It was a great weekend for a wedding and the Urban Oasis is a wonderful spot for a wedding of less than 125 people. This video shows a behind the scenes look at some of the set up involved. I was just trying out the new video camera and so forgive the jumbly videography. If you would like to set up an appointment to visit this awesome event space just give me a  call  at 770-714-8618.

Today we had a memorial service for one of our dear friends and dog walker, Bernie Andrews. This is the third memorial service we’ve had at the Urban Oasis this year and it always seems to lift people’s spirits to be here with their friends and family to celebrate the life of one who has left this world. Here are some photos from the day.

Note the dog watching from the window above.

Craig was feeling very sad today.

Jackie wanted to have her wedding her but when her mom came to town to check out locations and Jackie told her she wanted to get married in a warehouse her mom didn’t seem very excited. The Urban Oasis was the last place they visited that day. When Jackie’s mom stepped inside she knew they had come to the right place. You see Jackie had been to many parties here and knew how wonderful it was. Well her mom got the vision. Jackie and Mickey got married here and her family stayed with us for the weekend. It was great.

Well, we tried to go to the Courthouse but everyone wanted to go with us. So instead we decided to get married Christmas Eve. It was fun and it was beautiful. Glad we did it this way.

It is wonderful having my sister Linda, staying with us. She is an amazing designer. Although I purchased the Christmas decorations on sale last year 75 percent off  after seeing last year’s Anthropologie store window. Linda executed the tree decor beautifully.

If you are interested in a Beach Vacation, our place, Southern Breeze Unit Number 4,  is a great place for a gulf beach vacation. It is decorated in retro modern beach, is right on the water and has the most comfortable bed you will ever sleep in. We think you will find everything that you need to make your vacation perfect. Navarre Properties is our property management and you can make reservations and check the availability on the reservation schedule on their website. If you scroll to the bottom of the following web page you will find the reservation calendar for our unit.
Here are some teasers and you can see more photos at Flickr.

[View with PicLens]

 

One bad thing about having a Bed and Breakfast is that I have to get up and fix breakfast for people. I really don’t mind too much except that I am pretty spoiled by Duane. Everyday that we don’t have guests, Duane gets up and makes my coffee and brings it to me in bed. I loll around in bed drinking my coffee and reading until about 8 AM ( I am not too much of a slouch). When we have guests I do get up and cook, but I have experimented with an alternative. My idea is to call this the Urban Oasis Bed and Chocolate Martini.  The thought would be that if I fix my guests a couple of Chocolate Martinis, ( my Mom’s recipe),  in the evening then they wouldn’t want to get up early and eat breakfast! Pretty good idea huh?

Urban Oasis Chocolate Martinis

Ingredients:
1/2 oz. Vodka
1 1/2 oz. Baileys Irish Cream
1/2 oz. Godiva Dark Chocolate Liqueur
Chocolate syrup

Directions:
Chill Martini glass by placing glasses in the freezer and let stand. Mix Baileys
Irish Cream, Vodka, and Godiva Chocolate Liqueur over ice in a shaker ( you can
actually make four drinks at once with a larger shaker. Shake well or until
frost develops on outside of metal shaker. Remove chilled Martini glasses from
the freezer. Drizzle chocolate syrup along the inside edges of the chilled
martini glass. Strain cocktail from shaker into chilled martini glass, enjoy.

The Urban Oasis at 130 A Krog Street is a 5,400 sq foot loft located in the Inman Park neighborhood, just one mile from Downtown Atlanta. We provide our guests at the Urban Oasis Bed and Breakfast with a different way to experience modern southern living in a loft right in the middle of this hip, vibrant city.

This 5 bedroom 4 bath loft has been featured in magazines and on television and has been the site of many photo shoots for print and TV. The proprietors Judi Knight and Duane Solem love to entertain and you will feel like a guest in their home. It is a perfect way to experience the city and to feel like you are visiting friends in town.

A last minute Luau over Thanksgiving weekend? Crazy? Yes but Crazy good. One week and an half before the date, goaded on by my sister Linda, I decided to have a birthday party on November 28th the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and I decided I would have a luau. This started when I noticed one of my favorite bands, Tongo Hiti was available that night. Once that was confirmed I set about inviting people through Facebook and one e-mail invite list.

Linda and I went to Sam’s Club and got three packages of chicken tenderloins ( 18 pounds) and four double packages of pork tenderloins. We found skewers for the chicken and drink umbrellas at Richard’s Variety Store. Linda brought home bunches of tropical flowers and made them into fantastic arrangements and I changed a recipe of Mai Tais from ounces to gallons.

We froze the chicken and thawed it the day before we needed it. It was still a bit frosty and easier to handle the morning of the party when I cut each of the tenderloin pieces into two and threaded them onto the skewers. My good friend Joe, whipped up a lime marinade and cooked them on the grill that morning. Here is his recipe:

Joey’s Fit to be Thai’d Satay Marinade

• 1 cup lime juice
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup stinky asian fish sauce
• 4 oz chopped garlic
• 4 oz grated fresh ginger
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 8 chopped serano chilies seeds and all..
• 2 bunches chopped green onions…

And Mai Tai in Memory of Charlie Knight

• (2) 1.75 liter bottles of Dark Rum
• (4) 1.75 liter bottles of Gold Rum
• (3) bottles of Roses Lime Juice
• (3) bottles of Orange Curasau
• (3) bottles of Orangeat Syrup
• (1 1/2) bottles of simple syrup

Mix together and garnish with cherries, pineapple and paper umbrellas.

Word of warning. Do not try to make peanut sauce from scratch. Just buy it at whole foods.

For a bit of entertaining eye candy, our 20 something daughters dressed in lava lavas and bikini tops that we sewed with fringe and they danced to the Tunes of Tongo Hiti. In face after a snoot full of Mai Tais, everyone danced.