Winter’s Revel Your guide to a simple and stylized new year’s soirée Article Nicolette Martin Following closely on the coattails of autumnal and winter holidays, the celebration of the new year can often be overlooked due to an understandable desire to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the season. But, a holiday that celebrates … Continued

For Auld Lang Syne As the saying goes, time flies when you’re having fun. And time sure has flown by this year as we can’t believe we’ve put together the final issue of Vinings Lifestyle in 2018! It seems like just yesterday we were sitting down to write our January letter to all of you—talking about resolutions and renewal—and … Continued

At the Holiday Table There are many ways to set a festive mood during the holidays from how you decorate your home. As friends and family gather around, they typically aggregate in the living room and at the dining table, so make the decor in those areas stand out to show your loved ones how special it is for you to have them come over! A…

Readers’ Choice Kick-Off The Readers' Choice contest is a great platform for local businesses to promote themselves to the community. Here are some of the top contenders for the 2018 trophy. Don't forget to vote for the best local businesses in Smyrna and Vinings!

December 2018 Around Town Atlanta Boat Show The 2019 Progressive Insurance Atlanta Boat Show returns Jan. 10-13, 2019, bringing more than 20,000 boating enthusiasts to downtown Atlanta to see the biggest and best in boating for four nautical-themed days. For the show’s 57th year, visitors to Hall A of the Georgia World Congress Center will find nearly 700 new boats, including houseboats, and enjoy interactive features and … Continued

At Home for the Holidays on Polo Lane Vinings was voted one of the top 100 places to live, and that includes Polo Lane. There’s something special about the Holidays on Polo Lane. Take a look inside this elegant home; I think you will agree.

Feeling Grateful This year I wanted to write the parting thoughts for 2018 myself because it has been the best year of my life. It has not been without trials or hardship, but it has been a year of God showing me mercy, love and great growth.

Hoping for Hoppin’ John New Year’s Day represents personal renewal and positive expectations for a more prosperous year ahead. Reawakened hopes for the upcoming year also often interestingly incorporate a sense of nostalgia for the traditions culturally passed down to us from bygone generations. 

Crime Victims Advocacy Council There are many organizations such as food pantries, shelters and clinics that help meet needs of people throughout the year. Some people experience a serious, violent crime like homicide. Many people in the metro Atlanta area know someone who has lost a loved one due to a horrific crime. The Vinings United Methodist Church has memorialized around 6,500 names of murder victims…

The Vinings Village Civic Club The Vinings Village Civic Club has a mission and a duty to the Vinings community. Its members strive to know their community and their neighbors, keep Vinings beautiful, keep the community informed and support their local public service organizations.

Meet the Howards Jaha, Vanessa and their three children are Smyrna residents with a heart for community. Vanessa is a digital marketing strategist for Humana, and Jaha is a pediatric dentist in Vinings as well as a Cobb County School Board member-elect. We asked their thoughts on thankfulness and service.

Thankful As November rolls around, we’re anxiously awaiting the approach of Thanksgiving, the holiday season and time spent with our loved ones. The winding down of the year always brings about a time of reflection for us—remembering everything we’ve done or accomplished in months past; looking back on turkey disaster stories, mornings watching the Thanksgiving Day … Continued

2018 Readers’ Choice Kick-Off The 2018 Readers’ Choice Kick-Off started with rain but ended with a lot of door prizes, food, music, fun, and little goodies fromVinings Lifestyle and the many vendors that participated. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite businesses—you probably ran into them at the Kick-Off!  

November 2018 Around Town ‘Fun in the Park’ Photo Contest While you are out enjoying our Cobb County Parks, be sure to bring your camera! The 2018 Fun in the Park photo contest is underway, and the entry deadline is Nov. 6. All photos must have been taken at a Cobb County park, facility, activity or event. Any county or city … Continued

Going Italian with Maggiano’s This Thanksgiving, Vinings Lifestyle is thankful for Maggiano's Little Italy sharing with us two wonderful original recipes from its mouthwatering menu: Lemon Ricotta Pancakes and Rigatoni “D.”  If you have enjoyed these dishes before, now is your chance to replicate the experience at home! Or let your taste buds revel in delectable meals on-site at the Cumberland Mall, Buckhead orand Dunwoody’s Perimeter…

Turkey Day Workout  Banded Front Raise  Bent Low Row  Hollow Hold Chest Press

Be Your Best “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”  -Winston Churchill  

Healthy Halloween Fare Halloween is a holiday that has become just as fun for adults as it is for kids. There never seems to be a lack of opportunities to gather with friends and neighbors before trick-or-treating begins to compare costumes, take pictures and enjoy some good food. As a nutritionist, it’s important to me to bring something to Halloween parties that is nourishing, festive…

F Is for Foodie F is for “foodie,” a person with a particular interest in food. Someone who’s always up for trying new places and has a refined but adventurous palate. And this month at Vinings Lifestyle, we’re all about feasting with foodies as we just scratch the surface of all the fine eats and drinks the “locals” have to offer. … Continued

October 2018 Around Town 2018 Next Generation Award by Cobb Young Professionals Congratulations to A.J Brooks of WellStar Medical Group and Emily McMillian of Nothing Bundt Cakes for being named the winners of the 2018 Next Generation Award by Cobb Young Professionals, a Cobb Chamber networking group for professionals in their 20s and 30s. A.J. Brooks, assistant vice president … Continued

The Dish  Pho Dakao  To know pho is to love pho. A traditional Vietnamese dish is a delight to food enthusiasts everywhere. No longer do pho lovers have to make a small pilgrimage to delight in its steamy goodness. The owners of local sushi bar Kuroshiro have brought us Western Atlantans this culinary delight in their newest venture, Pho Dakao. Vinings Lifestyle…

2nd #ME Youth Empowerment Event for Atlanta Teenage Girls The Ludacris Foundation & John Casablancas Centers hosted 2nd #ME Youth Empowerment Event for Atlanta Teenage Girls. Key topics included Branding One’s Self, Creating Your Own Personal Style and Discovering the You Inside of You. Macy’s, the retail sponsor, rocked some of its pieces on the runway at the culminating fashion show. Photos by Prime Phocus

Little Vine Vineyard Little Vine Vineyards and Winery in Villa Rica, Georgia, is bringing back a tradition of fine wines once produced in Western Georgia in the 1890s. This area of the state at one time was a major vineyard and winery center with some 20,000 acres planted in bunch grapes before Prohibition. The grapes at Little Vine Vineyards are the first commercial…

Happy Eating In Granted, the kitchen isn’t everyone’s domain, but these four cool kitchen products will make it a more fun and entertaining place for all in your life to enjoy—we promise.

SOHO When Frank Smith opened SOHO in 1997 with his college roommates, he hadn’t considered where his restaurant would be in 20 years.

Fashion Around the Corner  Article Kim McClure* | Photography Donna Permell  JosiesFriends.com  Online consignment store based in Smyrna

I’m Feeling Stylish. How About You? We’ve all had that moment when our closet is full but we can’t find a single thing to wear. Whether it’s too big, too small, or just plain last season, the perfect outfit can be difficult to find. It’s no wonder, too. Our style is the first thing the rest of the world sees, and … Continued

September 2018 Around Town Smyrna Student to Study Chinese in China on Scholarship Mikaela Sanders, a high school student at The Westminster Schools, has been awarded a National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship by the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Mikaela is one of approximately 670 students who will study Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Korean, Persian, … Continued

Talking Taxes with Calvin Bomar  Article Joy Webb | Photography Donna Permell  How long have you been a tax attorney? How can readers find you?  I have been a tax attorney for 18 years. I opened my Atlanta office in 2008 and moved to the Vinings area at Galleria Office Park in 2012.

Atlanta Regional Polo Center The Atlanta Regional Polo Center will be having polo practice from 6 to 8 p.m., every Wednesday until the end of October. The club is located Vinings on Polo Lane. Surrounded by acres of manicured grounds, an incredible polo field and featuring more than 60 playing members, the club is by far the premier polo club in Georgia. AtlantaPoloCenter.com

Fashion Instagram-style  Article Flavia Teles  Instagram has become a fashion conduit for millions. The following are six noteworthy Instagrammers who may inspire your sartorial senses this season:            1. Brandon Maxwell, fashion designer and creative director    

Dress Up Your Plate  Photography Donna Permell  Ingredients:  1/2 ounce canola oil

The Walker School Celebrates Science and Technology  Article and Photography Provided  Currently under construction by Hodges & Hicks Contractors, The Walker School’s new 47,000-square-foot building will be the home of the school’s middle and upper school science and technology programs in fall 2018.  Designed by architect Mike Mascheri with Chapman Coyle Chapman, the facility includes four middle school science labs, three full-size VEX robotics courts for middle and…

Pets and Their Mess  Article Jason Wyant  Being in the cleaning business, a lot of people ask us how to keep their homes clean when they have pets.  Our pets can be our best friends and even family members, but they’re not good at picking up after themselves or even keeping their smells confined to themselves.  At Maid Right, we know one of the…

Places to Bark About  Article and Photography Flavia Teles  Perk-N-Pooch: Dog Wash & Coffee Shop    Grooming is something dogs cannot do by themselves. They rely on your help for good hygiene to stay healthy and happy. Along with coat and skin care, dental, nail and ear care are just as essential to prevent unwelcome infections and illnesses. Certain breeds with long or dense coats require…

Celebrating Family When you think of family, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s the people you share your mornings with: the husband or wife who makes you breakfast, the toddler who wakes you up before sunrise or the drooling pup in the kitchen just itching for a full dish of food. Maybe it’s the people you share … Continued

Five Kids Who Love School  Article and Photography Christy Duncan  It’s that time again…our kids are back in school! New teachers, new supplies, new friends, new clothes and maybe even a new school.  Every year parents spend weeks planning schedules, buying supplies and preparing their kids for another successful year of school.  Kids on the other hand may be feeling a little sad to see…

August 2018 Around Town The Center for Natural & Holistic Health new office location The Center for Natural & Holistic Health new office location in Vinings, GA Dr. Shonna Babrow-Goodrich is excited to announce the new location of her practice in Vinings, GA. “Relocating to Vinings is a good fit and the decision was long in the making.” says … Continued

Public House at Hotel Indigo Vinings Hosts “Spirited” Dinner The Public House at the Hotel Indigo Vinings hosts a monthly Spirited Dinner—not your usual wine dinner—to discuss whether your riesling has an essence of gasoline. This dinner is a real dinner party, with an in-house chef and mixologist. It's an intimate group of 16, so grab an invite if you can! ThePublicHouseRestaurants.com

Play the Part What You Need to Create Unique Play Areas Perfect for Your Kiddos’ Unique Interests Nicolette Martin What do you want to be when you grow up? It’s a question we were all asked as kids—one that was so innocently answered with whatever our obsession of the week was. Maybe today your child wants to be … Continued

Summer Hot Spots 2018: Vinings Edition  Article and Photography Flavia Teles  Summer brings warmer weather, longer days and (hopefully) more time off to enjoy the great outdoors. Vinings Lifestyle has hand-picked four distinctive, highly enjoyable and most definitely picturesque destinations worth penciling into your activity calendar. Now slather on the sunscreen and get out there!  Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area

Rooted in Service    Article Joy Conaway | Photography Donna Permell  "Family first. I started this company with the hope that it will allow me to spend more time with my family. I plan to show my two children the value of hard work and dedication and how it can impact not only family but community.” -Richard S. Pristera Jr.  Monster Tree Service is…

Vinings Village Civic Club The Vinings Village Civic Club continued its long tradition of hosting candidate forums before the primary elections. An overflowing crowd attended the forum at the Cochise Club in May to hear presentations by district candidates.

Summer Celebration  Article and Photography Paula Burchett, Must Have Home  Nothing says summer like a Fourth of July cookout celebration! What better way to host friends and family during this festive time of year than an outdoor entertainment area? Homeowners Gary and Shirley Westmoreland wanted to incorporate their large backyard into usable living space for that very reason. Working closely with their landscape designer,…

July 2018 Around Town Junior ‘Makerspace’ steamBug Opens in Smyrna steamBug offers tools like multiple workshop stations equipped with 3-D printers, CNC machines and building and design materials. The junior “makerspace” is safe space for students to imagine, design and create in the same positive and friendly learning atmosphere designed to “ignite the imagination” that Jitterbug Performing Arts is known for. … Continued

Dog Days Ahhhh, summer. Time for backyard pool parties and family vacations. Time for kids to run after the ice cream truck when the telltale sound of its music turns onto your street to secure the perfect sweet treat to beat the heat. For the loud explosion of fireworks on the Fourth of July, the shriveled fingertips … Continued

Dr. Alan Gardner Photography Showcase Dermatologist and award-winning photographer Dr. Alan Gardner held an art show in his office showcasing the amazing photographs he's taken all over the world. Many patients and friends shopped for the perfect picture and went home with several prints and gorgeous framed photographs.

Dr. Alan Gardner (Cont.)

Top Chillin’ Spots  Article and Photography Lila Campbell  Summertime is the season for sipping drinks and savoring bites on the patio with friends. With so many options in Vinings, we've narrowed it down to five of our favorite spots to enjoy these warm summer months — whether you're looking to grab a beer on a pup-friendly patio, a romantic dinner on the riverbank…

Savory Seafood and Sultry Sips  Article and Photography The Public House at Vinings  Chef Brian Lee draws on his vast coast to coast experience – with elements from California to Georgia – to bring fresh, balanced and beautiful food to the Hotel Indigo's restaurant, The Public House at Vinings. Below he shares the recipe to their most popular lunch item, the Georgia Shrimp BLT wrap, and…