Baxter Bark Twice

Do as I say, never as I do

Posts Tagged ‘atlanta’

Today is an extremely important day

Posted by AllieB on February 22, 2011

Happy Margarita Day!!! Today, February 22, is National Margarita Day. I can’t believe my good luck - what if I hadn’t happened to check out what those whack jobs Hoda and Kathie Lee were up to on the always insane third hour of the Today Show? What if I didn’t like margaritas? I mean…whoa.

Anyway, it is our duty, as citizens of America, to celebrate this holiday. It’s kind of like Cinco de Mayo without all the hoopla – I hate the hoopla of Cinco de Mayo…at least Rio Grande is gone. I did a “study” on the best margs in ATL a few months back: Best in Show: Margs. I stand by my assertion that Treehouse has the best ones, but The Big Ketch – which was not yet open at the time I wrote the last post – has really good Skinny ones…potato/potatto, as far as I’m concerned it’s a win/win.

Also, Buckhead Restaurant Week starts this Saturday. Standouts include Bricktops and Capital Grille – the Aria menu, per usual, fails to impress. I’m kind of pissed because about 2/3 of the restaurants participating have bumped their menus up to $35, which is uncalled for, IMO. What kind of mini-Stalin is running this show, anyway.

Sat Feb 26 thru Sun March 5 – click here for restaurants and menus

This weather is awesome, btw. I was freezing in Pakistan, which was actually a blessing because de-layering in warm weather is a non-option. Hello, rosacea.

Posted in Food & Drink, Imparting Wisdom | Tagged: , , | 2 Comments »

Just say no to saying no

Posted by AllieB on February 7, 2011

I’ve found that whether I have $20 or $200, I still do the same stuff. I don’t really understand how this works because that’s a pretty big $180 difference, but it seems to be so – I’m great at getting a bang for my buck, but I can also frivol away money in a manner that suggests I literally must be throwing it in the trash can because I can never account for a penny of it.

Truth be told, I’m much more likely to have $20 than $200, yet I find that I rarely have to miss out on anything. Saying no is among my least favorite things to do and it’s very bad for my FOMO Affliction, so I’ve had to figure out an Allie-friendly approach to dealing with my finances. See as follows:

  • Trader Joe’s. TJ’s is awesome for people like me: ie, people on a budget who like wine and stuffed pasta. I am not ashamed to say that last week I purchased a bottle of the Two Buck Chuck Cab Sav, and I paid for it with a one dollar bill and the remaining $2.01 in change. Counting out nickels isn’t anyone’s proudest moment, but whatever – money’s money.
  • Whole Foods. I know – Whole Pocketbook is on my “how to be thrifty” list?! But yes, it is: the samples. At the WF on W. Paces, there is always a table with carrots and your choice of Asian dressings (the Ginger is my favorite), and carrots are a power veggie! There’s usually at lease one fruit sample over in that fruit/veggie section, also. And if you’re careful to avoid things made with potatoes, you can get a heaping serving of healthy stuff from the cold salad bar for under $3.
  • It pays to not branch out. In consistently patronizing the same places, you make friendly with the bartenders/servers/owners, and they will reward your “regular” status with discounted wares.

So, those are the tricks of my trade: Trader Joe’s, meals out of free samples, and know people who own and/or work at places where you like to eat and drink. Also, cut jagerbombs out of your beverage repertoire.

I know this went viral before it even aired during the Super Bowl, but it’s a pretty awesome commercial…you don’t need sound to appreciate.

Posted in Imparting Wisdom | Tagged: , , | 1 Comment »

Common sense: turns out – not so common

Posted by AllieB on February 2, 2011

I don’t like going to the gym. I prefer to do my yogging outside – only heavy rain and wind will send me to el gimnasio, as was the case last night. It’s not so much the actual working out part that bothers me, it’s the people who decide the gym is a total free-for-all and completely abandon the basic manners they learned in kindergarten, like,  “don’t interrupt” and “it’s impolite to stare.”

I would genuinely like to know what part of profusive sweat, noise-canceling earphones, and heavy breathing says, “please come talk to me,” but some people seem to think it’s prime time to initiate a mindless convo.  Small talk is awkward enough as is – small talk whilst doing reverse crunches is the equivalent to what I imagine water-boarding is like.

That is why I am not a member of one of those massive chain facilities where women wear normal bras beneath their sports bras and guys make use of the free tanning beds – from what I’ve heard, those places are hotbeds for unpleasant and untimely socializing. Even though I do have several friends who work out where I do, we simply nod at each other and continue on our way…if this is the protocol with people to whom I am actually close, then it should surely apply to mere acquaintances.

My other point of issue is that, yes, I know my face turns red. We call this Dance-floor Allie, or Red-faced Allie, or Summertime Allie – whatever scenario aptly describes why my face has gone vermilion. At any rate, there is no need to stare, much less make remarks – both happen to me frequently and it’s really very offensive. Honestly, How Rude!

Credit: Hilary. These aren’t great photogs, but that is a nice shot of Dancefloor Allie..

Actually, I saw a girl on the treadmill yesterday whose face was not so much red as a purple-y maroon…it kinda reminded me of the sky right before a really bad storm – literally, it looked like her head was about to explode. At least mine airs on the side of tomato…if I were her, I’d probably consider an at-home workout regimen. Also, in keeping with the theme of my post, I would like to note that I neither stared at nor remarked upon her condition; I am simply reporting it here on BBT.

I saw the Hall Pass trailer for the first time last night – it looks funny! Also, it was fun to spot all the places in Atlanta where they filmed stuff for the movie. Applebee’s on Lindbergh and Johnny’s Hideaway were obvious venues in the clip I saw. Of course, I know there was some filming done at Cantina in Terminus as I actually hung out with Owen Wilson et al one evening…it was a very brief encounter. I described the meet & greet in post this fall – it did not go well.

A screenshot of the trailer – anyone between the ages of 20 and 60, possibly 70?, who ever “goes out on the town” in ATL can surely recognize that ceiling…

Posted in Really? | Tagged: , , , , | 5 Comments »

Best in Show: Philly Cheesesteak

Posted by AllieB on February 1, 2011

Philly Cheesesteaks are my favorite sandwich. There are so many factors that go into creating the perfect Philly: the bread-to-filling ratio; the cheese is not a topping but more of the glue of the filling; perfect amount of mayo and seasoning…I could keep going, but my bowl of Special K this a.m. is not cutting it and I can almost taste the wonderful goodness….

Without further ado…the establishment serving the best cheesesteak in Atlanta, IMO – the real crème de la crème – is:

Mr C’s on Howell Mill.

Go to there, order one, and see if I’m not right. However, if you’ve had one elsewhere that you know for a fact is superior to Mr. C’s  based on your own personal experience, contact me immediately. Email, cell, flare gun – whatever, I need to know. Mr C’s is great in general – they have tots and fried okra and cheap beer. One other place I would like to commend for consistently top-notch fare is Philly Connection; I would also, however, like to denounce them for the lack of locations ITP.

I looked up the highest rated sammies in ATL on Yelp, and I was alarmed to read about a place called Gut Busters. I wonder if their motto is, “Gut Busters: where indigestion is inevitable” – they probably give out Pepto Bismol tablets along with their plastic cutlery. Just sayin…they could’ve chosen a different name.

Update: per the input of a BBT subscriber, I totally dropped the ball by not including the Mad Italian. And he’s right, the Mad-I, as my mom always called it, is awesome for PC’s, but I haven’t been in almost two decades and wasn’t sure it was the same deal as I remembered…to make sure I am sharing the most accurate information possible, I will go in the near future and get back to you. Holy wow, that website looks phenom…

Speaking of Philly -> Philadelphia -> Pennsylvania…tomorrow is Groundhog Day. Experts are skeptical that Punxsutawney Phil will not see his shadow thus forecasting an early spring, particularly because PA is one of several states expected to be blasted (Gut Blasted?) by what could be the worst winter storm in the history of all the winter storms – there’s even talk of canceling Groundhog Day altogether. Really, Mother Nature? I think it’s time to take things down a notch…

It is decidedly not always sunny in Philadelphia.

Posted in Food & Drink, Really? | Tagged: , , , , | 8 Comments »

Meet & Greet: Sophie’s Uptown

Posted by AllieB on January 26, 2011

I love sandwiches, and I love puppies, so there’s nothing I don’t love about Sophie’s Uptown.

Located in the heart of Buckhead on Pharr Road, Sophie’s Uptown was opened by David York in memory of his rescue dog, Sophie, who passed away at age 20 in 2009. Not only are they serving up some seriously tasty food, but 25% of all profits are donated to local animal charities. That’s awesome.

I had a wonderful first experience. The nice young lady at the cash register didn’t judge me at all as I helped myself to a fourth and fifth sample of the most amazing brownie I have ever had. The lunch menu has plenty to choose from and it’s very reasonably priced; I’m enjoying a BLT right now that was only $5.25. As I left, they bade me farewell by name – I already feel like a regular.

Their baked goods – cakes, cake by the slice, cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and dog treats – all look delicious; if the brownie I tasted is any indication, it all tastes as good as it looks. I will be going back very soon – possibly tomorrow. Another bonus: plenty of parking in a not outrageously congested parking lot, which is more than I can say for most Buckhead lunch spots.

Sophie’s Uptown

54 Pharr Road, Atlanta, GA 30305

www.sophiesuptown.com

Posted in Food & Drink | Tagged: , , , | 2 Comments »