Grillin' and Chillin': Part 1

Follow my blog with bloglovin
Where there's smoke, there's...ouch!
By A. Scott Walton
The last time I checked, "BBQ Tips" was fourth on the list of topics "trending" on Yahoo!; right behind "Tight Pants Ban", "Danica Patrick" and "Todd Bridges".
Oil spill? What oil spill? That's not even in the top 10!
And on the eve of what many men consider the official start of grilling season, the Food Channel's airing (of all things) a marathon series about top chefs cooking for celebrities' vegetarian pets!
So, as a public service, ESS is pausing for the cause, and pointing out that there are reliable sources of info out there to keep you from scorching your meat _ literally and figuratively _ this Memorial Day.
For solid info, check out what the National Barbecue Association, has to say about getting out of a pinch. If you've got the cash and time to squander, round up the items on Esquire magazine's "2010 Eat Like A Man Grilling Awards" list.
Either that, or just simmer down for four short minutes and watch EyeSeeStyle's exclusive interview with Atlanta's hottest new barbecue guru, Andrew Capron of Boners BBQ, and savor the flavor.
In the meantime, here's our holiday menu:
Smoked spare ribs with a vinaigrette reduction sauce...mango slaw with blue cheese dressing...garlic roasted red potatoes...watermelon smoothies...nap.
What you got cookin'? Feel free to share in the COMMENT BOX below...

Follow my blog with bloglovin

GQ: Atlanta Bar's Best for World Cup Viewing

By A. Scott Walton
Go ahead and admit it: You like to watch.
Soccer, that is. And you'll get more than an eyefull of the world's game in June when the World Cup descends on multiple venues in South Africa, and captivates the media's attention like never before.
The fashion world, as evidenced by the latest Vanity Fair cover piece, has already embraced the matches to unfold. All the major brands _ Adidas, Nike, Puma, Umbro, etc. _ are rolling out special collections centered around the sport's major teams and players.
If they're not household names, they will be soon.
And Atlanta's not left out of the fray. In a special section of its June issue dedicated to the World Cup, GQ singles out the grungy Brewhouse Cafe in Little Five Points as one of the six "best soccercentric bars in America".
As if parking spaces at the Brewhouse aren't scarce enough, GQ reports, "They're setting up a tent in the parking lot for match viewings on 3-D TVs"!
If you know of a better place for viewing the World Cup, let ESS know. And if you can think of better outfits for ladies to wear than the special edition get-ups British-based Umbro produced for the occasion (above), do share!

Venus Makes A$$ Of Herself at French Open

Tennis great commits MAJOR fashion faux pas in Paris!
By A. Scott Walton
Is the elder Williams sister, Venus, hurting for money or something?
Have too many failed attempts to win the French Open finally driven the tennis great nuts?
For some unexplainable reason, Venus Williams chose to wear an outfit as raw as the red clay courts at Roland Garros stadium during a winning first round match Monday. Sister Serena, not to be outdone, flaunted a clingy pair of tennis ball green booty shorts beneath a frilly, sky blue top during her own first-round win.
The Williams sisters never shy away from attention, it's true. But Venus has bent over backwards _ in the most un-ladylike of ways _ to draw the media toward herself.
Whether or not she reaches the victory stand or not at the Grand Slam event that most frustrates her, is this truly the image she should be presenting to the girls who dreams of tracing her legendary footsteps?
CLICK THE COMMENT BOX TO HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT VENUS'S FRENCH OPEN OUTFIT!

Test Drive Cadillac's Hottest New SUV!

Atlanta trend-setters urged to burn rubber!
By A. Scott Walton
How about a little fantasy fulfillment for all you 'media' types in job-starved metro Atlanta?
For once, you'll get the chance to coax your hooptie up to the valet stand at one of Buckhead's chicest bistros and drive away in one of the hottest luxury SUVs Cadillac has ever produced.
That's the promise laid out by The Atlanta Press Club, which holds its monthly networking clash on Tuesday, May 25 at Brio (2964 Peachtree Road, NW, 404-601-5555). The only catch: you have to bring the SRX Turbo back after your test drive (remember: we're fantasizing here) and you're expected to bring businesss cards (because...we're all out there, right?).
Read the Motor Trend review (online, of course, damnit!) for one opinion on what you writers, photographers and marketeers might miss out on wheeling. Bring your wallets if you plan on drinking; otherwise, Brio has the Tuscan-tinged hors d'oeuvres covered.
For more info and to reserve a limited seat, visit: The Atlanta Press Club RSVP

NeNe's 'brand new' nose inhales attention

New whiff of drama for "Real Housewives of Atlanta" star
By A. Scott Walton
News outlets across America were all atwitter Wednesday after “Real Housewives of Atlanta” co-star NeNe Leakes made a most dramatic public appearance that revealed what the press deems radical surgery on her nose.
Rampant speculation among sites as various as UsWeekly, Bossip and Radar Online suggest that the reality series siren has a new nose job that renders her virtually unrecognizable. Initial reader comments on such sites range from derision to delight at NeNe’s elongated bridge and narrower nostrils.
Leakes’ Twitter page has not been updated since May 10, 2010; more than a week prior to her attendance at the “Dancing Stars of Atlanta” gala to benefit the battle against Alzheimers. So far, there’s been no reported comment from Leakes to confirm or deny the nose job narrative unfolding.
Fellow cast members of the Bravo! reality TV series (Sheree Whitfield, Kim Zolciak, Cynthia Bailey) were also in attendance and smiling broadly. That should serve as an indication that an episode taping was underway.
Given the widespread fascination with plastic surgery addiction cases among entertainers, what NeNe Leakes has or hasn’t had done to her face will no doubt renew interest in a show that goes to greater extremes each season to capture viewers and headlines.

SCAD Design Students: Touchy-Feely In Public

Vogue editor, DVF forecast bright futures for rising talents

By A. Scott Walton
In case you weren’t among the 5,000 fashion fanatics in attendance last weekend for the 2010 SCAD Style runway show, there’s still one chance left to see designs by the students that Vogue’s editor-at-large and a cadre of industry leaders clutch to their bosoms like teddy bears at bedtime.
The top 20 fashion design talents from the Savannah College of Art and Design will stage "Fashion Seen" _ an up-close and personal presentation of their graduate collections _ on Thursday (7:30-until) at the prestigious school’s Atlanta campus (1600 Peachtree Street). It’s a festive (food and wine) occasion free and open to the public; but guests must register to attend because space is limited.
These are many of the same style innovations that wrap-dress queen Diane Von Furstenberg reviewed while receiving the 10th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award endowed by Vogue’s outsized personality, Andre Leon Talley. Previous awardees (who yours truly interviewed for the occasion) include Oscar de la Renta, Tom Ford and Miuccia Prada.
This year’s roster of top design students were mentored by Zac Posen, Bryan Bradley, Angel Sanchez and Catherine Malandrino, with a stronger emphasis than ever on landing jobs that could ultimately lead to Fashion Week shows of their own.
As if the student collections won’t be enough to hold guests’ interests, there will be an exclusive viewing of the provocative photos taken by the likes of Avedon, Penn and Chevalier that the designer most born to wardrobe Naomi Campbell, Azzedine Alaia, owns and cherishes.
For a preview glimpse at the most talented students’ showcase, visit SCAD Fashion.

Atlanta's 'King of Clubs' Goes Underground

By A. Scott Walton
Some night, some how, some poor soul is going to make her way to the alleyway door of the hottest new "hush-hush" night spot in Atlanta and here that dreaded refrain from the DJ Lil' Louis classic, "Lonely People".
Miss Thing (snap), there IS no guest list tonight!
At the new Parlour _ in the basement of the Midtown club Door 44 _ there's an odd "don't ask, don't tell" policy in effect. For now at least, it's an "invitation only" affair down there.
This demented twist of the velvet rope restricts anyone from the main venue upstairs from entering The Parlour; and its access is through a secluded back door.
The Parlour employs mixologists who have the time to painstakingly prepare the sort of made-to-order drinks that would cripple the bar upstairs. And a separate deejay's task is to cater as exactly as possible to the tastes of the 50 or so invitees the space can hold.
Only after conducting a sneak preview interview with EyeSeeStyle before The Parlour welcomes its first guests did co-owner Pablo Henderson reveal that there's an aspect of reverse psychology in play.
"This is a space designed for our crowd," he confided. "People who wouldn't normally set foot in your average Midtown club because they think it's all generic music and generic drinks."
"But if you're down here," he added, "you can go upstairs and discover, 'Hey, it's not so bad', and come back down when you want."

Jeffrey's Message To Atlanta: Suck It Up

Fashion guru, Kalinsky, taps Spanx founder for fundraiser

By A. Scott Walton
Get ready to grin and bare it Atlanta: When the city's premiere fashion show picked the founder of Spanx Sara Blakely as the honory chair for 2010, the risk of showing any flaw at all went out the window.
Details are still sketchy about exactly when and where the pre-fall collections showcase will take place. (Trust me: this production's never short on dramatic build-up.)
Most importantly, AIDS and breast cancer charities reap nearly ever dollar raised by Jeffrey Fashion Cares spectulars; to the tune of $9 million since 1992.
Even if expendable incomes expand, for a lucky few, in time for the fall fashion season, that's no excuse for waistlines to go the same route? Right?
It'll be interesting to see how Blakely's innerwear innovations get showcased during a show normally reserved for styles worn in winter; when it's considered okay to cover up.