THE BELLYARD HOTEL

The Bellyard Hotel is located in the hip West Midtown Interlock and an inspired design with a touch of modern, a hint of opulence, cozy nooks, elevated rooms, it all comes together seamlessly in every space of the hotel. The moment the elevator doors open you’re greeted with opulent marble, beautiful large white couches, warm seating areas with wood accents and blue tones, the lighting is calming and yellow. A bull stands majestically overlooking the check-in area. Behind the check-in is a large window into the atrium area. Filled with a whimsical colorful mural, wicker and wood seating, greenery and some free-standing trees, it’s a great spot to relax. 
 
The room: 

The door opens and you step into a short hallway with calm light wood and a ceiling to floor windows. Around the corner you come across the beautiful bathroom with its green modern tile and clean lines of the vanity, across from it is the large shower and the toilet area in the middle that can be closed off. The first thing you notice in the large main sleeping area is the intricate wood accent wall behind the bed. It soars up to the concrete ceiling. Lofty and airy. The king bed is very comfortable, while the large window seat is the perfect place to catch the Atlanta Skyline. 

Drawbar and Patio 

Located in the lobby, Drawbar is the focal point of the space with a large sweeping bar, lounge areas, and white couches where you can gather with friends or make new ones. Outside in the patio, Drawbar is known for its patio views of the amazing Atlanta skyline. Plus, they have amazing cocktails and tasty bites for any occasion. Like the Seared lamb that is tender and juicy well-seasoned lamb smothered in a rich and deep, sweet, savory Demi glaze then paired with crunchy and earthy Brussels and root carrots. Paired it with their sensational smoked old fashioned. It is nutty pecan infused whiskey cocktail with earthy and sweet syrup and peach bitters. It is smoked tableside for a light smoke. 

Also really enjoyed the fried green tomato appetizer that is crunchy outside and tangy inside, sharp creamy pimento cheese mixed with spicy and sweet and a pepper jelly for a hint of spice and sweet. 
Got the Pina Lope with the tomatoes and it is a spin on the classic Pina colada but with gin. This cocktail is tangy pineapple, floral on the back, and a hint of nuttiness from the orgeat. We also sampled the Hotlanta Margarita is a sweet peach and pineapple margarita with Tanteo jalapeño tequila for some spice and a tajin rim for extra spice. Comes with a candy floater. 
 
Amenities: 
It’s a community! Beyond the hotel Drawbar, the Interlock’s plethora of options is just steps from the hotel door. Nightlife, bars, restaurants, and even shopping. So, grab your walking shoes and explore! 

HOTEL FORTY FIVE MACON

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/7/24

Hotel Forty Five is on the corner of history and music. This hip historic boutique hotel by Tribute Portfolio is in the “Macon Skyscraper,” a 1941 Banker’s Health & Life Insurance Company. John and I recently visited on a weekend getaway to Macon that’s only about an hour and some change from Atlanta! The hotel is steps from restaurants and bars, the Macon Auditorium, the Tubman Museum, and natural attractions for hiking or riding! It is in the center of it all! 
 
What is in a name? The Hotel Forty Five’s name is rich in Macon history! It gets its name from the 45 degree angle of the street formed by Cherry, First, and Cotton Street and was designed to transport cotton barges to and from the Ocmulgee River. Also, Macon is known for its rich musical past and the numerous 45 records produced there, so the name is a nod to this history. As we said, corner of history and music! Did you know Macon is the home of The Allman Brothers Band? If you walk around the corner from the hotel, you’ll find Grant’s Lounge, a staple jam bar where bands would jam night after night to get a record deal. And you can see it today and hear live music!! 
 
Inside the hotel, the lobby winds up through the elevators with retro flooring and bank vibes, while the old directory is still visible from the elevator lobby! Downstairs is the beautiful restaurant Loom with a full bar and dining room, and they also have Reckon coffee bar with pastries and drinks for early risers. Upstairs on the 6th floor is Hightales Rooftop bars with sweeping historical and downtown views, live music, and full beautiful bar! A full review of the amenities is below! 
 
Inside the room, touches of industrial lighting fixtures, a Macon street drawing morphed into a mural with a woman’s face, hints of leather, marble, and retro like the cutest 50s mini fridge and pink funky dresser desk, it is an eclectic mix of angles, textures, and vibes. They even have a schematic of the original building in the restroom. Beyond that, the large king bed was comfy, the beautifully light and bright bathroom stuns, and the historical views can’t be beaten! 


 

As for the restaurant, Loom weaves a tapestry of southern dishes with elevated flavor and fresh ingredients into what the chef calls “Southern Revival!”  Located in the Hotel Forty Five downstairs, Loom is bright, light, and fresh to match the freshness of their food, and has a large loom mural on the wall that draws the eye. As for our favorite dish, that is the King Salmon. The dish is a must in Macon! A well-seasoned, cooked perfectly salmon filet with an amazing tangy and sweet bourbon glaze that will make you want to lock the plate. It sits on top of creamy jasmine rice that mixes with the bourbon glaze harmoniously! Then paired with crunchy seasoned carrots!  

For our appetizers we got Crispy Cauliflower, Bread Service, Burrata, and Fried Green Tomatoes. First, the Crispy Cauliflower is tender, yet crispy, earthy red pepper emulsion and earthy tart capers all drizzled in arugula oil. The next appetizer is Burrata. It is cool and creamy cheese paired with sweet apple gastric and nutty crushed pistachio. A flavor explosion of sweet, nutty, creamy! On the side we got the bread service, which is amazing corn bread. It is warm and buttery, sweet and savory. Finally, the fried green tomatoes are super crunchy outside and tangy, tender tomatoes, creamy and sharp pimento cheese then finished off with tangy tomato chutney to round out all the flavors.  

We also got another entree with the King Salmon, the Smoked Pork Chop. It is tender, charred and well-seasoned topped with a sweet red relish on a bed of funky blue cheese grits and spicy collards. We got all of this with a bottle of champagne for national wine day.  

After our dinner we went upstairs to the Hotel Forty Five, Hightales Rooftop Bar. They have hand crafted cocktails like the Got the Feelin’ James Brown, a super spicy yet fruity tequila concoction with spicy agave and raspberry! But the best part? THE best views of the historical and downtown portions of the city!  

ALIEN ANT FARM X DRIVEWAYS

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 6/7/24

What’s your MANTRA? John and I headed to Center Stage Atlanta, The Loft, to see Alient Ant Farm and Driveways show on 5/18/24! We are very familiar with Alien Ant Farm out of Riverside, CA, a rock band that started in 1996 and hit it big with their cover “Smooth Criminal” and other greats like “Movies” in 2001 on album, ANThology*! We still watch these videos on YouTube today!  

Their sound is considered nu metal, a blend of alternative, post-grunge, pop punk, and metal all rolled into one sound that pays homage to several genres. Did you know some of their influences are Faith No More and Primus? The band is very interactive and interacts with the crowd most of the concert. Like, Dryden Mitchell, coming to the gate and talking or having us sing along to even stopping the music to address a guy giving him the bird. It was fun to watch!  

But, this tour is to introduce and promote their new Album Mantras. Their new single that is out is called “So Cold” and still has the same feel as their other rock songs.  

Driveways is a newer band that we were not familiar with before the show. They are out of Massachusetts starting in 2015 and are considered a pop punk, post-hardcore band with a mix of genres. Most notable is the Blink-182 influence that comes through with many of their songs*. A fun fact we found on Everybody wiki is that in April 2020, their album Night Terrors was named on Alternative Press’ list of 20 Underrated Pop Punk Albums from the 2010s. They had a large following of fans at the concert! 

*information from wiki and everybody wiki pages. 

HELMET AT THE MASQUERADE MAY 12

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/23/24

We saw Helmet at the Masquerade on 5/12/24. Helmet is an alternative metal and rock band out of New York fronted by guitarist and lead singer, Page Hamilton, boasts some early 90s classic rock albums from 1992’s Meantime to 1994’s Betty. Their sound is creatively unique for the time with melodious metal if that can even be a thing, mixed with grunge notes of the time and very distinct repetitive guitar work called drop D tuning (per wiki).
 
John and I were both huge lovers of the Crow movie soundtrack back when it came out in 1994 and that’s how I discovered Helmet with their song, “Milquetoast” one of the lead tracks! From there we listened to all of album Betty with its repetitive heavily distorted guitar paired with riffs and melodious lyrics. But my heart stays with Meantime and the song “Unsung.” The albums are similar, but I feel Meantime was a little edgier and harder. A recurring MTV staple, I just remember the “Unsung” video looking like it was filmed in a nuclear silo. Fun fact: Beavis and Butthead critiqued the song on the show in 1993 (from wiki). 

Something I found interesting in their wiki was that the New York Times called Helmet, “a band that made important connections between indie-rock and metal.” and that they had a HUGE impact on the nu metal bands of the late 90’s. And even called “smart rock” by the New York Daily News. We agree, their songs and riffs are highly influential, and we think they are one of the most underrated bands of the 90’s in terms of notoriety. They should be rock gods!  
 
Helmet is on tour right now to promote their new album, LEFT, that is now out, and their new track “Holiday” is just what you’d expect from them. Ripping chords blurred with power guitar, fast slow, and grunge reverb. I love it when bands keep their sound, and this new album is just that.

MOXY ATLANTA MIDTOWN

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/20/24

Situated in the heart of Atlanta Midtown, Moxy Atlanta Midtown is daring to be different with welcome cocktails at check-in, boutique hotel vibes paired with a young and fun atmosphere, fresh, large, updated rooms, and High Note rooftop bar to accompany your swim. Sip on craft cocktails and enjoy delish shareable bites. John and I enjoyed a weekend staycation recently and enjoyed the proximity to bars, restaurants, clubs, and only minutes from beautiful Piedmont Park! Come see why Atlanta’s got Moxy. 
 
When you enter Moxy’s lobby, you’re greeted with a living room set-up where you check-in at the bar and receive a welcome cocktail (or wine)! They also have several lounging areas for gathering with family, friends or making new ones. A fireplace, a full bar and snack area, pool table and tabletop shuffleboard, as well as large murals and couch areas. It’s an amazing space. You can also stay late at night for a DJ and drinks in the lobby! Like their Tropic thunder old fashioned that is smoked, sweet, yet boozy. 
 
We went up to the 6th floor to our room. You walk into a beautiful bathroom with white subway tile with black grout shower and spacious vanity. Make sure to look down in the shower for the “Deep End” water grate. Then just down the short hall is the bedroom with comfy king bed, fun old school rotary phone, and desk work area. I really enjoyed the “I woke up this way” as well. ️They have varying sizes for any group.  
 
Get up to the rooftop to lounge at the large inviting pool. Then, pair the pool with craft cocktails and shareable bites at High Note Atlanta!  Like start out with a crisp, cool, floral hibiscus solitude cocktail and enjoy it with some lemony, crunchy, meaty lemon pepper wings. Or sip on a sweet, earthy, boozy banana old fashioned with juicy flavorful honey steak bites on a bead of earthy and sweet Brussels. Feeling hot, sweet crispy fried chicken? Go for their hot honey fried chicken sliders and some crispy seasoned fries. 
 

SHAKY KNEES 2024 – FROM DIARY TO DOWNPOUR

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/11/24

Photo: Stephanie Heath

With acts like Weezer, Sunny Day Real Estate, Dinosaur Jr, and Foo Fighters,

this year’s Shaky Knees spoke to my Gen X heart.  

New Band highlight 

Something we’re highlighting this Shaky Knees beyond the stout 90’s band line-up are the new bands that we catch. On Friday, the first one is Ax and the Hatchetmen, a young indie 7-piece out of Chicago with tons of energetic big band sound, funky, rocky, and beachy all rolled into one fun time. I felt it was a mix of Cage the Elephant-esque, the strokes, and a hint of Ween. A great show where they ended the set with The Strokes, “Last Night.”  

Another band that we hadn’t seen is and enjoyed is Late Night Drive Home out of Texas. The lead singer, Andre Patillo, came out with a red mask on that had frills at the bottom. They’re a blend of punk, rock, 90s with swelling choruses. But they also play a wide variety of rock sounds including 90’s reverb. We loved they sang Blur, “Song No. 2.” to end the set. I love that song! 

Next up on Saturday, was two bands: Microwave and Dead Poets Society. Microwave is out of Atlanta, which I didn’t know, and has a variety of sounds from loud, hard rock to 90’s fast slow, and then some punk. The other was Dead Poet’s Society out of Boston that had hard riffs that reminded me of Rob/White Zombie up front, thrash, but then the vocals come in softer and higher for a fun mix of sounds.  

Then, finally on Sunday, we caught a newer band we had not heard of until the festival, Arcy Drive. They are out of New York with a mash-up of varieties of sounds like indie, 90s fast slow, two-step, and singsong talking and singing mix. Not all at the same time, for example one song would be songs that are softer almost ballad-like that erupt into heavy guitar for the chorus. Then, the next song would be a rock song with more of a southern twang and have some two-step influence. I enjoyed lead singer Nick Mateyunas’ voice, it is smooth yet gritty. The one we really like is called Wicked Styley, which is the one they started with. It is a fun upbeat rock song with lots of 90’s influence and reverb. 

Top 5 Favorite Artist Moments  

5. Finally hearing “Seven” live from Sunny Day Real Estate 

4. Billy Idol throwing shirt into crowd 

3. Dead Poets Society lead singer, Jack Underkofler, fell into the crowd and crowd surfed while singing one of the first songs.   

2. Dinosaur Jr embracing the downpour. Putting on the best show despite the rain coming down so hard it caused a flood! Bravo! Plus, they covered The Cure!  

1. Ax and the Hatchetmen. A genius way to get people to listen to your new song is to hand out water with a QR code to your song on the side. They even named it HatchetWater. Love. 

Our two favorite performances 

The Downpour. About 5 minutes before Dinosaur Jr. went on the Ponce De Leon stage, the skies opened, and a torrential downpour started and lasted for almost the entire set. People were caught in the rain, and it was so much that even us with ponchos got soaked. Especially our feet in ankle deep water near the front of the stage flowing into the crowd. No one seemed to mind too much, and it electrified the audience. John quipped at one point, “it’s like we’re back in the 90’s.” And he was right, the energy from the crowd was noticeably high! They even broke out into mosh pits and a sea of crowd surfers dotted the front. It was a sight to behold! Plus, the music had a lot to do with the mood! If you don’t know Dinosaur Jr, they are what I call hard skate rock. Something I imagine skaters on their boards would listen to in their ear buds. Songs like “Feel the Pain” and “Over It” are melodious with heavy guitar and just plain fun. Plus, the covered The Cure, “Just Like Heaven.” It was a great show. 

That brings us to Sunny Day Real Estate. They are one of those 90’s bands that I just got introduced to by John a few years ago and we started watching their videos on YouTube. I call them the quintessential fast slow early 90’s band. Melodious verses and vocals erupt into a barrage of heavy guitar and pounding drums, Sunny Day Real Estate satisfies song after song. This performance was just that, song after song, humming along as they played the entire Diary album for its 30th anniversary. It was AMAZING. Plus, we found out that 90’s band Super chunk members were also playing with them. It’s almost like a super group! 

90’s band extravaganza at this year’s Shaky Knees 

Our favorite of the bands we know is Metric out of Canada. A band that played on 99x back in the day, and that I know probably 5 songs from was thoroughly enjoyable. Emily Haines, the lead singer, came out in a bright red shinny body suit. If you know Metric, they are heavy on electronic and keyboard, yet rock and 80s infused. Reminiscent of Garbage to me, “Help I’m Alive,” was the highlight for me. I hadn’t heard it live and it was my favorite of their music then and now. 

Unfortunately, we had to miss Offspring because we had never seen Sunny Day Real Estate and we’re going to spend time with a band that we hadn’t seen. We love Offspring, I saw them back in 1994 for the Smash tour and several times over the years including the last time they were at the Tabernacle. I heard they did an incredible show.  

Have you ever found yourself driving too fast on the interstate? You might have been listening to Queens of the Stone Age. What I call fast driving music, Queens of the Stone Age are very drum forward with deep and heavy beats, beautiful guitar riffs and Josh Homme’s great voice. Plus, they visually never disappoint, this year with roaming light show. Last time we saw them they had a large video board with LED visuals that really went well with the music. Did you know Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) also did the drums on “No One Knows” which you can tell by the drums! But my favorite of their songs after last night is “Go with the flow.” I always liked it but realized it is more diverse musically than some of the others.   

My boyfriend back in 1994 gave me a non-descript bright blue album as a present. Little did I know that that album would be in my top 5 all-time records, and Weezer would cement themselves into rock god status in my life. I’ve seen Weezer over the years from them playing large festivals to arenas to a small stage at the Braves stadium and they always sound perfect. What I call garage or college rock, Weezer has a distinct sound that no one else can create and that sets them apart from some of the other 90’s bands, don’t get me wrong, I love most early 90’s bands! The underlying hum of the guitars, explosions of rock juxtaposing the smoothness or River’s voice, it all comes together completely. What I love about them live is they really play up the guitar and show their musical prowess, plus, visually, they always have their W front and center. If you’ve never seen them live, you must; it is an experience.    

I’m just going to come right out and say it, we left before Foo Fighters. We’d seen them before, and the weather had made the main stage too muddy. Plus, we had stood in ankle high water for an hour, so our feet were wet, and we had a long weekend. We will catch them next time.   

Billy Idol 

After our Dinosaur Jr. experience, we headed back over to see Billy Idol and found the main stage to be a mud bog. People without shoes dancing in the sprinkles, drenched friends with smiles on their faces. We saw him back in 2015 during Music Midtown and his show has always been top notch! Billy Idol is always a good time singing greats like White Wedding, Rebel Yell, and Cradle of Love that anyone will sing and dance with. Visually, he had some fun LED graphics and seems to have not aged a bit and still sounds good live! He even took his Billy Idol shirt off and threw it in the crowd.   

Around the Festival 

It wouldn’t be a large music festival without festival polls, our favorite was the blown-up stick of butter. Plus, we were blown away by the food court with some great Atlanta and regional restaurants like Hattie Bs. Finally, we experienced a cool activation, Liquid Death Country Club. It was an actual small house with grim reapers guarding the entrance where you can “sell your soul” to get some water inside. You can also get free water with a whole in one on their golf green and airbrushed tattoos inside. It is much fun and on brand for Shaky Knees. 

What was your favorite part of Shaky Knees? 

SHAKY KNEES 2024 DAY 3 – THE DOWNPOUR

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/6/24

If you have never seen a rock show in the rain, you’re missing out. Today was all about one of John’s favorite bands, Dinosaur Jr.  

First off, we caught a newer band we had not heard of until the festival, Arcy Drive. They are out of New York with a mash-up of varieties of sounds like indie, 90s fast slow, two-step, and singsong talking and singing mix. Not all at the same time, for example one song would be songs that are softer almost ballad-like that erupt into heavy guitar for the chorus. Then, the next song would be a rock song with more of a southern twang and have some two-step influence. I enjoyed lead singer Nick Mateyunas’ voice, it is smooth yet gritty. The one we really like is called Wicked Styley, which is the one they started with. It is a fun upbeat rock song with lots of 90’s influence and reverb. 

The Downpour. About 5 minutes before Dinosaur Jr. went on the Ponce De Leon stage, the skies opened up and a torrential downpour started and lasted for almost the entire set. People were caught in the rain, and it was so much that even us with ponchos got pretty soaked. Especially our feet in ankle deep water near the front of the stage flowing into the crowd. No one seemed to mind too much and it actually electrified the audience. John quipped at one point, “it’s like we’re back in the 90’s.” And he was right, the energy from the crowd was noticeably high! They even broke out into mosh pits and a sea of crowd surfers dotted the front. It was a sight to behold! Plus, the music had a lot to do with the mood! If you don’t know Dinosaur Jr, they are what I call hard skate rock. Something I imagine skaters on their boards would listen to in their ear buds. Songs like Feel the Pain and Over It are melodious with heavy guitar and just plain fun. Plus, the covered The Cure, “Just Like Heaven.” It was a great show. 

After our Dinosaur Jr. experience, we headed back over to see Billy Idol and found the main stage to be a mud bog. People without shoes dancing in the sprinkles, drenched friends with smiles on their faces. We saw him back in 2015 during Music Midtown and his show has always been top notch! Billy Idol is always a good time singing greats like White Wedding, Rebel Yell, and Cradle of Love that anyone will sing and dance with. Visually, he had some fun LED graphics and seems to have not aged a bit and still sounds really good live! He even took his Billy Idol shirt off and threw it in the crowd.  

I’m just going to come right out and say it, we left before Foo Fighters. We’d seen them before, and the weather had made the main stage too muddy. Plus, we had stood in ankle high water for an hour, so our feet were wet, and we had a long weekend. We will catch them next time.  

Did you have a favorite Shaky moment? 

SHAKY KNEES 2024 DAY 2

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/5/24

Photo Dusana Risovic

With bands like Sunny Day Real Estate, Offspring, Queens of the Stone Age, and one of my favorites of all time Weezer. Day 2 had it all. Here’s a short recap. 

Starting with the newer bands, we heard both Microwave and Dead Poets Society. Microwave is out of Atlanta, which I didn’t know, and has a variety of sounds from loud, hard rock to 90’s fast slow, and then some punk. The other was Dead Poet’s Society out of Boston that had hard riffs that reminded me of Rob/White Zombie up front, thrash, but then the vocals come in softer and higher for a fun mix of sounds. I like that Jack Underkofler, the lead singer, fell into the crowd and crowd surfed while singing one of the first songs.  

On to the 90’s bands we love, first we actually had to miss Offspring because we had never seen Sunny Day Real Estate and we’re going to spend time with a band that we hadn’t seen. We love Offspring, I saw them back in 1994 and heard they did an incredible show. That brings us to Sunny Day Real Estate. They are one of those 90’s bands that I just got introduced to by a friend a few years ago and we started watching their videos on YouTube. I call them the quintessential fast slow early 90’s band. Melodious verses and vocals erupt into a barrage of heavy guitar and pounding drums, Sunny Day Real Estate satisfies song after song. Tour t-shirt purchased! More to come in our review. 

Have you ever found yourself driving too fast on the interstate? You might have been listening to Queens of the Stone Age. What I call fast driving music, Queens of the Stone Age are very drum forward with deep and heavy beats, beautiful guitar riffs and Josh Homme’s great voice. Plus, they visually never disappoint, this year with roaming light show. Last time we saw them they had a large video board with led visuals that really went well with the music. Did you know Dave Grohl (Nirvana, Foo Fighters) also did the drums on “No One Knows?” which you can tell by the drums! But my favorite of their songs after last night is “Go with the flow.” I always liked it but realized it is more diverse musically than some of the others.  

My boyfriend back in 1994 gave me a non-descript bright blue album as a present. Little did I know that that album would be in my top 5 all-time records, and Weezer would cement themselves into rock god status in my life. I’ve seen Weezer over the years from them playing large festivals to arenas to a small stage at the Braves stadium and they always sound perfect. What I call garage or college rock, Weezer has a distinct sound that no one else can create and that sets them apart from some of the other 90’s bands, don’t get me wrong, I love most early 90’s bands! The underlying hum of the guitars, explosions of rock juxtaposing the smoothness or River’s voice, it all comes together completely. What I love about them live is they really play up the guitar and show their musical prowess, plus, visually, they always have their W front and center. If you’ve never seen them live, you must; it is an experience.  

We didn’t make it to liquid death’s activation, it is on our to do list for today. We’re excited about Dinosaur Jr, Billy Idol, and Foo Fighters today. It’s going to be hot, so wear sunscreen and drink plenty of water. 

SHAKY KNEES 2024 DAY 1

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 5/4/24

Photo by Roger Ho.

With acts like Weezer and Foo Fighters, this year’s Shaky Knees spoke to my Gen X heart. Here’s our day one recap with our favorite new bands, artist moments, and everything in between.

Something we’re highlighting this Shaky Knees beyond the stout 90’s band line-up are the new bands that we catch. The first one is Ax and the Hatchetmen, a young indie 7-piece out of Chicago with tons of energetic big band, funky, rocky, and beachy all rolled into one fun time. A great show! They had a wonderful artist moment, handing out water with a QR code to their newest song, “Flagstaff” that they performed live and came out yesterday! Another band that we hadn’t seen is and enjoyed is Late Night Drive Home out of Texas. The lead singer, Andre Patillo, came out with a red mak on that had frills at the bottom. They’re a blend of punk, rock, 90s with swelling choruses. We loved they sang Blur, “Song No. 2.”

Our favorite of the bands we know is Metric out of Canada. A band that played on 99x back in the day, and that I know probably 5 songs from was thoroughly enjoyable. Emily Haines, the lead singer, came out in a bright red shinny body suit. If you know Metric, they are heavy into electronic and keyboard, yet rock and 80s infused. Reminiscent of Garbage to me, “Help I’m Alive,” was the highlight for me. I hadn’t heard it live and it was my favorite of their music then and now.

We also caught Interpol and Arcade Fire, two bands I had not seen live. Arcade Fire puts on a spectacle of a show with tons of light and movement, and loved the horizon and sunset/sunrise visuals of the performance. Interpol had black and white on the big screens, they’re very controled yet upbeat rock and smooth lyrics all encased in a European rock sound.

It wouldn’t be a large music festival without festival polls, our favorite was the blown up stick of butter. Plus, we were blown away by the Doordash food court with some great Atlanta and regional restaurants like Hattie Bs. Today we are going to explore the most elaborate activation I’ve ever seen, Liquid Death. We will report back.

Who is ready for day 2? John and I are super excited for Sunny Day Real Estate today! We hope the Thunderstorms stay away.

This is just a snapshot of day 1. A full article and review of bands to come.

BARNSLEY RESORT, ESCAPE TOGETHER

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 2/28/24

Barnsley Resort, where John and I can Escape Together! ️ Just a little over an hour North of our Atlanta home, John and I spent Valentine’s weekend enjoying Barnsley Resort and each other. You feel so far away here from the city but are so close! Everything from the stunning Manor House Ruins and garden, tree-covered walkways, cute and cozy cottages, immersive historical tours, lovely dining options, golf, activities, and so much more, Barnsley Resort has something for everyone.  

Driving in, you’re greeted with a smile by the security guard at the gate! One-part welcome party, he sends you to the Inn at Barnsley to check in. The Inn has become the heart of the property since being completed in 2018. With gathering areas, warm wood, and beautiful English architecture, the Inn boasts 55 rooms. Downstairs in the lobby, join in on the 5pm whiskey tradition, or hang out near the fire pits. Also, don’t miss lounging in the lobby seating area by the fire or the fun key wall behind check-in.  

Our Room, Cottage 

On our weekend, we got to stay in one of the many cottages that dot the landscape around the town square. Walking through them is straight out of a Hallmark movie! Inside, you’re welcomed with a large living space, wood burning fireplace, and sweeping hardwood floors. The bedroom is tucked away behind a pair of French doors with a large comfy king bed, large oval window, and entrance to your own private porch. Then, attached to the bedroom is the luxurious bathroom with pedestal sink, ornate claw foot tub, standing shower and overlooking the tub is a large oval window. We stayed in a smaller cottage, but they have them in all sizes for any family large or small. 

Experiences and the property 

The first thing we did after we got settled in our room was the Wine, Cheese, and Love Stories historical tour where we explored the Barnsley Resort property. Here we literally learn everything there is to know about the property, all while enjoying Barnsley’s very own Santa Clara Valley Estate wine paired with a local farm’s cheeses! 

 We started back at the Inn at Barnsley Resort with Pimento Cheese and Santa Clara Valley Cab. We had a meet and greet with our tour guides and learned about the history of Barnsley, the new Inn building, and more. We find out that Prince Fugger bought the property in 1988 after many years of disrepair and turned it into what it is today, a resort destination, in the Southeast!  

 Our second stop is at the Rice House, which was moved from Savannah and brought to the property in 3 pieces. There we saw our guide Sabre off the top of Barnsley’s grand Cuvée Brut sparkling wine and got paired with a warm brie fondue and dark chocolate fondue. This is the best pairing! 

 Our third stop was the breathtaking Manor House Ruins! It is a must-see garden and ruins right in the middle of the property! Godfrey Barnsley brought his wife and children to the property in 1840s and started work on their lavish mansion. Julia, his wife, passed before it was completed. Work stopped. But he had a dream of her in the garden telling him to finish it for her. So, he did, it is his love letter to her. Then, in 1906 a tornado took off the roof and back wall and the family moved into the kitchen house, and it was never repaired. There we sampled the Monterey Chardonnay and had Tomme cheese, nuts, and fruit. 

 Our final spot was in the kitchen house where we saw the Barnsley decedents washer, wood stove, and where we heard the tale of Preston Saylor (KO Dugan), a prize fighter who later shot his brother and killed him. They have memorialized and enclosed the spot where the blood stain is to this day. There we enjoyed the Santa Clara Valley Meritage merlot and hard cheese spread with fruit! 

Other places you can explore and enjoy activities are the central beer garden where the staff says “the eternal flame” of the property is, the firepit! They are looking to expand and renovate it in the coming years. Attached to the Rice house is a wedding, concert, and large venue for any occassion. If you’re a golfer, they have a large 18 round golf course with a lake! Like out of the box adventures? They have everything from archery to horseback riding to skeet shooting. There is really something fun to do around every corner.  

Dining Experiences at Barnsley Resort 

We attended the Rice House’s incredible 5-course Valentine’s meal Friday evening paired with either carefully curated wine or crafted cocktails! We cannot say enough good things about how wonderful the food and drinks turned out and the impeccable staff! They really made you feel special. Here’s the full food review from our experience. 

We started with the delicious Amuse Bouche with Nicolas Feuillate Champagne, France. This is a meaty and divine meat pate that comes off smoky and creamy to the palate. This is paired with a tangy sauerkraut and a honey drizzle for a hint of sweet. The amuse bouche is served with bread. The perfect flavors of the light creamy meat with the bubbly champagne. 

Our first course started with the Truffle & Foie Gras Stuffed Quail with North Star Merlot, Washington. The Quail is savory, salty, rich, crunchy, earthy truffle, meaty foie gras stuffed and paired with a tangy dried fruit vinaigrette and creamy polenta. Divine! This was served with a light red wine to go with the earthy truffle and hearty meat. The other first course item we got was the Seasonal Beet Tart paired with the Attems Pinot Grigio from Italy. This dish is a crunchy, flaky, buttery tart filled with creamy and earthy beet and goat cheese then adorned with popping passion fruit pearls for a sweet, fruity burst, plus a bright salad on the side. 

You can’t go wrong with the second course, the homemade Mushroom Truffle Tagliatelle with Erath Pinot Noir, Oregon. This might just be the best pasta dish ever starting with the herbaceous and earthy, rich marinated locally foraged mushroom. Tender pasta stuffed with a delectable creamy, herbaceous sauce and topped with shaved truffle. Just wow! The light bodied Pinot Noir really brings out the rich flavors of the pasta.  

Of the entrees, John got the Seared Wagyu Tenderloin with Chateau Montelena Cabernet Sauvignon, California. This amazing steak is perfectly cooked and flavorful with a rich and deep demi glaze served with a creamy dreamy potato cake. This went so well with the Cabernet Sauvignon’s deep flavor paired with the meat and demi glaze. I opted for the Pan-Seared Sea Bass with Scattered Peaks Fume Blanc California. This super light and buttery fish is crisped on the outside for a crunchy bite. The balance between the melt-in-your mouth fish and the champagne cream gives it a nice creaminess that’s bright yet light. The light bodied white pairs with the cream so well, and the lightness of the fish.  

As for the dessert, they brought out the Chocolate Espresso Mousse with the Decadent Cocktail. This rich chocolate mousse is super rich and decadent in an arrangement of different flavors from creamy to bold. The Decadent cocktail is their take on an espresso martini, and they were able to make this one decaf for me! Creamy, bold, rich, and literally melts into the flavors of the chocolaty mousse. Yum. 

Whiskey Tradition in the lobby 5pm daily 

When we arrived, the front desk invited us to a special tasting, Whiskey Tradition. It is a tradition that is open to all guests at 5pm each day to try their smoked pecan infused Woodford Reserve whiskey! They take the Woodford and infuse it through smoked pecans right there in the lobby! The smoked pecans are smoked on property and when they change them out, the pecans go on their desserts! 

Woodlands Grill 

If you’re looking for something casual, we’d recommend the Woodlands Grill! A beautiful homey building right on the golf course with sweeping golf course and lake views! The morning we went, we enjoyed an intimate brunch featuring a sensational eggs Benedict with smoked salmon. These were paired with potatoes. John got the regular breakfast with eggs, bacon, and more. They also serve lunch, dinner, and drinks in Dugan’s bar.