Tag Archive for: recap

DRAGON CON 2023: COME ON BARBIE LET’S GO PARTY!

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/25/23

Last year we said, “Every year, Dragon Con takes on a life of its own.” This year again was no different with fun trends like The Loyal Order of the Ribbon growing and even making the Dragon Con schedule, as well as the influx of Barbie and Super Mario Brothers. We’ve never seen so many Princess Peaches! That’s all on top of the fantastic cosplay, Mardi Gras vibes, Indepth panels, snaps with celebrities, themed parties, and live performances! 

Trends 

Not only was the Barbie movie with Margot Robbie a huge hit, so was her dress! Barbies in all shapes and sizes emerged this Dragon Con like a swarm of pink and blonde. You’d see gaggles of them taking photos and laughing. Not only did they do the new dress, but there were also barbies in boxes, themed barbies, and barbie mashups with other cosplays. Then, on the other hand, the huge 80’s and 90’s game returned to the big screen, Super Mario Brothers. This was the biggest surprise to see so many of them, every character too from groups with Princess Peach, Mario, Luigi, and even Yoshi. This was mostly group costumes, couples, or friends, not lone cosplayers. The group makes more of an impact. We accidentally ran into a horde of them taking photos at the Hilton. Wow! There were so many. Finally, The Loyal Order of the ribbon is going STRONG again this year. More and more people had multiple ribbons, attended swaps, made the Dragon Con schedule, and even had a big competition for most. We think someone had upwards of 200 last we checked.  

Panels 

We’re not going to lie, this year was weird with the actors and writers’ strike and not being about to talk about movies or shows these celebrities were in, working on now, or upcoming. We attended the Elija Wood panel where they talked about a day they would like to relieve over and over, about their lives, families, memories, and more. We’re sure that people really wanted to talk to him about Frodo, but the questions were good anyway and we had a good time listening to a more personal panel. Dragon Con did a good job keeping it fun and light! Plus, we were surprised how many people wanted to attend this panel without even talking about any shows or movies! The panel was bursting at the seams with people and even more wanted in!  

Where are they now? 

There were some stark drops in several cosplays that were dominant last year. The biggest ones are Stranger Things and Eddie Munson. There were a few people sprinkled about with Hellfire Club t-shirts but not the groups and numbers as last year. Another one was there were visibly fewer blow-up dinosaurs this year. Being large and hot inside, we don’t blame them for not suiting up this year, but we thought we would see more since they trended high last year. And lastly, our beloved Deadpool, this has really fallen off the map this year, we may have seen two which is an interesting development.  

You must check out our photo journal of all our favorite cosplays, bots, costumes, and moments! 

The Rink at Park Tavern: Sushi, Sip, Skate, Repeat.

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 1/7/19

When you walk into Park Tavern, you’re instantly transported to a winter wonderland, a crisp, and cool nip in the air, and even though the holidays may be over, the sipping and skating are not! It’s open until Monday, January 20th! We recently went down for a special event to showcase the food, the drinks, and the fun that The Rink at Park Tavern has to offer. It’s one of those places that you can sit by the fire, enjoy a spiked cocoa, a crisp Bubly vodka concoction, and some delicious sushi then head over to the ice rink and take a spin! Here’s a few photos and a small recap below on more about the Rink and the event we went to recently!

A special evening celebrating the holiday season, this exclusive Skate, Sip, and Snack VIP event took place in Park Tavern’s enchanted Neo-Victorian setting that’s adorned with charming holiday decor.  Guests enjoyed complimentary signature cocktails, delicious fare, and cooked s’mores over the fire pits while taking in unobstructed views of Piedmont Park and the Midtown skyline.  Adventurous guests also hit the hit the ice at The Rink at Park Tavern powered by Bubly – making for a fun-filled evening with new and old friends.

The Rink at Park Tavern is open Monday through Friday from 4:30 p.m. to midnight and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to midnight. Guests of all ages can enjoy skating experiences for $15 Monday through Thursday and $20 Friday through Sunday until 8 p.m. At 8:30 p.m., The Rink becomes an ages 16 and up venue until midnight.  Skaters that dress up in Steampunk attire for ‘Skate After 8 p.m.’, will get to skate for free.  The Rink is also available for private skating lessons, parties, marriage proposals and more.  To make reservations and for the most up to date event calendar, specialty packages, and venue rental information, visit www.parktavern.com.

Imagine Music Festival 2019: Can You Feel It?

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/30/19

There’s something about the electricity in the air during a late-night set at Imagine Music Festival. The crowd is excited and filled with anticipation. The weather is cooler than it was all day, so the light breeze is inviting and soothing. Then, the artists pump out heart pounding beats that sets the mood. It’s one of those experiences you can’t get anywhere else than an EDM festival in fall. You’d also be astounded how many festival-goers these types of acts draw! Let’s just call it a “sea.” It’s just amazing how many people are all dancing in time! Let’s dive into 2019 Imagine Music Festival!

When you’re at these types of festivals, there are two unique experiences you can have: FEELING the sound up front or a little more immersive over-all experience out back. The photo pit is a totally different experience than when you observe from a-far. Up front, you see all the sights and sounds looming tall, but it really strikes you when that bass picks up and it really is about FEELING the sound. The further back you go, the sound and lights dance together, and it becomes a little more about both/immersive. You feel us? Which would you rather or would you try for both?

This year, we watched several acts including Above and Beyond, Ghastly, KSHMR, and Zeds Dead and they all had something different and unique to offer Imagine EDM lovers. We think people misconstrue electronic dance music as simply DJ work. It isn’t. It’s original and has all the elements you’d find in other genres, just packaged in a different way. Here’s a little about each of the artists and bands we saw. First is Zeds Dead, which is more something you just want to get out there and dance to with interesting beats. Add to that fun rhythm changes and that electronic energy that pairs well with lots of laser lights, you get the picture! On top of that, we enjoyed Ghastly, who we met in passing in the press area, as well as KSHMR, who had fun visuals, lights, beats, and all-around electrified the crowd below.

One of the most impressive was Above and Beyond. Being our first experience with the band, we had heard some of their music in passing or at clubs but hadn’t really spent any quality time with it. We got some and we’re glad we did! It was an all-encompassing EDM experience. Above and Beyond came out of the Trace wave and they’ve done everything you can in this genre since from trace, to dance anthems to even acoustic. Their newer music has some elements of it all, it has original lyrics, swelling dance beats, and everything you’d think of at an electronic dance festival. They’re not just sampling music and working it into beats, they craft their own original music. They have an impressive list of genres and songs, spanning two decades, all peppered a little bit of sadness and a ton of heart. We hope to see them again, maybe even their acoustic show?

With that, it’s time to lounge around the pool on the oversized flamingo float, grab a drink, and let the lights and sound surround you. Can you feel it?

2019 Jeffrey Fashion Cares Recap: Tailored, Sequined, and Doc Martins

Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 9/6/19

With what Jeff Kalinsky calls “sharp tailoring,” we loved the fall trends this year. From that long, tan coat that captured MY heart, to a throw-back to our high school Doc Martin days, to flashy sequins, we’ll take ALL of it. Could we wear that sequin dress we loved with our combat boots? Beyond the fashion show, good bites from Agency with their salmon chip to Grand Luxe with that delicious tuna poke “shot,” the fun cocktails from Tavern at Phipps, and, we enjoyed rubbing elbows with friends and Atlanta celebrities alike. Wow, the fashion off the runway was fabulous this year with bold colors and fashion forward attendees that really stepped up their fashion game. Everyone looked ready for this year’s fashion show!

Let’s jump into this year’s fall fashion trends straight from Kalinsky.

In 2019 the Fall runways were a complete shake up. Whether you prefer sharp tailoring, a dash of color, or a stand out accessory. Fall gave us a little something for every possible style : the sophisticated working woman, the bold risk-taker, and even those who’d prefer to stick to the classics.

Gauchos/culottes:  Gauchos are the MUST HAVE  bottom of the season. Hedi Slimane of Celine sent a statement down the runway. Gauchos in all different fabrics, and a range of colors.

Capes:  Capes were one of the strongest silhouettes this season. Leading the way was Hedi Slimane for Celine, but Burberry and Marc Jacobs also sent their chic versions down the catwalk. Capes proved to be heroic for every occasion.

Purple:  Purple hues shot down the runway from a mix of designers. STATEMENT faux furs from Tom Ford, and luxurious purple metallics from Dries Van Noten.

Statement Hats:  Hats, Hats, and more Hats! Maria Grazia of Dior went the bucket hat route, while brands like Marc Jacobs, Valentino, and Tom ford also featured their current take on the 2019 fall hat obsession. Hats of all shapes (and sizes) were the fashion accessory of the season!

Combat boots:  From practical to stylish, combat boots were the biggest Fall shoe trend of 2019. Versions from the likes of Gianvito Rossi, Celine, Saint Laurent, and Amiri! The classic combat was completely reinvented, making this your must have shoe for any look!

Until next year!