MamaMia was absolutely FABULOUS!
I had a great time in Atlanta. Seeing MamaMia at the Fox Theater with a sold out crowd was great fun. Even Scott said he had a good time! The whole theater was on their feet for the finale...although not may people around us were really dancing.
After the show we went to Alex's birthday party where Regi was. I hadn't seen Alex since he worked at the Crowne Plaza...probably 10+ years ago!
Then it was back on the road this morning. I got an early start and was home by early afternoon, just in time to do laundry!
Now it's back to the grind tomorrow!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
MamaMia!
I'm heading back to Atlanta early tomorrow morning so I get there in time for the matinee of MamaMia at the Fox Theater!
I will be going to see this fun musical with Scott and a friend of his and then we will go over to a birthday party for Alex (used to work at the Crowne Plaza with us) where Regi will be.
It should be fun, but too quick! I'll be back on the road Sunday morning.
I will be going to see this fun musical with Scott and a friend of his and then we will go over to a birthday party for Alex (used to work at the Crowne Plaza with us) where Regi will be.
It should be fun, but too quick! I'll be back on the road Sunday morning.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Fodor's Get Together Was A Hit!
I'm back from hot-lanta and that is NOT an understatement! Atlanta was sweltering this past weekend.
Even though the temperatures were in the high-90's mom and I still managed to have a cool time!
Mom and I left SC on Friday afternoon and rolled into Atlanta at about 6:30pm. Well, actually we rolled into Sandy Springs Trader Joe's to get wine since they don't sell wine on Sundays. After stocking up on 2 Buck Chuck we checked in at the hotel and then it was off to Wildfire at Perimeter Mall for dinner.
We went into dinner at Wildfire with low to no expectations. We both had been to a Wildfire in Illinois and liked it, but were getting mixed reviews about this one in Atlanta. We had nothing to worry about. Although it is mainly known for their steaks, we both had seafood!
We started with a goat cheese appetizer which was excellent. I had the Friday special of salmon stuffed with mushrooms, sounds kind of different...and it was absolutely delicious! The mushrooms gave it a smokey flavor. Mom had the halibut special and it another excellent choice. I saved room for the chocolate peanut butter pie and it pretty much put me "over the edge". We really enjoyed this meal.
Saturday morning we got up and heading into Mid-town on MARTA. The Dunwoody MARTA stop is just a few blocks from the hotel (Holiday Inn Express on Hammond Drive) and we can park there for free for the first 24 hours (Bargain!).
We got into Mid-town at around 10am and walked up to the Fox Theater because I wanted to buy tickets to MamaMia for next weekend (yup, I'm going back to Atlanta next weekend). It was sweltering and the 5 or 6 block walk left us "glowing"! I got the tickets and we then went across the street to get cool and have coffee at the Hotel Indigo. There is a Starbucks on this street, but it was down the street several blocks and it was 10:30 and we wanted to take the Fox Theater tour at 11am, so the Hotel Indigo was in the perfect location.
Shortly before 11am we walked across the street to wait for the tour to start. The price of the tour is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors.
The tour is conducted by volunteers from the Atlanta Preservation Center. The history of the theater is really interesting and the amount of restoration that has gone into the theater and continues regularly is rather impressive. If going to be in Atlanta I think the tour of the Fox Theater is a great activity!
We were very lucky during our tour because the theater's organist had just stopped in to check his mail and offered to raise the organ and play a little for us. Here I am thinking maybe he will play for 15 or 20 minutes. Boy was I wrong! He spent almost an hour explaining the history of the organ and playing for us. It was really a fun experience. The organ is known at Mighty Mo.
Even though the temperatures were in the high-90's mom and I still managed to have a cool time!
Mom and I left SC on Friday afternoon and rolled into Atlanta at about 6:30pm. Well, actually we rolled into Sandy Springs Trader Joe's to get wine since they don't sell wine on Sundays. After stocking up on 2 Buck Chuck we checked in at the hotel and then it was off to Wildfire at Perimeter Mall for dinner.
We went into dinner at Wildfire with low to no expectations. We both had been to a Wildfire in Illinois and liked it, but were getting mixed reviews about this one in Atlanta. We had nothing to worry about. Although it is mainly known for their steaks, we both had seafood!
We started with a goat cheese appetizer which was excellent. I had the Friday special of salmon stuffed with mushrooms, sounds kind of different...and it was absolutely delicious! The mushrooms gave it a smokey flavor. Mom had the halibut special and it another excellent choice. I saved room for the chocolate peanut butter pie and it pretty much put me "over the edge". We really enjoyed this meal.
Saturday morning we got up and heading into Mid-town on MARTA. The Dunwoody MARTA stop is just a few blocks from the hotel (Holiday Inn Express on Hammond Drive) and we can park there for free for the first 24 hours (Bargain!).
We got into Mid-town at around 10am and walked up to the Fox Theater because I wanted to buy tickets to MamaMia for next weekend (yup, I'm going back to Atlanta next weekend). It was sweltering and the 5 or 6 block walk left us "glowing"! I got the tickets and we then went across the street to get cool and have coffee at the Hotel Indigo. There is a Starbucks on this street, but it was down the street several blocks and it was 10:30 and we wanted to take the Fox Theater tour at 11am, so the Hotel Indigo was in the perfect location.
Shortly before 11am we walked across the street to wait for the tour to start. The price of the tour is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors.
The tour is conducted by volunteers from the Atlanta Preservation Center. The history of the theater is really interesting and the amount of restoration that has gone into the theater and continues regularly is rather impressive. If going to be in Atlanta I think the tour of the Fox Theater is a great activity!We were very lucky during our tour because the theater's organist had just stopped in to check his mail and offered to raise the organ and play a little for us. Here I am thinking maybe he will play for 15 or 20 minutes. Boy was I wrong! He spent almost an hour explaining the history of the organ and playing for us. It was really a fun experience. The organ is known at Mighty Mo.
The tour lasted 2 hours instead of the usual 1...the best $10 bucks I've spent!
The timing worked out perfectly because the Fodor's get together was scheduled to start at 1pm at Gordon Biersch which is just down the street from the Fox Theater. As soon as we walked in, we were shown to the get together area (a divided off portion of the restaurant) and almost everyone was already there.
It was terrific meeting all the Fodorites. It felt weird introducing myself and then saying, "but you know me as my screen name"!
It was a very friendly, chatty group and before we knew it the conversation, food and drinks were flowing. The next thing I realize is it is almost 5pm! The lunch ended just before 5pm and Mom and I headed back to the MARTA stop and got in touch with Scott and Regi to make plans for the evening.
We managed to squeeze in some shopping time at a Marshall across the street from the Perimeter Mall. Honestly, it was so hot and we were both in pants and wanted to buy shorts! As Scott said, "you live on an island and didn't bring shorts?" Guess we should have paid more attention to the Atlanta weather reports!
Scott and Regi picked us up at the hotel just after 7pm and we went to a little local "joint" called Agatha and Muriels. It's this cute little restaurant, which I have no idea where it is located in Atlanta since Scott drove, but I think it is in a different section of the Mid-town area. After laughing our asses off during dinner, we walked up the street to a Caribou Coffee (Mom had never been to one) and had some coffee and chatted some more. At close to 10:30 we called it a night and Scott dropped us off at the hotel.
We got up and got an early start on Sunday morning. Had breakfast at the Landmark Diner on Roswell Road (the omelette's were pretty good!) and stopped at Trader Joe's for a few more things. After a Starbucks stop we were on the road at about 11:30am heading back home.
It was another great Atlanta weekend!
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Atlanta Here We Come!
Tomorrow is the start of another Atlanta weekend! And one of the best parts is the Fodor's Get Together on Saturday afternoon!
It will be great to finally meet some of the Fodorites whose posts I've been reading for the last several years!
Mom and I are leaving work early and hitting the road. Of course, we will probably hit Atlanta just in time for rush hour, but we can deal with that. Our game plan is to go right to Trader Joe's to get wine (they don't sell wine on Sundays) and then have dinner at Wildfire.
I've already made the Wildfire reservations (thank you Open Table!) for 8pm, so I think we should be there by then!
Saturday we are going to do the Fox Theater tour and then meet for the Fodor's lunch get together at 1pm at Gordon Biersch.
After the Fodor's gathering it will be time to catch up with Regi and Scott and do something fun Saturday night, which I am sure will involve wine and food!
Then Sunday we will ransack Trader Joe's and bring back some of their great bargains...think cheeses!!!
It's shaping up to be a fun-packed weekend and we may even have time to check out the Margaret Mitchell house (not far from where the Saturday lunch is going to be)
Stay tuned for a weekend report and photos after I return!
It will be great to finally meet some of the Fodorites whose posts I've been reading for the last several years!
Mom and I are leaving work early and hitting the road. Of course, we will probably hit Atlanta just in time for rush hour, but we can deal with that. Our game plan is to go right to Trader Joe's to get wine (they don't sell wine on Sundays) and then have dinner at Wildfire.
I've already made the Wildfire reservations (thank you Open Table!) for 8pm, so I think we should be there by then!
Saturday we are going to do the Fox Theater tour and then meet for the Fodor's lunch get together at 1pm at Gordon Biersch.
After the Fodor's gathering it will be time to catch up with Regi and Scott and do something fun Saturday night, which I am sure will involve wine and food!
Then Sunday we will ransack Trader Joe's and bring back some of their great bargains...think cheeses!!!
It's shaping up to be a fun-packed weekend and we may even have time to check out the Margaret Mitchell house (not far from where the Saturday lunch is going to be)
Stay tuned for a weekend report and photos after I return!
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Tuscany Two!!!
How addicted am I to travel? It's insane, but I LOVE it!
When I arrived home from my short trip to NYC last week there was an email waiting for me from my friends Sandy and Alan. Also known as my "Hong Kong Connection".
S & A are my globe trotting friends who 4 years ago devised their 5th wedding anniversary celebration in Tuscany and 18 of us followed them along!
In short, the email was letting us know that their 10th anniversary is just around the corner, well, next May to be exact, but they have been thinking of doing another fun celebration.
After tossing around a variety of places they decided that since the 5th anniversary celebration was such fun, why not go back to Tuscany?!!!!
And, they wanted to know who of the "original gang" would be interested in a "Tuscany Two" adventure.
Well, how could I pass up this great opportunity and from the other emails I've been copied on, it looks like almost everyone from the 5th anniversary trip will be "on board" for the 10th!
Since S & A are expecting baby #2 in the fall I offered to help with any trip planning if they wanted or needed it. To my delight, S has asked for some help with villa rental research! Me being me, I got right to work and within a couple days sent a list of rental villas I thought would fit the set criteria, and of course I followed up that first email list with a second list a few days later.
Yay! I have more trips on the drawingboard then ever before! Probably need to concentrate on "bringing home the bacon" so these trips will come to life!
When I arrived home from my short trip to NYC last week there was an email waiting for me from my friends Sandy and Alan. Also known as my "Hong Kong Connection".
S & A are my globe trotting friends who 4 years ago devised their 5th wedding anniversary celebration in Tuscany and 18 of us followed them along!
In short, the email was letting us know that their 10th anniversary is just around the corner, well, next May to be exact, but they have been thinking of doing another fun celebration.
After tossing around a variety of places they decided that since the 5th anniversary celebration was such fun, why not go back to Tuscany?!!!!
And, they wanted to know who of the "original gang" would be interested in a "Tuscany Two" adventure.
Well, how could I pass up this great opportunity and from the other emails I've been copied on, it looks like almost everyone from the 5th anniversary trip will be "on board" for the 10th!
Since S & A are expecting baby #2 in the fall I offered to help with any trip planning if they wanted or needed it. To my delight, S has asked for some help with villa rental research! Me being me, I got right to work and within a couple days sent a list of rental villas I thought would fit the set criteria, and of course I followed up that first email list with a second list a few days later.
Yay! I have more trips on the drawingboard then ever before! Probably need to concentrate on "bringing home the bacon" so these trips will come to life!
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