Present, Past & Future Fun

. . . Half Past Fun Thirty

Monday was anything but mundane. I met Josh Rogers, Chris Horne and Stephen Windsor for cocktails at Luigi's. The agenda . . . top secret and just as delicious as the roasted cherry peppers that are served with the calamari (be sure to ask for extra). By George, I think that we're onto something so stay tuned! For now that's all I can say but a Toast . . . is on its way.

Tuesday evening I had dinner with Amy & Clayton Hellis. In this case, the Toast goes to Amy for the Five Star Tacos and Charley - on vocals. Little Miss Hellis put on a concert that had all of us mesmerized by her sparkling talent. And moves! That girl can dance.

I spent Wednesday and Thursday in the nest. A sudden and potent illness knocked me right off my feet and kept me between the bamboo sheets, throwing my whole world topsy turvy. But I'll have to say that, to be as sick as I was, I emerged from my fever feeling remarkably rested, energized & inspired.

So naturally, my next stop was the Theatre! City of Angels - be still my beating heart!!! SEX, Sailor-Mouthed studio execs, and the dashing Tom Morris - who, this time, stole my heart most of all. Oh, Tom! Kate Zaloumes was adorable, as well. People will be buzzing about this one for a while.

Friday night, inspired by the 40's lingerie from the night before . . . I put on a slinky black dress, fashioned a skinny ribbon into a headband (a Toast to Jessica, the ribbon was her idea) and hopped in the limo with Miss J, Tosha & Alan Walden for a most chivalrous ride to the Bragg Jam Patron Party - which was without a doubt THE total party of the year in every way!

It also set the tone for . . .

"The entire event was magical. Downtown was alive. The music scene was alive. And more than anything, Macon was alive . . . and having a damn good time!"

- Jessica Walden

You guessed it, Bragg Jam. Yes, another Bragg Jam has come & gone. A drink for the Artists & Musicians, A SHOT for the Bragg Jam Board, and yet another successful Toast to the brothers Bragg - Brax & Tate . . . whose spirits not only live on, but also have become so essential to the SOUL of our city.


aS


Hot This Week!
(Ooh Girl It Is Soooo . . . )

African Queen at CCT

Holly Doss Cosmetics (LA) and Perfect Pair (Nashville) - who donated auction items for Taste of Music. Interested too? Call us!

The talented Leah Yetter, who snapped this picture of our most hilarious discovery. Catch her Macon Arts, First Friday Exhibit.

Guys & Dolls at MLT

Performance Limousine and Sedan Service. Your chariot awaits . . .

Step Right Up, Get Your Tickets Before They Sell Out . . .

Willie Nelson & BB King

Steamy Hot Knights!

. . . Southern Summer Suppers And Dreams Of Sand & Surf

I should have known, by the way my week began, that there was something delicious in store. One of my favorite fellows rang me up and uttered those four little words that every girl loves to hear . . . “wanna go to Nat’s?” Natalia’s has never disappointed me.

But Tuesday night’s dinner was pretty close to – well, you know, “the big O” . . . gasmic. And I’m not referring to overstock dot com.

We started with Curry brushed oriental oysters served over a teriyaki kissed, sautéed stir-fry. Ceviche! was next. Then the most beautiful piece of grouper that I have ever seen (including any I’ve hooked myself) swam its way over to our table. My gorgeous fish was tortilla crusted and served with a crawfish butter laced, shrimp & andouille sausage flavored Mornay. For dessert, we shared bananas foster drenched bread pudding. It was truly divine!

On Wednesday, I got a little bit closer to the stars in the heavens. A phone call from my sister, Betsy, came and “Miss Daisy” did something that she rarely ever does . . . drive! That’s right – all the way to Charleston. Katie Grace was born at 12:04 in the morning and I heard her very first cry. She has the biggest, brightest, blue-est eyes I have ever seen and I’m over the moon for her - a moon that I’m quite sure she hung. I could just eat her up! I’ll be in Charleston every chance I get. As Rhett Butler says, where there’s “charm & GRACE” . . . 

Katie Grace.

Saturday I went shopping for something slinky. Dillard's has the most delectable selection of lingerie and so much of it is quite the bargain. As far as silky and sexy are concerned – if Dillard's were a restaurant, it would be an all you can eat buffet. Seriously, get yourself over there and buy baby something that will crank his tractor.

I was shopping for Bebe Sanders. Her bachelorette party was over the top! A Toast to her sister, Huntley for the stellar planning and a Toast to her Aunt, Kim, for the Eagles Eye Perch she scored us at Opera. If you haven’t been to Opera, you’re missing out. Once an opera house for the Atlanta Women's Club, it's just gorgeous and completely eaten up with historic character.

Sunday proved to be the quintessential end to my week of epicurean delight. Mama Beppie & Georgie Walden prepared a meal that was one hundred percent eat-your-heart-out, slap-your-grandmama, soul-lovin’, Southern Sunday Supper. Fried green tomatoes, peas, sliced tomatoes & cucumbers, corn on the cob, squash, and peaches & blueberries with whipped cream . . . hallelujah p-p-praise the Lord! After dinner, Jessica gave me a book to read that I’m just dying to get into . . . Cumberland Island: Strong Women, Wild Horses. And last night, I had dreams about the untamed island . . . think I’ll take a little trip to the coast sometime soon.

aS


(Ooh Girl It Is Soooo)
Hot This Week . . .

Bragg Jam is this weekend!.

City of Angels

The Greyfield Inn

Head Over Heels

Robert . . . Plant & McCord

Vicki Mills Awarded the Harry Hoile Award: Vicki Mills was presented the Harry Hoile Award at the American Advertising Foundation District 7 convention held in Chattanooga. Mills, former governor and board chair of the American Advertising Foundation District 7, is the vice president of Imedia Group.

Step Right Up, Get Your Tickets Before They Sell Out . . .

Willie Nelson & BB King

Talk About Fireworks!

Sparklers & Bubblers

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My week began as I believe, from here on out, they all should . . . on a double date and with a foot massage!
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A couple of keg beers on Friday led to one of Jessica's "Grande Plans" and by Tuesday evening David Higdon, Jamie Weatherford and I were having a drink and waiting for her arrival at Taylormade Grill. By seven thirty we were all "picking out our colors."
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Now . . . There is a reason that I call Jessica (Walden) Julie. Julie McCoy was the cruise director on The Love Boat. And Jessica's (often hair-brained sounding) schemes have never failed us. Tuesday night was no exception and I'll never have another pedicure without bringing a boy along.
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IT IS A MUST! They were so precious and I laughed until (I am quite certain) I was very nearly rendered incontinent. From the look on Jessica's face when (due to a covert operation run by David whereby the bottom of her chair suddenly began to vibrate) to the blush that never quite left Jamie's cheeks to David's insistence that he did not need fans to dry his topcoat because "the angels were blowing on them" . . . it evolved into the kind of evening this girl won't soon forget.
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For the holiday, I took my pedicured little piggies to Tybee Island for a little visit with Brooks Gaudry.
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Time to spend with Brooks comes with a double your money-back guarantee of a true adventure. This particular escapade began when he looked at me and said "now shuga . . . I'm gonna warn-ya . . . there are people down here that are most likely missin' a chromosome, so be careful."
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And that was all she wrote. The sun drenched my soul, the fireworks (and a few licka drinks) lit us up, and before the weekend was over I was looking through a Karaoke Catalog in a gas station.
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Being with Brooks always reminds me of 1995. When I played in a game of poker on the roof of the school . . . when Bert Dasher and James Berg led an expedition up Murder Creek . . . when things were simple and there was never EVER a "plan."
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I'll TOAST to that any day!
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If you haven't ever been to Tybee Island then you've got to get with the program. After all, it's close enough that you can guzzle gas AND beer without cutting into your shoe budget.
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For supper, the place to be is AJ's Dockside. It's on the Back River and hosts the prettiest little spot for catching a sunset that I have ever sat upon. As darkness falls the little white lights begin to twinkle, the live music rolls out across the black water, and you would quite literally expect to find "a slice of heaven" listed on the dessert menu.
a
After finishing the Crispy Scored Flounder - a whole flounder scored, delicately fried & drizzled with a sweet chili glaze - Brooks led myself, and the entire restaurant, in a sing-a-long. Be still my beating heart - the whole damn lot of 'em!
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"And we were singin' - bye, bye Miss American Pie . . . ."
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It just doesn't get much sweeter!
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. . . "singin' this'll be the day that I die."


aS


(Ooh Girl It Is Soooo)
Hot This Week . . .


Summer Ice Skating


Alison Krauss & Robert Plant at Chastain


City of Angels Opens!


Innaugural Second Sunday Gospel Brunch with the soulful sounds of Essie Mae Brooks. **Free Brunch including mimosas and Bloody Marys will be provided by College Hill and catered by the Tic Toc Room.**


Step Right Up, Get Your Tickets Before They Sell Out . . .


BRAGG JAM, July 26th for a rockin’ good time!


Willie Nelson & BB King

Some Like It Hot!

. . . A Hot Little Secret

I heart Ronald Reagan. I read the book of his notes and letters, to Nancy, beside the pool at the Mission Inn, where they spent their first night as Man and Wife and I was one hundred percent OVER . . . THE . . . MOON!

So I got a little shiver when I realized that our speaker at Rotary was one of the men who saved his life. Ray Shaddock was adorable and I really enjoyed hearing about the "Great Communicator" - precious Ronnie. Especially precious was Ray's description of the moment when Nancy walked into the emergency room and her husband looked at her and said "honey, I forgot to duck."

Speaking of precious boys, it's not easy when one of them breaks your heart. And there's always that one night (even if it's MONTHS later), when you've got your groove back, and you're out and it unfortunately seems as if everyone who ever knew you as a couple is there . . . and is asking you what happened with a look that is usually reserved to accompany the "why's" that go along with untimely deaths or natural disasters. Friday night was that night for me.

From Billy Joe Shaver at the Bird to Tron Jackson at the Capitol and even when I got to the after party. What was not unfortunate was the realization that so many people think you were the best thing that ever happened to someone. So I'll tell you what I told them. "Sometimes you don't get an answer to the why's in life. But don't you worry about me because . . . drum roll please . . . there's a new suitor on the porch."

The TOAST, this week, goes to a man that I'm going to call "Humphrey Bogart" for now. Anyway, Mr. Bogart is a Great Communicator and the notes that he has written to me would make darling Ronnie oh so proud. And I am more than a little bit smitten with Mr. B. So stay tuned. Because my unbelievably handsome, funny and sweet little secret might just get even better, the longer I keep it.

aS

(Ooh-wee honey it's) Hot This Week . . .


A Double "Date" What has Jessica gotten me into this time? Stay tuned, this one should be a riot! I'll tell you all about it in the next installment.

Joe & Evelyn Adams: The flowers at Sunday's party at Chris Abbott's new house were absolutely beautiful!

Allyson Moody: Certified to teach Pilates and giving free lessons in July. I can hook you up if you want.

Dresses: That's right I am done with pants. I've committed to wearing dresses for the rest of the summer and I have never felt saucier. Here's a picture of my new fave. And I'll let you in on a little secret that makes me sound a little nutty but it really gives you a lift when it arrives. When ordering online, have the dress gift wrapped and even include a little note to yourself, Ronnie style. It's a real kick in the . . . er . . . "pants".

Ice Capades, Summer Ice Skating

Step Right Up, Get Your Tickets Before They Sell Out . . .

Willie Nelson & BB King