animal ID #13361651. For more information, please call the AHS at (404) 875-5331 or visit http://www.atlantahumane.org/