Simply Buckhead

🌟 THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER! Our Highly Anticipated RISING STARS Issue is HERE! 🌟 Get ready to be inspired! We are beyond thrilled to unveil the newest issue of Simply Buckhead, where we are shining a massive spotlight on 6 unstoppable individuals who are absolutely crushing it and making their mark on our community! Every summer, we curate a powerhouse list of top-tier talent, and this year’s highly anticipated annual feature is nothing short of extraordinary. We are showcasing phenomenal men and women who are breaking boundaries, innovating at lightning speed, giving back, and skyrocketing to the very pinnacle of their industries. Inside this issue, you will meet: 🚀 A brilliant teenage problem-solver and future tech titan! 📸 A stunning model-turned-visionary-photographer! 🍷 A world-class sommelier chasing the industry’s absolute highest honor! 🍽️ The culinary genius behind one of Buckhead’s hottest, must-visit new eateries! 🏢 A trailblazing broker completely revolutionizing the corporate lodging experience! ⚖️ A powerhouse attorney driving one of Atlanta’s most dynamic organizations forward! These inspiring stories are guaranteed to ignite your ambition! Grab your physical copy today at one of over 400 local hotspots, or click the link in our bio to immerse yourself in the digital edition RIGHT NOW! ✨ Photographer: Erik Meadows Producer: Jennifer Bradley Franklin Makeup: Nyssa Green Makeup Assistant: Kristine Edney Hair: Alicia Igess Stylist: Lauren Finney Harden Styling Assistant: Alexis Riva (For wardrobe IDs, see page 67) A massive, special thanks to the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead for so graciously hosting our incredible team!❤ #SimplyBuckhead #RisingStars #AtlantaTalent #BuckheadLiving #CommunityLeaders @erikmeadows @nyssag

Step into the world of couture brilliance! "Dior: Crafting Fashion" is now on view at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film through August 23, 2026. Experience the timeless artistry and meticulous craftsmanship that defined an era of elegance. Don't miss your chance to see this incredible exhibition in the heart of Atlanta. Plan your visit today at SCADFASH.ORG! @SCADFASH #DiorCraftingFashion #SCADFASH #AtlantaMuseums #CoutureHistory #FashionExhibition

END GAME A pair of bookends can reinforce the subtle announcement that you’re a literary lover. Cheeky and playful or intentionally designed, bookends provide more than just a way to group coffee table books, non-fiction hardbacks and well-worn paperbacks together. If you’re looking for an exclamation point for a shelf or table, check out these options. Chelsea House Flossie Bookends ($964) These bookends from North Carolina based brand Chelsea House aren’t just for dog lovers but for anyone who appreciates a bit of whimsy in a room. They are part of the Claire Bell Collection and feature antique gold leaf dogs atop clear acrylic bases. Standing a foot tall, they can sit sentinel on a desk or bookshelf for a statement making moment. Mathews Furniture + Design 404.237.8271 mathewsatl.com 📝 Lauren Finney Harden #Bookends #HomeDecor #SimplyBuckhead #InteriorStyling

Every CURE flag purchased helps fund the groundbreaking research changing the future of childhood cancer. Meet Malorie, one of this year’s flag artists, who has been fighting a brain tumor since kindergarten. Over the last decade, she has endured surgeries, multiple chemotherapy treatments, and significant vision loss, but has met every challenge with remarkable strength and determination. Precision medicine revealed a genetic mutation in Malorie’s tumor, leading to a targeted therapy that has changed her life. After a year and a half on treatment, her tumor has shown no growth, and she’s experienced very few side effects. When you purchase a CURE flag, you’re helping fund the innovative research that makes stories like Malorie’s possible. Join the fight against childhood cancer and help create more moments of hope for children and families everywhere. Visit cureflags.org to get your flag today. 💛 #CureChildhoodCancer #ChildhoodCancerAwareness #CureFlags #PrecisionMedicine #HopeForChildren @CUREchildcancer

Get ready to level up your culinary game! ⚽️🍽️ Buckhead Restaurant Week is officially returning from July 27 – August 1, 2026! When the matches end, the dining begins, and we are bringing you an incredible lineup of over 50+ participating restaurants to explore. From savory lunch specials to unforgettable dinner menus, it’s the ultimate week to discover the absolute best dining experiences Buckhead has to offer. Don't wait—visit BuckheadRestaurantWeek.com today to view all participating restaurants and start planning your perfect foodie itinerary! #BuckheadRestaurantWeek #AtlantaEats #BuckheadDining #SimplyBuckhead #AtlantaFoodScene

AN EVENING WITH PEACE An Evening With Peace: In Full Bloom was the apt title for the second annual fundraiser for the Peace Preparatory Academy, an independent elementary school in Atlanta’s Bankhead neighborhood. More than 180 supporters gathered at the Curate Event Space in West Midtown for a night of dinner and dancing, and raised $130,000 to educate children from the English Avenue community. The event was hosted by Christian hip hop artist Tedashii and chaired by the academy’s executive director, Leah Skinner. Four-time Grammy award winner Lecrae, an academy founding board member, spoke about the neighborhood’s restoration and inspired attendees to continue the work of extending educational opportunities to children. See more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! 📝H.M. Cauley 📸 Carlos Stephenson, Still Going Designs #PeacePreparatoryAcademy #AnEveningWithPeace #BankheadStrong #AtlantaEducation #SimplyBuckhead

EAST LAKE IS CALLING TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP EAST LAKE GOLF CLUB AUGUST 26-30, 2026 Why the TOUR Championship Is Atlanta’s Best Weekend of the Year! For one week each August, the city’s most iconic golf club becomes the place to be — and you don’t have to be a golf fanatic to love every minute of it. There’s a reason people put the TOUR Championship on the calendar in January. Each August, East Lake Golf Club hosts the conclusion of the PGA TOUR season, the week when the FedExCup Champion is crowned, and being there in person offers an experience no broadcast can fully capture. The tournament brings the TOUR’s top 30 players to one of the most historic and visually striking courses in the country, where the competition consistently delivers some of the most compelling golf of the year. But at East Lake, TOUR Championship week is as much about the full day on property as it is about what happens on the leaderboard. At East Lake, there are countless ways to watch the tournament. The Landing on the 17th fairway puts you at the center of the action, with food and drinks among the pivotal closing stretch. The Delta SkyMiles Deck on the 18th tee box looks straight down the par-5 toward the historic clubhouse — a view that earns its reputation. But that’s not all, as it also boasts an incredible view of the par-4 17th green. Delta SkyMiles members enter free, and joining on-site takes only a moment. Or you can simply wander the grounds and take it in from wherever you end up... Tickets are available at tourchampionship.com/tickets. @TOURChamp Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! #TOURChampionship #EastLakeGolfClub #FedExCup #AtlantaEvents #SimplyBuckhead

Get campus-ready with confidence! Join us at Woo West Paces Ferry on Wednesday, July 22, from 6:30–8 p.m. for an exclusive "Recruitment Ready" event designed to help you shine this upcoming season. Whether you’re prepping for sorority recruitment or looking to elevate your style, this evening is all about beauty, confidence, and connection. Enjoy expert guidance from Leighton Newberry of Recruitment Ready, shop stunning pieces from SJ Bailey Co., browse collegiate-inspired art by Emily Partain Art, and stock up on beauty essentials from our team. Plus, every attendee will receive a Kusshi accessory, and we’ll have delicious treats from Sweetish Sister to enjoy while you shop! Tickets are $40 per potential new member and include specialized recruitment guidance, 10% off all Woo purchases during the event, and automatic entry into our Deluxe Recruitment Ready Giveaway. Parents are welcome to attend at no additional charge. Space is limited, so reserve your spot today! #WooSkincare #RecruitmentReady #CollegePrep #BuckheadEvents #SimplyBuckhead

WORTH SAVORING The team behind Michelin-starred MUJŌ brings an intimate supper club to Buckhead with Koshu Club. Traditional techniques meet modern flavors at Koshu Club, the intimate à la carte supper club now open in Buckhead from the team behind the Michelin-starred omakase restaurant MUJŌ. Chef de cuisine Keith Miller shares the careful choreography behind the new eatery’s intimate dining experience. How does Koshu Club bring Showa-era Japanese supper clubs to Atlanta? Koshu Club is about capturing the spirit of the Showa-era, a time when dining in Japan was evolving in the mid-1920s. It blends tradition with Western influence in a very social, late-night format. We focus on atmosphere as much as food: dim lighting, a sense of rhythm to the meal and dishes meant to be shared over conversation. How do you balance washoku, yoshoku and modern Japanese cuisine? We approach the menu as a dialogue between washoku and yoshoku, with a contemporary lens. Washoku, which emphasizes seasonal ingredients and harmony, gives us discipline, seasonality, restraint and respect for ingredients. Yoshoku, which has Western influences, brings comfort and approach ability. Then we layer in modern techniques and global awareness to connect those ideas. The goal is something refined but still deeply satisfying... Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! 📝 Claire Ruhlin KOSHU CLUB koshuclubatl.com #KoshuClub #BuckheadDining #AtlantaFoodies #SimplyBuckhead @claireruhlin #ModernJapanese

IN TUNE WITH EACH OTHER Jennifer Barlament and Kenneth Potsic are pillars of Atlanta’s musical scene. As 1996 graduate students at The Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, Jennifer Barlament and Ken Potsic struck up a conversation on a busy street corner. Because they already knew of each other, having both played in ensembles at the Eastman Opera Theatre, Barlament invited Potsic to join her group trip with friends to a state park. Thirty years later, the married couple lives in Atlanta’s Druid Hills. Barlament is executive director of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Potsic is a national bassoon specialist. The pair says Atlanta is in the midst of an artistic renaissance, one they’re proud to be part of, and they enjoy giving back to the community personally and professionally. They spoke to Simply Buckhead about their lives in music. How did music shape your early lives? JB: My mother’s family sang in choruses; my grandmother was a classical fan. We lived in Germany where I took recorder lessons. In fourth grade, we moved to Hinesville, Georgia, and I picked the clarinet to play since it looked similar to the recorder. I also began playing the violin in middle school after our family inherited one. KP: I’m from Elmhurst, a suburb of Chicago, and my dad played in a band and had a record collection of classical and jazz. As a child, I started recording his records and listening on the way to school. I was a real nerd. I started playing the oboe because my hands were small, but by fifth grade, I switched to the bassoon... Read more in the latest issue of Simply Buckhead Magazine out now! 📝Denise K. James #AtlantaSymphonyOrchestra #ClassicalMusic #AtlantaArts #DruidHills #SimplyBuckhead

NEWS CLIPS Fifth Group’s Bold Catering & Design has debuted another facet of its hospitality and event brand. Bold Flowers premiered in March as a floral atelier specializing in floral design and installation for hospitality and corporate spaces, as well as weddings, galas, mitzvahs and other private events. In addition to traditional practices, the studio also offers sustainable design elements, including locally sourced blooms, reusable containers and centerpieces that can be replanted. All options are available upon request. Led by Floral Manager Victoria Brown, the studio is housed inside Bold’s 35,000-square-foot warehouse on West Marietta Street. bold-events.com/bold-flowers 📝 Nicole Letts #BoldFlowers #FloralDesign #AtlantaEvents #PgatourSuperstore #BuckheadSquare @nicolemelv

RISING STARS Meet the model and cancer survivor who makes clients feel comfortable in front of the lens. Alexandra Zak’s love of photography began as a child in Roswell when she says she became scared of the passing of time due to a series of traumatic losses. “I’d take photographs of everything— my animals, my friends, my wallpaper—when I was little,” she says. “I became obsessed with time, and photography was a way for me to keep it standing still.” She was so prolific that her parents had to limit the number of rolls of film she could develop in a week. Later, she began modeling as a teen, gaining exposure on the other side of the camera. Buckhead-based Zak continued to model into her 20s, including while at Georgia State University, from which she graduated in 2010 with a psychology degree. She worked in bars and clubs from 2010 until 2018, running to photo jobs around town in between gigs. Zak is still signed with CLICK Models in Atlanta and New York, although her photography business takes up most of her time these days. In 2016, she was diagnosed with melanoma and required major surgery. She got sober in 2018 and became cancer-free in 2019. “I knew I needed to live differently. I changed my life and perspective. I decided to start facing things instead of running from them,” she says. “Being sober and my career are tied together. ” Working with certified financial planner and entrepreneur Deanna LaRue in 2022 was another pivotal career moment. “She’s self-made, and she deeply encouraged me,” Zak says. LaRue introduced her to other women at the top of their crafts; Zak’s career took off... Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! alexandrazak.com 📝Lauren Finney Harden #AlexandraZak #RisingStar #AtlantaPhotographer #StudioA #SimplyBuckhead

FEATURED RESTAURANTS Carmel, situated in Buckhead Village, gives off major vacation vibes, thanks to the breezy Smith Hanes-designed interiors and the coastal-oriented menu. Start with cocktail classics with a creative twist, such as the Negroni Sour and Acapulco Way, a riff on a margarita. Inspired by some of the world’s best coastal culinary regions, the menu at Carmel leans into ultra-fresh seafood and wood-fired dishes. Favorites from the starters include feather-light milk buns with whipped togarashi butter, hamachi crudo accented with passion fruit and just-spicy-enough morita chili, and a plate of crispy fries topped with crème fraiche, béarnaise sauce and a generous portion of briny caviar. Entree standouts include the whole, perfectly grilled lobster with lemon and buttery brioche crumbs; delicate diver scallops with verdant spring peas, fragrant leeks and decadent brown butter; and a sleeper hit: the fall-apart tender, hearth-roasted chicken with, tangy chimichurri. A smart wine list and thoughtful service round out the experience. Next time you need a little getaway, look closer to home. Raw: $18-$165 First wave: $8-$26 Mains: $36-$175 Sides: $12-$14 Desserts: $10-$14 Carmel 470.355.7245 carmelatl.com @carmelatl 📝Jennifer Bradley Franklin 📸 Madelynne Grace #CarmelBuckhead #BuckheadDining #AtlantaEats #SimplyBuckhead #CoastalCuisine @BitesAndBevs

PULLED INTO THE PAST Sandy Springs author creates historical mysteries. Former CNN anchor Pamela Norsworthy credits her love of history to her father, a World War II pilot whose experiences helped shape her second career as the author of historical fiction. After graduating from the University of Virginia, she moved to Atlanta in the 1980s and went to work for CNN in the days when running into Ted Turner in the elevator was a regular occurrence. From there, she moved into consulting, marketing and corporate communications until the lure of history moved her to write full-time. Norsworthy’s first book, War Bonds, debuted in early 2024 and included some of her father’s reminiscences and a wealth of research that provided authenticity. It also earned her a nomination as the Georgia Writers Association 2025 Georgia Author of the Year. “I had a story in mind that drew on my love of history and research,” says the Sandy Springs resident. “If I had my way, research is all I’d ever do. I love when I dive in and find something so interesting, even if I can’t leverage it for a book. It’s still better when you know things.” War Bonds featured a spy who inspired her newest novel, The Florentine Engagement, which was published in January... Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! pamelanorsworthywrites.com 📝 H.M. Cauley 📸Joann Vitelli #PamelaNorsworthy #HistoricalFiction #GeorgiaAuthors #SimplyBuckhead #HistoricalMystery

COFFEE CORNER Whether you’re a caffeine addict or find comfort in the daily ritual, how you drink your coffee is as much about style as formality. In a world where an iced latte is $10 and coffee shop quality is inconsistent, eliminate the need for a middleman by making your coffee at home. Create your ideal coffee corner and ensure you always go to bed thinking about your morning cup. Anthropologie The Icon Juice Glass Tumbler ($22) Summer is for iced coffee, and Anthropologie has seasonally inspired tumblers that bring sunshine to your coffee station. The 18.2-ounce cup is crafted using hand-pressed glass beads and handblown glass, and the bamboo lid and stainless steel straw make it suitable for your on-the-go iced coffee needs. Try it in designs of cherries, strawberries, oranges or bees to complement the Williams Sonoma honeycomb set. Anthropologie anthropologie.com @anthropologie Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! 📝Katie Hughes #CoffeeCorner #SimplyBuckhead #HomeBarista #CoffeeAesthetic

A “SUPERSTAR” IS BORN Valeka Jessica expects Launchpad to lift her solo show to new heights. Actress/playwright Valeka Jessica’s ex-husband planted the seeds of her success when he walked out in 2019. She learned about the break upon Facebook when returning from London, where she was working on a one-woman show about the couple’s fertility struggles, Did You Take Your Clomid? Through 10 years of marriage, “I was pouring more into my husband’s dreams than I was my own,” Jessica says. “When we finally divorced, all of the things that I had ever wanted just started coming to me.” She bought a Ford Mustang convertible. Her credit score jumped 200 points. She moved from Macon to Atlanta. She wrote a self-help book, Blossoming After Divorce: 11 Tips to Manifest the Goddess Within. Her flourishing continues with a new version of her solo show, now titled I’m a Mother F—- Superstar, at Theatrical Outfit’s Launchpad 2.0: A “Made in Atlanta” Festival on July 17, 19, 24 and 26. “It’s not about hating him, being mad at him,” Jessica says about her ex-husband. “But what can I do to heal myself so that I can move on and be a better woman?” She plays eight characters, ranging from her ex-husband to a raspy voiced truth-teller named Keysha whom she developed over two years of open-mic standup comedy after taking a class at Dad’s Garage. “Keysha’s the one character that people have met, and they love her,” Jessica says. “They love her more than Valeka.” Now 43, the D.C. native built a stage career in her hometown after earning an MFA across the country at the University of Washington. Trying to save money for invitro fertilization, Jessica and her husband moved to Macon, where her dad lived. She also made theater connections in Atlanta... Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! 📝Michael Jacobs theatricaloutfit.org/launchpad #ValekaJessica #LaunchpadFestival #AtlantaTheater #SoloShow #SimplyBuckhead

A RETURN TO REFINEMENT The city’s only Ritz-Carlton remains loyal to its history! I can’t remember the last time I visited The Ritz-Carlton, Atlanta. While I wasn’t paying attention, the 25-story property continued to draw guests to the downtown corner of Peachtree and Ellis streets that it’s anchored since 1984. Although it’s undergone periodic renovations, including the latest three years ago, it has maintained its luxury status and standing as the only Ritz in the city, within a short stroll of downtown attractions. I was glad to see some favorites I recalled were still in place. At the top of the list is the AG, Modern Bar and Steakhouse that morphed from the once-named Atlanta Grill. The walls are dotted with historic black-and-white images of the city’s past, while the dining area is dominated by plush plaid banquettes with backs high enough to hide the people on the other side. Those in need of more privacy can slide into the curtained privacy booth that, at one time, regularly made the AJC’s gossip column for the celebrities who hid behind it. AG is also home to one of downtown’s landmarks: a veranda perched over the Peachtree sidewalk. When the weather cooperates, it is one of the city’s best spots for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, dessert or drinks. For those in need of a java jolt, an outpost of the Athens-based Jittery Joe’s coffee in the quietly relaxed lobby is ideal for grabbing a Nutella cappuccino or honey bee latte. A full bar and comfortable banquettes make it an inviting spot for guests and walk-ins alike to catch up on work or meet with friends... Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! 📝H.M. Cauley THE RITZ-CARLTON, ATLANTA 404.659.0400 ritzcarlton.com @RitzCarlton #RitzCarltonAtlanta #DowntownAtlanta #LuxuryTravel #SimplyBuckhead #AtlantaEats

CURE flags are on sale now! Join the fight against childhood cancer and remind every child that they never have to face cancer alone. ️ More than 17,000 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer this year. When you purchase a CURE flag, you're helping fund innovative research and support efforts that bring better treatments to children battling cancer. Be part of the movement and help make a difference, one flag at a time. Visit cureflags.org to get your flag today! 💛 @CUREchildcancer

FIZZ WITH FINESSE Seasonal spritzes for patio sipping! Vibrant orange and bittersweet, the Aperol Spritz is the darling of patio season, but the world of effervescence is wider than a single citrus bitter shade. Atlanta’s best patios and bars are leaning into the breezy botanical cool of the Hugo Spritz and other fruity and floral-forward cousins. The Aperol Spritz gets all the attention as a bubbly, balanced and lower alcohol aperitivo created for sipping alongside nibbles or before a meal. But we’re increasingly seeing the Hugo Spritz in the hands of savvy sippers. The Tess’ rooftop restaurant, Tesserae, has sweeping, panoramic city views to pair with craft cocktails. The Rooftop Spritz is softly alcoholic, balanced and bright with St. Germain, Cocchi Americano, Fever-Tree soda and prosecco. Wine-based aperitif Cocchi Americano is flavored with a secret combination of aromatics including quinine and a smack of grapefruit rind’s bitter edge, blending nicely with honey and florals of the elderflower liqueur. The goal is easy for a successful aperitif hour: under string lights with a spritz in hand and settle in for breezy botanicals and bubbles... Read more in the latest issue of @SimplyBuckhead out now! 📝Angela Hansberger TESSERAE tesseraeatlanta.com #SpritzSeason #PatioSipping #AtlantaCocktails #SimplyBuckhead #AperitivoTime @englishanj

BLUE JEAN BALL None of the 350 attendees of the 14th Annual Atlanta Police Foundation’s Blue Jean Ball were surprised when a SWAT team showed up. The highly-trained crew was on hand to raise funds and awareness for the tactical gear that protects officers on the job. Held at the Buckhead home of David and Maureen Cote, the mid-May gathering gave guests the chance to meet SWAT officers and hear first-hand about the need for the safety equipment. The evening also featured music from The Fabulous Equinox Orchestra, dancing, a smoked bourbon bar, live and paddle- raise auctions, and culinary treats from bison to wild shrimp prepared by Pricci’s Chef Piero Premoli and Chef Vagn Nielsen of Proof of the Pudding. Approximately $1.6 million was raised, and Simply Buckhead was the media sponsor. 📝 H.M. Cauley 📸Blake Bodden, Joshua Spruiel, Jared Winston #BlueJeanBall #AtlantaPoliceFoundation #BuckheadEvents #SimplyBuckhead #CommunitySupport

END GAME A pair of bookends can reinforce the subtle announcement that you’re a literary lover. Cheeky and playful or intentionally designed, bookends provide more than just a way to group coffee table books, non-fiction hardbacks and well-worn paperbacks together. If you’re looking for an exclamation point for a shelf or table, check out these options. Jonathan Adler Horse Bookends ($450) Jonathan Adler is adored for his sense of fun that extends to his well-known bookend collection. Trot out this set of horse bookends in an equestrian-themed room or use them for a traditional juxtaposition to a more modern one. The L-shaped polished nickel bases support screen-printed acrylic stallions finished in silver tones. Bloomingdale’s Lenox Square 404.495.2800 bloomingdales.com @bloomingdales 📝 Lauren Finney Harden #Bookends #HomeDecor #JonathanAdler #SimplyBuckhead #InteriorStyling