When it rains in Georgia.

It rained again yesterday.

I don't mind at all.

There's just something about a thunderous Georgia rain storm. It gives me goosebumps and eases my tension and calms me to the bone, all at once. I was born and raised here, so there's something intrinsically centering about the sopping mess of a rain storm that makes me feel at home; this sense of cleansing peace as the rain streams down the glass panes and rinses away the angst.

We are all from somewhere. Reactions to our regional weather come natural. I have friends who love a quiet Midwestern snow, some who crave the gentle gray rain in the Pacific Northwest, those who need the sun scorch of the coast like they need the beat of their own heart. For me, I settle into a calm stupor when the weighty clouds commune overhead, seeping with humidity, toiling with the strangely lovely and very telltale scent of rain, gathering and commiserating until finally sacrificing the forceful system down into the earth. Pummeling with lightening and thunder and sheets of unforgiving rain, I am undone.

It never fails to mesmerize, this simple bit of weather. There isn't another place where the rain is quite like this. I've grown to love it, to cuddle up under a blanket and close my eyes and listen. To walk out on the front porch and share the moment with my little son. He is rapidly learning why the rain matters, both to the garden in the back yard and to mommy.

It's almost like everything on Earth is forgiven after a deliciously raucous Georgia rain storm.

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What is your favorite bit of weather from your home land? I'd love to hear about it :)

Exploring Ponce City Market.

If you want in on the cool, Ponce City Market should be your next venture. Located in the historic Sears Roebuck building, tucked between the Virginia Highlands and Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, Ponce City is a mixed use live-eat-play community in Atlanta, Ga. Managed by Jamestown Properties, the same developer responsible for Atlanta's Westside Provisions and New York's Chelsea Market (which I shared about when I lived there), Ponce City is another super mondo building that has been resurrected to the crowning beauty of current era urban charm. This is where you come to shop, dream and eat a drillion things.

Dancing Goat Coffee. Get you some. And how about that wall art?

Pork Korean BBQ bites from Simply Seoul - simply yes.

Citizen's Supply, where crafty vendors showcase their designs.

Everett played on some of those designs.

Everett played wherever he wanted. Suddenly my stroller felt so obsolete.

He's got this thing with chairs lately. He really loves sitting in chairs. Just sitting in them.

We had a blast, finally getting the opportunity to explore this much-talked-about urban development project. There is a tonnnnn of amazing shopping, which we mostly resisted because Everett could barely make it through West Elm. But we did peek our heads into Williams Sonoma, because they were carrying some of the home line, which I've been dying to see in person. And it did not disappoint. I want it all. The Citizen Supply was really amazing - a bunch of vendors showcasing jewelry, art, clothing and accessories (and toys!) in an open, lofty space that felt really fresh and inspired. They were especially cool about letting my toddler run around and get his wiggles out while I attempted to shop, so thanks Citizen Supply! And the Food Hall was righteous - it made me want to come back on a date night to try a bite at ten little places. Plus, there's gelato that I didn't get the chance to try. So obviously we have to go back :) Although this amazing place was developed by the same company as The Chelsea Market, it reminded me an awful lot of New York's Hudson Eats, which is another tasty roundup (I chatted a little bit about it here - remember Everett with his BFF Anthony?) Whew, this was an epic day, beginning at The Children's Museum and ending with Korean BBQ - but it was SO MUCH FUN.

I hope you have the happiest weekend. If you're like me, you will be praying for this weather to turn for good and for the rising of tulips to happen :)

P.S. - I may or may not have a really cool review + giveaway coming up on Monday... see you then!

The Atlanta Children's Museum (& a walk through Centennial Olympic Park!)

I was feeling really stifled. All the strange cold-warm-wet weather and the wintry hours and let's be honest, CABIN FEVER, were really getting to me. So when Stevie got home from one of his work trips, I sort of exploded (while laying on the kitchen floor) about how I need more adventure and city life and thank goodness for that sweet man, he just asked me what that meant to me. "I don't know - I want to go to more museums!" Don't laugh, guys. I love a good museum. We decided on the Atlanta Children's Museum, because even though its not a real museum, it's recently reopened and we knew Everett would love it. So we ordered tickets online at 11pm that evening and woke up early the next morning, ready to seize the day.

We parked at the CNN Center because - hello! They have free parking for electric vehicles! Nissan Leaf for the win (praise hands, praise hands). And we walked a verrrrrry bitterly cold walk from the CNN Center, through Centennial Olympic Park, to the Children's Museum. Seriously, the wind was out of control and we were NOT dressed appropriately. I keep anticipating Spring, but no. It's still winter. I should have pulled out my Boston coat.

Pictures!

Have you been to the Atlanta Eye? This was the closest we got, but I still think it would be fun to go on at some point.

The Atlanta Children's Museum. Such a great place for kids on a chilly day.

The stairs play musical notes like a piano!

With all the toys and games and activities, you know what this boy wanted to do? THROW A BALL. Well, we could have done that at home, Everett.

They had an interactive story time that was really sweet.

He got SO wet.

This one kills me. I said, "Boys, smile for me!" And look at what I got.

Centennial might not be the poshest of parks, but Stevie asked me to marry him in the middle of this park at Christmastime 10 years ago, so it holds a special place in my heart.

We had such a great time! It felt really good to get out of suburbia and do something different on a Saturday. I will say that we got to the museum right when it opened, and that first hour and a half was the best because hardly anyone was there. Then people started filtering in and it got really crowded - so word to the wise - get there early! Plus everything is super clean then :) I would definitely recommend this at the perfect place to take your kiddos, especially on a cold or rainy day. We could have stayed much longer, it just got a little crowded for our taste. I thought Everett might be too young for the activities, but they offer such a wide range of things to do that it wasn't a problem. He will definitely love it even more when he gets older, but there was still plenty for him to explore as a 19-month-old.

We visited Ponce City Market after this little adventure - check back for those pics tomorrow! xox

A Johnnyswim Christmas.

This past weekend was FUN. We stayed in, watched our Christmas lights dance practically off the tree, and enjoyed some indulgent old Christmas movies. We watched Everett haul the wrapped Christmas presents around the room and listened to him say "Ho ho ho." To which we died laughing, every time. He literally says it. I will try to catch it on video. I'll have to show you this picture of him in his little Santa beanie, all the way from the dearest of friends in London. It's so stinkin' CUTE.

Blurry, but whatever. This is real life.

My favorite part about the weekend was going on our annual Christmas date, which is something that I always look forward to and always looks different. One year we went to see the Rockettes. One year we went to the Nutcracker. Last year I don't think we did our fun fancy date, because we had a bitty baby. But this year we joined a ton of friends and went to see Johnnyswim play a Christmas show at the Variety Playhouse. SO RAD. Ever heard of Johnnyswim? You should get their album and keep it on repeat. These two are so talented and cute in "real life" (I say that like I know who they are based on their stage presence - but they really do seem SO REAL). We went back to our friends' house after for toasts and treats and watched more friends GET ENGAGED (woohoo - so excited for you, Jordan & Amanda!!!), so it was pretty much the greatest night that ever could be. So much festivity and love and teasing and joy and coziness. I am really grateful for our community here in this little cove of Atlanta.

What does this holiday week look like for you? We will be baking and cooking some good stuff (though, not too much. This girl is tired), finishing up wrapping and anticipating the fun weekend! Christmas by ourselves, Christmas with my side of the family and Christmas with Stevie's side of the family - and all of them are PRIORITY, so by Sunday we will probably be whipped, just from all the emotion spent :) Happy emotion, though!

What are your Christmas week traditions?! I keep telling Stevie we need to create some new ones, and he says I shouldn't try so hard, just to let things happen. He might be right. But what are some of your favorite things to do this week? So I can steal them :) Ho ho ho! Merry week, friends!

P.S. - My Peppermint Bark recipe will be up tomorrow! I might be hiding it in stashes around my house so it doesn't get eaten all at once...

An Ode to Riverside Dining.

The scene was exhilarating, maddening, memorable. Dinnertime in the city. A wall of windows reflected the setting sun over Atlanta’s lazy Chattahoochee River. The silverware sparkled. The music was sweet. My whole family was finally together in one place, all of us, together again! We gathered to celebrate my beautiful little sister’s graduation from college. We were all so proud, beaming with sheer joy, laughing and pouring the wine and drinking in the moment’s wonder.

I, however, was sorely distracted.

My baby son was squirming in my arms, pulling on my fancy dress, and yelping incomprehensible phrases. It was past his bedtime, and he was tired and hungry. I did my best to contain him while we were seated at our white-clothed table, but to no avail. What’s a mom to do?

As the waiter approached the table, I was so distracted by Everett eating the crayons and throwing the appetizer that I didn’t take a moment to look at the menu. However, instead of rolling his eyes and (not so subtly) judging me for bringing a baby into this hoity-toity joint, our kind waiter just smiled and said, “Ma’am, please take your time.”

Whew. Take my time? Don’t mind if I do. I almost asked him if I could take my time in the form of a 20-minute break at the bar while he played patty cake with my baby. Don’t worry, I only thought it.

The meal came out and it was spectacular. The chef made Everett something special since there was no children’s menu, and he ate and ate and ate. Like the rest of us. This restaurant wasn’t an Atlanta landmark for no reason. Each morsel, taste, spoonful, and decadent bite was rich with  flavor. Even my little boy had calmed into a food stupor for a few moments, so I actually had a chance to enjoy my half-glass of wine and laugh with my sisters.

It was a moment of perfection. The wait staff was so discreet that I hardly noticed when they whisked away a plate, refilled a beverage, and let me keep our mess of baby food and teething toys and sippy cups in my quadrant of the table. We toasted to my sister’s future over and over again. The glowing eyes of my loved ones encircled my periphery, and I felt like the luckiest lady in the world.

When Everett got fussy, the host suggested that a walk through the garden might calm the baby down. He escorted me through the French doors that led to a riverbank path. The outdoor space was peaceful and green and he was enamored by the simple beauties. The tall tomato plants amused him, the fat bell peppers made him laugh and the cranes skimming the top of the water had a hypnotizing effect. As the sun took its final plunge into the river, I knew that this place was the right choice to celebrate such a special occasion, due to both the excellent cuisine and the fact that I didn’t feel like a complete nuisance to the wait staff. In fact, I felt so cared for, when I would normally be feeling frantic and out of control.

I am so grateful that a restaurant as esteemed as this would train its staff to treat all guests with such an incredible amount of attention and care. This place didn’t need my business, but they made me feel like a priority in an environment that was a challenge for my large family with multiple children along for the ride.

This encounter makes me think about how I treat others, especially those who have different situations than mine. Sometimes I don’t take enough time to consider how I can be of service. I tend to drive impatiently, tap my foot while I wait in line, eat in a hurry and talk on my phone while I’m doing ten things at once. But if I took just a bit of extra time to emulate our kind waiter by making those around me feel like they could take their time in my presence, well, how much better would people feel? A lot, probably. A whole lot better.

Thank you, Canoe. Your distinct excellence inspires me to approach others with the same sensitivity and respect that you showed me. And thank you for making me feel cared for by approaching family dining as just that – a special memory for the entire family.

Want to meet purveyors who are making a difference with their customers? Check out BonAppetit.com’s “Out of the Kitchen”, an ongoing exploration of the relationships that build and sustain the food industry. See how hyper-local food markets operate and how their focus on quality and service keep customers coming back for more.

Many thanks to Epicurious for sponsoring this post.