Yum, Yum

August 6, 2008

Eesh.

Posted in Restaurants by ashley No Comments »

Peace, Love, and Revolution

July 30, 2008

There were four of us who went to see Lucinda Williams at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens this past Friday night. Alison, Alley, and a friend of mine from South Carolina -Melanie, got tickets early on (because we are good members of the Gardens) and we were quite excited to see Lucinda on stage.

After waiting in line for 45 minutes, we walked in and my camera was immediately confiscated therefore the picture you see above is a stock photo… We did, though, get a great space on the grass close to the stage. Melanie and I spent a ton of money on good food from Sun In My Belly (since you are not allowed to bring any in) and Alison got us some wine and water. We were set for a relaxing evening of music. Or so we thought.

Lucinda hit the stage looking drunk as a skunk although later on in the night, she said she had not had a drink at all. The two main stage lights were hitting her directly across her pupils and she asked for them to be turned down. Three songs later, she is sweating profusely and no one has turned the lights down, and the wrath of Lucinda started. I am not sure the Botanical Gardens crew has heard the word, “Fuck” uttered so much in one night. First it was the lights, then it was the sound. In fact, Lucinda stated that “the first fucking three songs were ruined and she might as well start over because it fucking sucked.” The audience clapped and tried to make her feel better- had anyone booed, she would have been off the stage in two “fucking” seconds, but alas, we were all very scared of Lucinda, so we all just threw some seriously happy vibes her way.

The sound got a bit better, but one large amp was a problem throughout the night. Regardless, Lucinda, much to her credit, kept singing. As her mood got better, people got drunker because we were all on edge that the would bolt before the show was finished. A particularly drunk group of people a few rows up from us got into a ruckus. In fact, a guy and girl stood up in the middle of a song, and kinda sorta hit each other, then the guy stormed off. This got our attention and we were no longer staring at the stars, but in fact, watching a fight erupt in front of Lucinda. I was hoping that she would jump off the stage, and “beat their fucking asses,” but alas, my dream did not come true. She kept singing, the people got thrown out, and in the end, she finished her set happier than when she walked on, told us all to vote, and said goodbye with three words: “Peace, Love, and Revolution.”

Lucinda rocks.

Technorati Tags: Lucinda Williams, Atlanta Botanical Gardens, Sun In My Belly

Posted in Amazing people, Yadda Yadda by ashley No Comments »

You Know Things Are Bad When…

July 30, 2008

you see signs like this written on posts throughout the City of Atlanta. This one is my favorite thus far.  I love the box at the end that says “Or Best Offer!”

Posted in Yadda Yadda by ashley 2 Comments »

July 15th Primary May Be Over, But…

July 16, 2008

for the losers of this election, you still have work to do.  PICK UP YOUR DARN YARD SIGNS that are bam-blasted (is that a word?) everywhere in the City of Atlanta and beyond.   I doubt the losers will pick any up and it will be up to the citizens to go around trashing these things.  But, in case you politicians want to know, they are an eye sore and make Atlanta look even trashier than it already is.  The yard signs aren’t just in yards, they are at 4-way stops, on vacant lots, in buildings that are vacant…they are everywhere.  Maybe I will start taking pictures next week of all the signs that are out there and sending the pictures to the campaigns.

So my point is, even though you may have lost the election, please get out there and pick up your signs.  I know it is hard to do something when you don’t get anything for it, but for lawd’s sake, pick em up. 

(stock photo obviously)

Technorati Tags: Atlanta look even trashier

Posted in Environmentally friendly things, Yadda Yadda by ashley 2 Comments »

Rathbun’s Steak

July 13, 2008

I think our Prius was certainly the cheapest car in the parking lot when we left this place on Saturday night. Yet, I am proud to say, it most certainly got the best gas mileage of any of the over sized very expensive cars parked there.

Kevin Rathbun’s Steak is located (and certainly boasted about) next to what will someday be the famous Beltline. The old warehouse was once used as a cotton warehouse in the 1890’s - like so many of the buildings in this area of Inman Park. The original wood inside the building burned in the early 1900’s and was rebuilt with steel beams in the 1940’s. The warehouse then housed one of the largest Clorox Company’s production centers. The space now has been redesigned by The Johnson Studio - the group who also did Kevin’s Krog Bar and Rathbun’s. I speak a lot of this building because quite frankly it is impressive as hell. The inside is dark - with massive pieces of thick wood across the walls and just enough light to see your menu. (Although a few people had little flash lights.) The large painting of Kevin himself is a bit egregious, but I guess it is Kevin Rathbun - Iron Chef America winner…

We started the night with a bottle of champagne and ended the night with two glasses of red wine. Now, I will tell you, their wine list is one of the most expansive I have seen, but it ain’t cheap. Don’t expect to get a “house red” for $7.00. We got the amazing “Ahi Tuna Poke” appetizer which was superb, and I have not eaten red meat in a while, but opted for the smoked beef ribs for dinner- which were certainly the best beef ribs I have put in my mouth. Alison got a 6 ounce Fillet Mignon and it was incredible - like butta. But, I expected nothing less than the best beef (corn fed by the way) you could ask for. The side selections looked fabulous and we chose the night’s twice baked potato that was mixed with parsley, horseradish and some cheese I can’t remember- but it was grand.

Our glasses of water were never more than an inch lower than completely full. In fact, I had to tell the server I was going to waste it if he filled it up again. Our waitress was always attentive and explained in detail the different kinds of beef and how aged they were. For true steak eaters, I am sure this means something serious -”dry aged.” The wait staff did have to wear unattractive yellow button down collared shirts. Such a bummer, but you always knew where they were because you can obviously still see yellow in the dark!

Basically, this place is run like a well oiled machine. Kevin was in the kitchen when we were there and he is an imposing figure in white. His staff is well versed, his location is down right perfect, and his food as always is amazing. Go visit, but take your Mercedes.

A rare picture of Ashley and Alison in a restaurant.

Little Girl’s first score on Random Atlanta- 4 big paws up.

Technorati Tags: Kevin Rathbun’s Steak, Beltline, Inman Park

Posted in Bars, Restaurants by ashley 2 Comments »

Waffle House Wedding in Dacula, GA

July 10, 2008

This article about a true blue southern wedding at the Waffle House is possibly the best thing I have read and seen in a long time. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did and please please watch the video at the end. Congrats to the Waffle House couple!   And you thought people only got married in churches!

Technorati Tags: wedding at the Waffle House, Waffle House couple

Posted in Who knows what catagory this may be by ashley No Comments »

Going to Heaven or Hell?

July 9, 2008

Or as this church likes to ask, you going to be smoking or non-smoking? Love it!

Posted in Yadda Yadda, Who knows what catagory this may be by ashley No Comments »

Rainin’ On Our Parade

July 8, 2008

Baton Bob making a splash during the Pride Parade…

I mean, really? How many years in a row does the Lord need to provide Atlanta much needed rain on the day of the Pride Parade? Maybe he felt as if all gays needed to get a little bit wet, but lightening and thunder? Eesh.

Regardless of the serious storm, Alison and I had a fabulous time hanging out in the Laughing Skull Lounge at the Vortex drinking Michael’s famous “Big Gay” drink - a mixture of rum, more rum, and serious fruit juices.

People stayed and watched the entire parade - even though some almost got struck by lightening. The usual floats were there including Delta and Swinging Richards and the Flying Biscuit had a great float with signs saying “Show us your Biscuits” and someone in our party (not to be named-Rachel) did in fact show her biscuits which “won” her a Flying Biscuit t-shirt. Yet, the greatest part of the day was when Baton Bob came prancing by with his whistle and baton in hand - in the pouring rain - and everyone went crazy. I have not seen him around lately and he is missed greatly, so this was indeed a treat.

Next year, I expect the Lord to give us a lot of rain for our drought, but save a sunny day for Pride!

Flying Biscuit folks asking viewers to show their “biscuits.”

Kristen, Meghan, Alison, and Tammy singing “It’s Raining Men”

Technorati Tags: Atlanta much needed rain on the day of the Pride Parade, “Show us your Biscuits”, Baton Bob

Posted in Yadda Yadda, Festivals by ashley No Comments »

Girl’s Night at The Shed

June 29, 2008

A few friends celebrated Lea’s birthday (she is over 30-that is all I will say) at The Shed , a new restaurant in Glenwood Park. We walked in to what is a very nice fresh, simple dining area and bar. The two t.v.’s over the bar were a bit large for the place I thought - even though I wanted to see Georgia play the second game of the College World Series (which they lost miserably.) I just don’t know why we all need t.v.’s in every corner of our world. Do we need to be constantly stimulated with crap? Yes. Okay, I digress.

The hunky bartender fixed us all nice drinks - Elizabeth and I had a half bottle of champagne for something like $35.00. A bit pricey, but it was refreshing. We were seated when all our party was there and our waiter (Patrick was his name I believe) was very informative and never got annoyed by my constant craving for attention for our table.

All “small plates” are to be shared and all cost around $12 to $13. The larger plates are pricier. The concept is “farm to table” so what you have on any given night may change. We started with the marinated olives which I thought were superb. We moved on to the cheese plate (with many more olives) and some nice toasted bread - all very good and nicely presented. (All dishes are white by the way.) The pickled beet salad with yellow and red beets, feta, and mandarin oranges was fabulous. The beets were gorgeous. We also had the truffle fries and homemade ketchup - not bad but not great - and the peach dish which I did not taste was said to be very nice. They unfortunately were out of the farm to table whole fish dish and for the fish eating vegetarian birthday girl, that was a bummer, but she got the salmon and I will let her comment on that if she would like. I had the fried okra and collard greens for my main meal because I had stuffed myself on cheese, and the okra was good but the collards needed some umph. I think Elizabeth got the BLT Club sandwich and it lacked umph as well. Nice, but just not all that tasty for some reason.

The sweetest part of the evening was when a couple walked out of the restaurant during their meal (we were all like, what the heck are they doing) and came back in a few minutes later and he screamed, “She said YES!” It was all schmoopy like and everyone clapped and got verklempt. Well, not really. But it was sweet as pie.

The newly engaged at Shed -Sean and Mandy.

Anyway, I would go back certainly to this restaurant. I do not need to go back once a month, but I will try it again and see how they are faring. The service was impeccable, the place has a nice feel and the food was good. Notice my overuse of the word, “nice.” That about sums it up…

Celebrating Lea’s 25th - in black with blond hair

All in all, Brutus gives it 3 paws up.

Technorati Tags: The Shed, Glenwood Park

Posted in Restaurants by ashley 1 Comment »

Great Pups in Need of Home

June 19, 2008

I tend to find stray pups often and then go through the process of having to find them a home. The newest two I have found were wandering the streets together and had no tags, were timid, dirty, never seen the inside of a home, and looked like they needed help.

I have taken them to the vets, gotten all their shots and Draper (the boy) has been neutored. I can’t keep them, so if you happen to be reading this and need a pup, please email me and let me know. They are both loving, sweet as pie, great around other animals, wonderful around kids, a bit scared and a bit hungry, but on the way to being great dogs for someone.

They need a home where they can be inside and outside animals. They had never seen the inside of a home before they were rescued…

This is Latta, the little girl!

This is Draper, the big boy!

Posted in Animals by ashley 1 Comment »