Road trip from Atlanta to Nashville (and where to stop along the way)

Sep 3, 2017

My mom has a Toyota Prius, and when she first bought it a few years ago she said it was like driving a magic carpet, it was so smooth and quiet. It wasn’t until this road trip driving a 2017 Toyota Prius Three, that I fully understood this comment. For the eclipse we decided to fly into Atlanta and drive to Nashville (about a 4 hour drive), making a stop in Chattanooga, Tenessee, the half way point, to see the legendary Ruby Falls. Not only is the engine so quiet, but the car is also insanely fuel efficient, which I really appreciated considering all the miles we were about to drive. It was less than a half a tank of gas to do the trip one way!

ATLANTA, Georgia

Downtown

We started in downtown Atlanta, which wasn’t very exciting, except we did stumble on a fabulous Mexican restaurant called Alma Cocina, that’s worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Little Five Points

What we were told this would be the Williamsburg, BK of Atlanta and it did not disappoint. The artsy area filled with funky bars and restaurants, coffee shops, juice bars, tattoo shops and vintage stores was a fun area to walk around, and so inexpensive. Ragorama is a huge second hand store, where I thrifted 3 designer belts (Gucci, D&G, and Ferragamo) for $24 – $33 each.

Atlantic Station

Less grungy then Little Five Points, Atlantic Station is a pretty part of town and great area to eat, shop, walk around and catch a movie.

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Total Eclipse of the Heart

Aug 21, 2017

Well, today was pretty much the best. James and I have been planning this Nashville trip for almost a year. Ever since he got wind of the Eclipse and that Nashville would be one of the best viewing spots. We’re big SPG members so we booked at the Westin Nashville, it’s a newer property downtown and absolutely gorgeous. Grandious lobby, with really cool music design elements like picks embedded in the counters and belt buckles on the headboards of the rooms. The hotel has two bars (we frequented both), one in the lobby the other on the roof, which is two levels and features a pool with incredible views of the city. It was the perfect spot to watch the eclipse from and the hotel threw a really fun viewing party complete with a specialty eclipse cocktails and glasses.

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Claire Bowen & Sam Palladio Rock the Summer with Self Magazine

Jul 17, 2013

Last night, Self Magazine hosted their Rocks the Summer event in honor of their July music issue at NYC’s PH-D at the Dream Hotel Downtown. And what kind of music celebration would it be without some steller music, which was flown in straight from Nashville (literally and figuratively). Clare Bowen and Sam Palladio of the ABC hit series, Nashville, flew in from Nashville to perform 3 songs in front of the live audience; including their first duet together on the show, If I Didn’t Know Better. Lucy Danziger, editor-in-chief of Self Magazine, made a joke about all of us wanting to be Clare and wanting to date Sam, which judging by all the sighs in the room was pretty spot on. Whether or not you’ve seen the show, it was next to impossible to watch the performance and not consider yourself a fan. They are so talented (and handsome, and they have accents, she’s Australian, he’s British — just saying).

Other highlights include getting my hands on the new summer collection from Essie nail polish, which was one of the event sponsors. All the signature cocktails being served we’re inspired by different shades from the collection. And also seeing Snooki (there’s something I thought I’d never say), who is now the size of my pinky (no seriously, she’s like a size 0). It was impossible not to stare…