Month: June, 2010

Celebrate the 4th with Lenox Fireworks

This is the 51st year of the magnificent fireworks display at Lenox Square.

“That’s Grown-up Lemonade,” we were told every year of my childhood when we attended the annual 4th of July party at the Kelly’s house and saw the adults heading for the special punch bowl. After our annual bike parade around the neighborhood, we’d gather there for some great all-American fun.

We always wondered what was in that special lemonade that made the adults laugh so loud and not care at all how many hot dogs we had or whether Johnny had squirted mustard all over his little brother’s brand-new shoes.

The day ended as it always would – by groups of us piling into cars to go  see the fireworks at Lenox Square, a short drive from our Brookhaven cul de sac. Back in those days, we’d easily make our way down Peachtree, park and walk a few feet to a grassy hill to sit and watch the patriotic display.

Fast forward several decades, and the fireworks at Lenox, now in their 51st year, are a Big Deal. Now you can find a Kid Zone, live entertainment, food concessions and more people than the entire population of Atlanta back in the old days.

The stores at Lenox are open Sunday from noon to six, with the Kids Zone opening at noon as well.The music starts at 6 with City Heat, a cover band that will get you dancin’ with hits from Motown. After that Party on the Moon takes the stage at 7:30. Those of you who attended Donald Trump’s New Year’s Eve Party will recognize them from there. Fireworks began at around 9:40 p.m.

There are alcohol vendors as well, although no one sells the Grown-up Lemonade made famous by the Kelly’s 4th of July party. That recipe remains a secret, although I believe massive amounts of bourbon were definitely involved.

For more details visit www.lenoxsquare.com. And have a wonderful and safe 4th of July.

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A New Swirl in Town

Swirlers at Pinkberry are trained in creating the perfect swirl so yours will look just as pretty. Until that first bite.

I’d been told that people are passionate about Pinkberry. But to stand in line for an hour and a half in the heat for a free scoop? Well that’s what they were doing for hours last night at the opening of Atlanta’s first Pinkberry location.

Less than five years ago, the folks at Pinkberry set out to sell their proprietary formula of premium frozen yogurt with fresh-fruit toppings. Now with locations across the country, the company has attracted legions of fans. Lots of celebrities have jumped on the Pinkberry bandwagon including Rob Lowe, Simon Crowell and Megan Fox who celebrated her birthday there.

I’ve been way in the loop with the whole Pinkberry explosion as my daughter got a job there for the summer. A recent graduate of Duke, she is heading to DC as a Star Fellow with Running Start in the fall. But faced with the double whammy news that the parental bank has now closed and that I need help around the house with such fun activities as refrigerator and attic cleaning, she immediately sought outside employment. Read the full post »

Let’s Do Lunch

Lunch for me usually consists of leftovers, or on the days I work at Travelgirl, a hastily assembled sandwich eaten at my desk. So I’m always pretty happy to actually go out to lunch. Or at least have other hands than my own make me a sandwich.

Here are just a few spots to check out for lunch:

Brookhaven Bistro

Salmon quesadilla, signature dish at Brookhaven Bistro

It took me a few minutes to find this little gem of a place, tucked behind Nuts ‘N Berries on Peachtree Street. It also happens to be directly on my way to Travelgirl so is perfect for those days when I am in the mood to just pick something up. It bills itself as Brookhaven’s healthy restaurant, and serves fresh breakfast and lunch items. You’ll find black beans and rice, chicken salad and burritos made with fresh, organic ingredients. The most expensive lunch item is just $9.50, broiled wild Alaska salmon served over brown rice with seasonal vegetables, a meal that would set you back at least twice that at a fancy tablecloth restaurant. I really enjoyed my black bean soup and chicken salad sandwich (the 1/2 and 1/2 for just $6.95.) Check it out when you’ll looking for a convenient and healthy option for lunch. 4272 Peachtree Road, 404-846-2345. Read the full post »

Films Al Fresco – 2010

Screen on the Green at Piedmont Park

A blanket and a comfy pillow are all you need to enjoy these films in Atlanta this summer, presented free of charge. The stars are up above as well as on the screen at these two outdoor summer film series.

Screen on the Green

The popular film series has moved back to Piedmont Park after a move to Centennial Olympic Park while Piedmont took a break from festivals to recover from the severe drought. These films are shown on the huge lawn in Piedmont Park on Thursday nights. Feel free to bring  your own food and alcohol. Just leave the glass containers, dogs and high-backed chairs behind. Presented in partnership with Peachtree TV, each film starts with music from local DJs and performances from local artists.

The series started last week and continues through June 24, with the film beginning at sunset. Here is the schedule for the remaining films: Read the full post »