Rep Yo' City: ATL Shawty! Pt. 2

One could not ask for a greater time than living in Atlanta during the time when the south was taking over the music industry: Lil Jon was shouting "YAYEAH!" and "OKAY" from the mountaintops, and the Ying Yang Twins had us shaking it like a Salt Shaker. The music certainly runs through the veins of the city, and there is no doubt that it colored my experience. With a few favorites like "Snap Yo' Fingers," "Nuck if You Buck" and "Walk it Out" ATL definitely has an unmatchable energy.

It would be impossible to list all the songs that were soundtrack of my time in ATL or to sum up the nightlife in this post. However, I will share some of my fondest memories, which include:

-Club 112- Like most people, I had heard about Club 112 way before even going to ATL (mainly because of the group 112), but I was so surprised to find out how close it was to Emory. Having experienced it at that location and the newer location once it moved to Peachtree, I am glad that I can say I went to Club 112. I honestly don't know if it still open or if it has moved to a new location?

-Django- We certainly frequented this place during our senior year, and throroughly enjoyed it every single time. Plus I vividly remember a cute bartender that worked there.

-Sutra- This place holds some of our fond senior year memories.

-Luckie Lounge- I did not discover this place until my most recent visit back to ATL, but I continue to hear great things about it.

**The After-Party**
One just cannot discuss ATL nightlife without mentioning the Waffle House. This 24-hangout is the perfect end to any night out.

Image found here.

Rep Yo' City: ATL Shawty!

Due to popular demand, we are revisiting Atlanta for a Rep Yo’ City series. (Check out the original Rep Yo City: ATL Shawty! in our last issue) On Travel Tuesdays throughout the month of May, we’ll be sharing a few of our favorite things about the ATL and we’re giving you a chance to share your fave things as well.

Spending four years in Atlanta at Emory University, I’ve grown to think of the ATL as a home away from home. As the place where I established some of my firsts tastes of independence of adulthood, Atlanta holds a special place in my heart.

I must admit that Atlanta is where I expanded my palette. Call it the life of a starving college student. Being hungry enough to try anything forced my taste buds to grow up. From my first time really appreciating fresh lettuce and tomato on a sandwich at Emory’s Dooley Den during my freshman year to my first almost addictive experience with calamari during my junior year. Here are a few of my favorite food memories from ATL:

• Maddy’s: A Ribs & Blue's Joint- Even though I didn't try Maddy's until my junior year, it might have been my first real experience with Southern BBQ, and it did not disappoint. With a hearty helping of chicken, ribs, baked beans, my first taste of Brunswick Stew, potato salad and the slice of white bread, which serves almost like an edible napkin, I was properly introduced to what Southern BBQ had to offer.
  
• Chick Fil-A- Chicken Biscuit (not to be confused with the McDonald's version, which is okay but just not the same)- the succulent chicken and the buttery goodness of the biscuit combined with a side of hash browns is the only thing that got me and my roommate out of bed and on to campus. If I had $5 to my name, two of them were devoted to my breakfast love. I have to admit that I was skeptical but it changed my life a little bit.
  
• Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles- The smothered chicken is more than a generous portion of crispy fried chicken smothered in a thick gravy that reminded with every bite that I was in the South (and loving it). Served with their macaroni and cheese that is so full of cheesy flavor that it could stand on its own.
  
• Mary Mac’s biscuits were enough to be a meal on their own. I remember them melting in my mouth and oh so warm, buttery and delightful. Something about those biscuits made me envision a granny somewhere.
  
• Fellini’s- The pizza that reminded me little bit of NY pizza from home. Also, the place that made me crave pizza and salad at a time when I didn't even eat salad. Perfect for a late night snack run, Fellini's pizza was definitely a crowd favorite.
  
• Popeye’s Fridays- A tradition that one of my friends shared with a few of us, every Friday for several weeks, we'd make our way to Popeye's for whatever our college budgets would allow. She always got a two piece and a biscuit, and I usually got red beans and rice and always got the strawberry Fanta.
• Krispy Kreme- The perfect treat on a late night drive. One of the greatest feelings is to drive by the Krispy Kreme on Ponce de Leon and see “hot” light on. Krispy Kreme donuts are always good, but when they are hot they are A-MA-ZING. They melt in your mouth almost like cotton candy but then the taste is finished with that sweet glaze.
  

I really want to hear about your favorite foods in the ATL. (So that I can make a list and try all of them next time I visit.)

Travel Tuesday: Tips and Tricks

Double the Pleasure, Double the Fun

Layovers can be annoying, but not if you use them to your advantage. On a flight to Edinburgh, Scotland, I was stuck with a 13-hour layover in Dublin, Ireland. Instead of sitting in an airport for a very long day, I bought a day pass and hopped on a double-decker bus for some exploring (looking like Dora with my backpack). Embracing this adventurous and independent side of myself set the tone for an AMAZING trip. Also, on a recent trip to Minneapolis I chose a flight with an extended layover in Atlanta and met up with my college roommate for dinner, which was a great BONUS to my trip.

You can go as far as planning an overnight layover for a quick night out with friends in that city. For the price of one flight, a layover can upgrade your trip into a multicity journey.

Safety First

I also wanted to share this e-mail I just received from a friend:

You arrive at your hotel and check in at the front desk. When checking in, you give the front desk your credit card (for all the charges for your room). You get to your room and settle in.

Someone calls the front desk and asked for (example) Room 620 (which happens to be your room). Your phone rings in your room. You answer and the person on the other end says the following, “This is the front desk. When checking in, we came across a problem with your charge card information. Please re-read me your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits numbers at the reverse side of your charge card.”
Not thinking anything you might give this person your information, since the call seems to come from the front desk. But actually, it could be a scam of someone calling from outside the hotel/front desk. They ask for a random room number. Then, ask you for credit card information and address information. Sounding so professional that you do think you are talking to the front desk.

If you ever encounter this problem on your vacation, tell the caller that you will be down at the front desk to clear up any problems. Then, go to the front desk and ask if there was a problem. If there was none, inform the manager of the hotel that someone called to scam you of your credit card information acting like a front desk employee.

You can read about all of Miss Journey's adventures at Miss Journey's blog.

Photo source

Money Monday

As much as I enjoy the luxury of travel, I understand that one of the main obstacles of traveling is money. After reading Glinda Bridgforth’s Girl Get Your Money Straight, I realized that it just would not be right for me to promote traveling and living lavishly at the (literal) expense of your financial well being. From here on out it is my mission to also share ways to enjoy the joys of travel in a financially responsible way.

- Take advantage of rewards programs on debit and credit cards but don’t let them take advantage of you. Even though Bridgforth encourages them, she warns to not let the reward of a free flight lure you into a credit card agreement you can’t keep up with. It would be wiser to set up a rewards program with debit cards and get rewards for what you’re already doing without taking the on the risk of creating more debt.

-Being loyal can pay off, literally. Using frequent flier programs, you can earn free flights. A free flight made my most recent trip to Chicago that much sweeter. It’s a good idea to sign up with a few different airlines to give yourself options when looking for flights.

-Saving makes cents. Keeping your leftover change can really add up, and instead of the old school way of wrapping coins, TD Bank’s Penny Arcade is a fun little treat (you don't even have to have an account with them!). Bank of America’s Keep the Change program also allows you to do the same thing with debit card purchases. You can even take your savings strategy a step further, and make it a personal challenge like The Glam Globetrotter's $20-A-Day Vacay. If you need a little extra help, look into vacation savings accounts that only allow deposits.

-Give a little, get a little. With voluntourism on the rise, travel can be even more rewarding. For example, Sage Hospitality’s Give a Day, Get a Night promotion: “Give 8 hours of community service and get a complimentary night stay or 50% discount on hotel rooms at all 53 Sage hotels across the country; AND Disney's Give a Day, Get A Day promotion. You can even get paid to work abroad (more on that later).

Give me your two cents. What other ways do you overcome the financial obstacle of travel?

Image found at The Fabulous Giver, a great philanthropic blog. Check them out!

Chi Town Blew Me Away

Seeing the skyline from the plane (see pics 1-3), I was immediately excited about my first visit to Chicago. Driving through the city, I could definitely feel the old soul of the city and a sense of its rich history. With names like Oprah, Bernie Mac, R. Kelly and Kanye West associated with Chicago, I was excited to see firsthand what’s so special about Chi Town.

What captivated me most was the musical energy. Maybe I was on a high from Jade’s performance (pic 8), but it is undeniable that music runs through the veins of Chi town. I got a chance to see just how serious stepping is when we caught a steppers party letting out_with couples dressed to the nines, fully decked out in furs and hats. After catching a quick glimpse during one of our nights out, I’m slightly obsessed with footworking. Going along with specific footworking songs or house remixes of popular songs, the dancers move so fast it looks like they’re in fast forward. It looks unreal. Even thought I won’t be attempting that anytime soon, I did pick up a little two step.

Like the Waffle House in Atlanta or a diner in New York, Taco Burrito King served as the perfect after party meal. One chicken and one steak (the better of the two) taco was all it took to fill me before collapsing into bed and convert me into TBK fan. Next was FlatTop, my first build-your-own-stir-fry experience (pics 9-15). After conquering an overwhelming selection of sauces and veggies to add, I was more than happy with my creation: brown and white rice, noodles, bean sprouts, one edamame (out of curiosity), red and green peppers, chopped jalapenos, soy sauce, chili sauce, Asian BBQ sauce, FlatTop sauce and chicken, all topped with the most delicious pita bread. And I can’t forget my yummy Lava Colada. Of course no visit to Chicago is complete with trying the deep dish pizza, and I think we had one of the best. Our experience at Giordano’s was unforgettable (pics 35-43). Our waiter Leo was great, the pizza was delicious, and I fell in love with my drink, The Chocolate Runway. I also finished my trip with a chicken salad sandwich from Potbelly’s, which was like all the toasted goodness of Quizno’s mixed with the personalized deli touch of peppers and seasonings added to my liking.

As a wide-eyed tourist, I got to see the Sears Tower (which is now the Willis Tower), The Bean at Millennium Park (pics 20-29) and the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Avenue (pics 33-34). Because of the fog that covered the top of the tower (pic 31), we weren’t able to go up to the Sky Deck…next time! I also saw Navy Pier from a distance, got a recommendation for Garrett popcorn and heard good things about Flirty Girls. Of course the Oprah Store is a must see; all things on the to-do list for my next visit because this was definitely not my last.

To read about all of Miss Journey's adventures, visit Miss Journey's blog.

Fun (Foodie) Friday: NYC Restaurant Week

It's that time again.


It's NYC Restaurant Week! (January 25- February7, 2010)

This is the time when you can enjoy finer dining at a discount. Yup, you heard me. Participating restaurants are offering three-course dinners for ONLY $35 (and lunch for less than $25). Also, this year is the first time we'll be seeing the Restaurant Week Truck, which will be offering lunch time specials on soups on street corners around the city.

Which restaurants are you looking forward to trying?

Fun (Foto) Friday): Where in the World is Miss Journey?

Do you know where this is? Look out for a post about Miss Journey's latest adventure!

Staycation: Destination NYC

The increase in travel fees, limited vacation time, and more conservative budgets can sometimes get in the way of a much desired vacation. However, oftentimes a simple change in scenery can provide the temporary escape that you may need.

Infected by the travel bug, I seize any and every opportunity for a new adventure. In this time when we have to be more creative with our time and finances, the “staycation” has quickly become popular. I’d like to share how you can give yourself the joy of a vacay within the boundaries of your hometown (and your budget).

Those of us in New York are fortunate enough to have an endless plethora of things to explore. However, in NY it is also easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the daily commute and the stress of the workday, not to mention overwhelmed by the daily demands of your personal life. With that hectic lifestyle one seldom takes advantage of the opportunity to admire the intricacy of the city that so many others come to witness.

I encourage you, for one whole day, to take a spectator’s perspective on a City Sights NY tour* **. For less than what you would spend on a roundtrip flight, you can view NYC from air (in a helicopter), water (on a Circle Line boat), and land (on a double-decker bus), granting you three unique views. Although you may already be familiar with the city, these tours open your eyes to things you may have never seen before, share information you may have never known, or simply just allow you a whole new perspective and appreciation for where you are.

This would be great for a family outing, a girls’ day out, when hosting out-of-towners, or as a solo adventure. This is also highly recommended for anyone visiting the Big Apple. It is nearly impossible to see NY in a short visit, but these tours do a great job of giving you a broad idea of what this city has to offer.

*City Sights NY offers a variety of tours, any of which are sure to be a great experience.

**If you are only interested in the helicopter tours, go directly to Liberty Tours to save $15.

Mmmm...chocolate

Whether you’re planning a Girls’ Night Out, a date with your boo, or night of solo bliss, let me recommend Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man to satisfy your chocolate loving needs. When a friend of mine suggested that I visit this chocolate heaven, my mouth was watering before she finished describing her meal. After my own firsthand experience, it is my chocolate loving duty to share it with you.

Please be advised that there may be a wait because everyone wants some of the chocolate goodness, but it well worth the wait, and you will have an opportunity to enjoy the atmosphere. Feast your eyes on the two chocolate mixers at the entrance, a chocolate bar filled with heaps of chocolate, chocolate pipes running throughout the restaurant, and walls lined with jumbo jars of cinnamon and other sweets. The “Look Mom! Willy Wonka does exist!” sign sums up this fantastical place perfectly. Once seated, you will get to flip through a menu dedicated to chocolate with pages of unique hot chocolate blends. Although The Bald Man also offers entrees that I hear are full of flavor, Max Brenner is the only place that justifies my regular routine of choosing my dessert before (or instead of) choosing my meal.

Max Brenner offers a great variety from traditional fondues and s’mores to internationally inspired crepes to uncanny creations like the chocolate pizza. You can even find chocolate filled syringes to feed your chocolate cravings. The dishes are served with fresh fruits and sweet treats like gummy bears, and the quirky dishware (a hug mug that fits perfectly in the palms of your hands, metal straws, vials of chocolate, for example) only enhance the experience. Max Brenner certainly creates a gratifying atmosphere. It has been said that chocolate creates feelings similar to that of falling in love. So whether you fall in love with your boo or the chocolate itself, you will leave Max Brenner with a mushy feeling inside, and not just from the chocolate fondue you devoured.

Oded Brenner, coincidently a bald man, is the man that we owe the gratitude for this chocolate heaven. Taking inspiration from some famous chocolate experts including Michelle Chaudun, and with insight from designers such as Jean Paul Gautier, "Max Brenner" had the revelation that chocolate was more than just food but something that should be appreciated through all the faculties and sensations as an all encompassing experience. After opening chocolate bars in London, Australia and Isreal, Max Brenner further developed the idea into Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man, which launched in Singapore and the Philippines. In 2006, Max Brenner shared the ultimate chocolate experience with New York, opening two locations, one in Union Square and one in East Village.[1]

Sharing the passion for chocolate with each customer that enjoys this amazing chocolate experience, Max Brenner has truly made a name to remember, and many are singing its praises: The March/April 2008 issue of Hi Class Living mentions “the first restaurant entirely devoted to chocolate” and recommends the Chocolate Martini. The January/February 2008 issue of Travel + Leisure Mexico even raves en español. Many also recommend Max Brenner’s chocolate bars that can be found in the chocolate shop. Even celebrities like Orlando Bloom, find their way to enjoy the chocolate creations of the bald man. So if you have not been there yet, you should put it on your to-do list.

Other chocolate spots in NY that should be on your to do list:
The Chocolate Room
Serendipity

Share some of your favorite chocolate spots with us!

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[1] Courtesy of Max Brenner, Chocolate by the Bald Man contact

Make it a Girls' Night!

Being an only child I was always drawn to groups like The Baby-sitters Club and Best Friends Clubs, and as an “adult” I still long for slumber parties and girls nights. With the prevalence of sororities and female bonding shows like Girlfriends and Sex and the City I find comfort in knowing that I’m not the only one who enjoys sisterly support.

Many of us take our girly gatherings for granted, but time with the girls can contribute to your overall well-being: helping to reduce stress, providing emotional support and extra motivation.

When you’re overwhelmed with your job and you’re tired of forcing a phony smile for your coworkers and boss, what’s better than to convene with your girls who you can shed all of the cordial layers with and just be yourself? Or when you’re fed up fighting with your boo, who just doesn’t get what you’re saying, you need your girls who you can hold a complete conversation without a single word, only grunts and glances. For example:

Girl 1: Spotting a girl whose orange underwear clearly should not be visible through her white pants, “Hmph.” (Translation: Oh no she didn’t! Why didn’t one of her friends tell her that wasn’t a good idea?)

Girl 2: Glances at girl 1, head cocked to the side and eyebrow raised. (Translation: I’m glad you said something because you know I don’t like talking about people.)

Girl 1 and 2: Simultaneous laughter. (Translation: That’s why I love you. You always know exactly what I’m saying.)

No matter what the reason, time with your girls can rejuvenate your spirit and recharge you to face those who don’t really get you once again.

Unlike Joan and Carrie and their respective posses, we do not all have an extensive budget for our social life yet. While a girls night out is always fun, a girls night in can be just as fun and more cost effective. Whip out the calendar and schedule some days for the girls:

Girls Night Out	OR	Girls Night In
Dinner and a movie One of my favorite girls’ nights included Max Brenner and Sex and the City, and that was all I needed.		Invite the girls over to bring a dish and invest in NetFlix or RedBox (DVDs for only $1/day).
Pamper Party Try martini and a manicure at Beauty Bar, sip while you spa at Dashing Diva, or call SPArties to customize a spa package for you and your girls.		Call the Mary Kay lady! They do free product demonstrations. I recommend investing in the Satin Hands set for your at-home pampering pleasure.
Work It Out Try exercise and/or dance classes together. Some places offer free classes for first time customers.		Pop in a workout DVD and work it out!
Dance Party Thankfully, for a night out on the town, we ladies have it relatively easy because there are many “Free before __ for Ladies” nights.		Create a playlist and dance the night away. For you daring souls, try your luck at Dance Dance Revolution (also good for a workout).
Game Night Who said adults weren’t allowed to play? PlayDate US provides just that, play dates for adults in various cities around the U.S.		Dust off the Scrabble board, whip out the Tabu and bust out the Twister mat because it’s on. It’s game time!
Girlfriend Getaways Plan a trip to LA, NYC, Miami, Tobago, Paris, or wherever. You can find great flight/hotel/car rental packages using sites like Travelocity, Hotwire, Orbitz, Priceline, etc.; Greyhound and Amtrak are also good for a fun day trip, or road trip!		Visit a far away friend to enjoy the scenery in good company without the hotel costs.

When life’s too much, make it a Girls' Night!

What are some of your favorite girls' night memories?

Send a photo of you and your girls to HerJourneyBlog@gmail.com, and we'll include them in a future post!