Girl's best friend.
Emily Giffin, author of Something Borrowed and four other best-selling novels (who moonlights as a TrèsSugar guest writer), has put her 6-bedroom, 5.75-bath home in Brookhaven, Atlanta, on the market and has recently reduced its asking price by a whopping $100,000. That number hasn't been published, presumably due to her celebrity status, but I'm sure it costs a pretty penny. The four-story Read more
Tom Colicchio — in the words of fellow Georgia restaurateur Paula Deen — is ready to say "bye, y'all!" to Atlanta. The celebrity chef has announced plans to close his outposts of both Craft and Craftbar in the the city's upscale Buckhead district. It's been just two years since the Top Chef head judge, who won this year's James Beard Award for outstanding chef, decided to do business in the Read more
Lately, it seems like people are willing to do anything — including serve jail time — over food. Earlier this month, a Florida man was arrested for trying to pay for his McDonald's meal with pot. This week, two cooks were put behind bars for intentionally contaminating a police chief's food. Now, a man has been arrested for letting his girlfriend eat off his buffet plate while refusing to pay Read more
Over one-third of police academy graduates in Atlanta, Georgia have a criminal record. The eye-opening number of newly minted law enforcers have either been arrested or cited for crimes ranging from shoplifting to assault. Just like the US Army, the Atlanta PD has to make some concession if it wants to meet its recruitment goals. The city has had a tough time filling the ranks for the admirable, Read more
Fallout from Hurricane Ike and Gustav has spiraled into massive gas shortages in the Southeast. Drivers in Nashville, TN, where the problem is the worst, wait in long lines and some follow tankers around in hopes of being the first to fill up before a station goes dry. In western North Carolina local governments have been forced to cancel programs, since there's not much gas to travel to Read more
If the merit of an idea is predicated on its slogan, this one might be a winner. Atlanta is installing five meters in the downtown area that read "Give Change That Makes Sense." The meters, distinguished from those of the familiar parking variety by their yellow and black designs are part of a campaign to discourage aggressive panhandling. In addition to funneling the funds from passers-by, the Read more
Heading to Hotlanta sometime soon? Don't be surprised if you see construction workers hard at work — without the ubiquitous "Men at Work" sign. Based on complaints by the editor of Pink magazine, a publication devoted to professional women, the Atlanta, GA, Public Works are replacing the manly placards with the more gender-neutral wording "Workers Ahead." State officials will begin asking Read more
Earlier I mentioned that Top Chef contestant Richard Blais helmed several restaurants in the past. One of them was his own eponymous Blais, in which there was a 31-course tasting menu. Learn what it was like to eat there, warning, the photos are going to make you drool. — The Amateur Gourmet Read more
Now that Joe Francis is in jail, the plans for the Girls Gone Wild restaurant are probably on hold. If this leaves you worrying where you'll go for your steak n' legs dinner then fear no more, Maxim Prime is opening in late March. Restauranteur Jeffrey Chodorow — you may remember him from NBC's The Restaurant — has announced plans to open Maxim Prime, a joint venture with Maxim magazine. The Read more
Taking a long walk or jog with an active dog is a great wintertime activity. In the Summer, pets can run the risk of overheating or burning paw pads on hot pavement but, 'tis the season to get fit outside in the brisk chill. This weekend marks the 20th Annual Jingle Jog in Atlanta with races for running and walking . . . with pooches! As a festive touch, everyone who enters gets jingle bells for Read more
