Our own Atlanta Hawks are in the NBA Playoffs after a regular season where they won 60 games and beat up on almost everyone they played. Old and new fans alike have flocked to Phillips Arena this season to join the electric atmosphere that comes along with a winning sports franchise.

Now after a Round 1 playoff where they eliminated the Brooklyn Nets, the Hawks are in a battle with the Washington Wizards for a berth in the Eastern Conference final.

Cool, right? Sure, but what’s historic?

The Atlanta Hawks have never before made it to an Eastern Conference final.

In a city that has had some notable past sports accomplishments (A World Series title, playing for a Super Bowl, and being front and center on the world stage for the 1996 Olympics), this would be another feather in our cap and great positive exposure.

A Hawks win tonight would clinch the series over the Wizards and send them soaring into previously unknown territory. Takeaway: If you have never paid attention to or cared about the Atlanta Hawks, tonight would be a good time to start!

The Hawks take on the Washington Wizards on ESPN tonight at 7 p.m.

#truetoatlanta

-Amanda

May Update: SunTrust Park

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Samantha Gochanour

braves-stadium

While our Atlanta Braves are proving that a new roster of young blood yields for some necessary rebuilding, their new home in Cobb County is moving along at a nice clip. {They are beginning Phase Two} The site of the new SunTrust Park is currently being built, and can be observed from Windy Ridge Parkway, Cobb Parkway, and Circle 75 if you wanted to take a glance at their progress.

{Photo Credit: http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/new-braves-stadium-plans}

American Builders 2017 have been making themselves known in Cobb County since the groundbreaking on September 16, 2014. The builders group hosted a public outreach event targeted at vendors, suppliers, and subcontractors in the area back in December 2014. “American Builders 2017 is a joint venture between Brasfield & Gorrie, Mortenson Construction, Barton Malow Company and New South Construction Company,” according to the company website’s home page.

To check the latest action at the build site, take a look here for video, photos, artist renderings, and more!

For those more interested in the wide-angle view of the project, check out SunTrust Park’s Wikipedia page. {Read: What you’ll need to glance at before going out with your buddies for a drink to talk Braves baseball}

#thisiswhywechop

-Amanda

Spring + Metro Atlanta = Food Truck Heaven

Posted on May 1, 2015May 15, 2015 by Amanda Fard

I don’t know about you, but when I see a food truck… I get hungry. It doesn’t matter if I just had lunch – that truck wafting delicious aromas into my car makes for a “rumbly in my tumbly,” as Winnie the Pooh would say.

Good news for metro-Atlanta residents who also suffer from Rumbly-Tumbly Syndrome… We live in a city that is quite food truck-friendly! Here are a few food truck events around Metro to curb your cravings {pun intended}…

Food Truck Tuesdays

3188 Atlanta Rd SE, Smyrna 30080

Smyrna is bringing back “Food Truck Tuesdays” for the third year in a row. Residents can enjoy delicious fare from a multitude of food trucks in Taylor-Brawner Park starting at 5 PM beginning May 5. Here’s a link to the City of Smyrna’s events page with its May 5th line up. Come on out to support local FT’s along with others of Metro’s finest food on wheels!

Brookhaven Food Truck Nights

3493 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta 30319

Brookhaven Food Truck Nights returns to Blackburn Park on Wednesday, May 6 starting at 5 PM! Each Wednesday, FT’s from around the city will be there for your culinary pleasure along with live entertainment and a bounce house for the kiddo provided by Baseline Jumps. {Any chance the bounce house is open to children of “all ages?”} Food, friends, a bounce house, and the possibility of wine and beer to be sold on site this year (according to their Facebook Page)… Sounds like a fabulous way to spend a Wednesday night to me!

Atlanta Food Truck Park & Event Center

1850 Howell Mill RD, Atlanta 30318

The Atlanta Food Truck Park & Event Center is, “the first permanent food truck site in Atlanta offering food trucks to the community and visitors for lunch and dinner,” according to the site’s Frequently Asked Questions section, http://atlantafoodtruckpark.com/faqs/.

{How cool is this?! I know I’m a bit late to the party seeing as the AFTP has been up and running since 2012. BUT, that doesn’t mean you should put it on the back burner for Family Night or Date Night.}

Want to know when your favorite FT will be there? Check out their Facebook page. Also, remember to BYOB, lawn chairs, blankets, and coolers to enjoy in the green space!

Happy May Day!

-Amanda

Explore Atlanta: Where to Find the Best Burger in Atlanta

Posted on September 5, 2014September 5, 2014 by Amanda Fard

According to the calendar, summer is slowly winding down which means the eventual end to backyard bar-b-ques, picnics and grilling. Luckily, you don’t really need a special season to enjoy a burger; and in Atlanta we have an abundance of burger joints to explore!

Our friends over at Garden & Gun magazine recently asked their readers to submit suggestions for the best Southern burger spots. And while we love our Southern neighbors, we’re kind of partial to good old Atlanta – so here are the best burger places in Atlanta according to Garden & Gun magazine readers:

Bocado | 887 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30318 (404) 815-1319

Brake Pad | 3403 Main Street, College Park, GA 30337 (404) 766-1515

Canyons Burger Company | 335 Chambers Street, Woodstock, GA (678) 494-8868

Downwind Restaurant & Lounge | Inside Peachtree Dekalb Airport

Farm Burger | several Atlanta area locations

Flip Burger | several Atlanta area locations

George’s Bar & Restaurant | 1041 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306 (404) 892- 3648

Grindhouse Killer Burgers | several Atlanta area locations

H. Harper Station | 904 Memorial Drive, Atlanta, GA 30316 (678) 732- 0415

Holeman & Finch Public House | 2277 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, GA (404) 948-1175

Houston’s | several Atlanta area locations

Illegal Food | 427 Edgewood Ave, Atlanta, GA (404) 401-7155

Stoney River | 1640 Cumberland Mall, Atlanta, GA 30339 (678) 305- 9229

The General Muir | 1540 Avenue Place, Emory Point, Atlanta, GA 30329 (678) 927-9131

The Varsity | 61 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 30308 (404) 881-1706

The Vortex | several Atlanta area locations

Wrecking Ball Brewpub | 292 Moreland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30307 (404) 221-2600

Yeah! Burger | 1017 N. Highland Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306 (404) 437-7845

Happy eating everyone!
– Amanda

3 ½ Tips to Help You Sell Your Home….Faster!

Posted on September 2, 2014September 2, 2014 by Amanda Fard

Ever wonder why some homes seem to sell the day after the For Sale sign goes up? Well, there are a number of reasons why homes sell quickly; but as a homeowner, you can certainly help the process along by following these quick and easy tips to help sell your home….faster!

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Tip #1: Break up with your home

It may sound strange, but the first thing you need to do is fall out of love with your home. Start thinking of your home as a product that needs to be marketed to the widest possible audience. If you still think of your home the same way you did the day you moved in, it will be difficult to begin the process of handing it over to someone else. Emotionally separating yourself from the memories will help you perform all the tasks needed to get your home in buyer-ready shape!

Tip #2: Do a drive-by

Do a drive-by of your home, and ask yourself if you’d want to go inside? Is the lawn manicured and well-kept? Is the front door clean and inviting? Is the mailbox standing upright? Does the house look loved? Homeowners tend to focus only on the interior of their home when getting it ready to sell; but it’s important to remember that a home’s curb appeal is what creates that critical first impression with prospective buyers. Help your home put its best foot forward by breaking out the lawnmower and paint brush to spiffy up the exterior in preparation for all the buyer visits you’ll soon be receiving.

Tip #3: Make beige your BFF

It’s true, beige is beautiful – especially to prospective home buyers! You may love your bright yellow bedroom walls and antique taxidermy collection; but when buyers enter your home, they want to feel like it could be theirs. Buyers need a neutral canvas to work with, and if there’s too much of you and your life on display, they won’t be able to see themselves living in your home. Start the process of neutralizing by walking through your home with your “buyer goggles” on and answer the question, “who lives in this house?” If you are reminded in every room that you live there, then start subtracting down to the point where your home could be anybody’s home. Don’t go so far that the home is lacking personality; just cut back on the really personal and potentially polarizing items.

Tip #3 ½: Get out of the 80’s

An important tip that ties into Tip #3 is to ensure your home is not out-dated. If buyers walk into your home and think they’re on the set of The Golden Girls, you have a problem. Today’s buyers want a home that’s up-do-date and fresh. In a competitive seller’s market, the last thing you want is a buyer to leave your home thinking “That was a great house, but…….” A small investment in updating your bathrooms, kitchen and overall appearance of your home will pay off with stronger offers, and hopefully a quicker sale!

– Amanda

Explore Atlanta: Decatur Book Festival

Posted on August 28, 2014August 29, 2014 by Amanda Fard

2014-poster-diterlizzi I love curling up with a good book! I also love supporting local events – so this Labor Day weekend, I’m going to check out the Decatur Book Festival.

The AJC Decatur Book Festival is the largest independent book festival in the country and one of the five largest overall. Since the festival’s launch nine years ago, more than 1,000 world-class authors and hundreds of thousands of festival-goers have crowded the historic downtown Decatur square to enjoy book signings, author readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and more.

This year’s festival runs from August 29th through August 31st and features a full line-up of activities including:

A children’s stage featuring interactive activities and presentations by top authors and illustrators
Live music performed by nationally touring musicians
Cooking demonstrations by noted cookbook authors
Food and beer vendors, and a wine garden
The second annual art|DBF showcase
An opening day Children’s Parade, and a special Wizard of Oz parade on Sunday
A Youth Poetry Slam, for kids 12–18 years old and a poetry slam for adults.
A series on the sesquicentennial of the Civil War
Over 160 vendors in the book market and street fair

The festival is accessible by MARTA, just take the Blue Line to the Decatur stop, and you’ll exit the station in the center of the festival! If you decide to drive, there is plenty of parking available in decks, metered spaces, and paid private lots. If you fancy a weekend bicycle trip to the festival, The Atlanta Bicycle Coalition has a free bike valet set up on N. McDonough Street, in front of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

Hope to see all my fellow book lovers this weekend!

– Amanda

How To Avoid The 2 Biggest Home Buying Mistakes

Posted on August 18, 2014August 19, 2014 by Amanda Fard

177165paper_shuffle Do you ever begin a project and end up muddling your way through the whole thing, only to just barely survive the chaos and come out on the other end thinking, “There has to be a better way!”

Well, don’t let the home buying process be another one of those muddled up projects! With years of real estate experience, I’m here to help you learn from the biggest mistakes I’ve seen home buyers make time, and time again.

Mistake #1: Not getting pre-qualified or pre-approved for a loan Sure, you can search for homes without ever talking to a loan officer; but that’s like planning a vacation without knowing your travel dates. Understanding how much home you can afford should be your first priority once you’ve committed to purchasing a home.

Beyond the obvious reason of helping focus your search to what you can truly afford, most sellers won’t even consider an offer unless proof of pre-qualification is submitted. For more information on the pre-qualification process, check out this quick summary from one of my recommended vendors, Supreme Lending.

Mistake #2: Not clearly defining your home search criteria When a buyer recently told me she was looking for a 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom house in Marietta, I told her she’d have to narrow down her search a bit, otherwise we’d spend a year or so looking at thousands of active listings in Marietta that match her criteria. You can’t possibly look at thousands of homes, nor do you want to! Narrowing down your home search will help you, and your agent, pinpoint homes that truly meet your wants and needs. One way to sort through all the options is to make a Top 5 list.

Your top 5’s can focus on anything that’s important to you, from school districts and commuting time, to backyard size and closet space. While it’s easy to deviate from your list, try to stick to your original Top 5 – it’s usually the best indication of what you truly want. Of course you may not know exactly what you want right out of the gate – that’s okay too. A good agent will guide you through the real estate jungle, and show you what’s available in your price point so you will ultimately be able to come up with your Top 5 list.

While there is no denying the home buying process is hard work, avoiding the mistakes of home buyers past will help keep you on a path to success and home ownership.

– Amanda

Explore Atlanta: The Piedmont Park Arts Festival

Posted on August 15, 2014August 15, 2014 by Amanda Fard

What do you get when you co 2014_Piedmont_poster mbine arts and crafts, food, Piedmont Park and FREE admission? The perfect late summer activity!

The 5th Annual Piedmont Park Arts Festival kicks off tomorrow and features up to 250 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalwork, glass blowers, jewelers and crafters spread throughout Piedmont Park.

The festival will also offer artist demonstrations, live acoustic music, a street market, children’s play area plus festival foods and beverages with healthy alternatives.

Worried about parking? Don’t be, you can reserve a parking spot near Piedmont Park with Parking Panda!

The 2014 Piedmont Park Summer Arts Festival is organized by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, LLC , who also sponsor the fall fine arts Chastain Park Arts Festival and the Buckhead Spring Arts and Crafts Festival.

Explore Atlanta: The Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival

Posted on August 13, 2014August 13, 2014 by Amanda Fard

ATL_BBQ_Fest_logo_2 I love Summer! It’s a great time to get out and explore all that Atlanta has to offer – like the 6th Annual Atlanta Bar-B-Q Festival which kicks off this Friday, and runs through August 16th at Atlantic Station. I can already smell the smokey, mouth-watering goodness!

During this 2-day celebration of all thing bar-b-que, 50 professional and backyard teams from across the Southeast compete for more than $10,000 in prizes by working their magic on the grill. From Texas, Memphis and Carolina to Kansas City and Kentucky – you’ll find all the finger lickin’ sticky sweet bar-b-que styles this weekend right here in Atlanta.

Voted as one of the best BBQ festivals and competitions in the country by the Travel Channel, festival goers have plenty to keep them busy when they need a break from chowing down. There are BBQ cooking demonstrations, a kids area, a BBQ marketplace, live music and new this year – the bourbon experience.

For more information, and to purchase tickets, check out the the Altanta Bar-B-Que Festival website.

See y’all there!

– Amanda