Urban Oasis Bed and Breakfast

Old Fourth Ward Is Right Over The Tracks

judi — Wed, 26 May 2010 13:43:40 +0000

I just saw this review of the Old Fourth Ward in Yelp. Old Fourth Ward is the neighborhood on the other side of the tracks from The Urban Oasis. It is where Martin Luther King Historic District, the Edgewood Corridor and Auburn Avenue, where I have done a lot of building. In fact the Yelp Article mentions, Lotta Fruita which is one of my buildings. Here is the article but you can go to Yelp and check out the reviews.

While neighborhoods like Inman Park and Midtown have been cool for years, Old Fourth Ward is finally getting its day in the sun. All along Boulevard, Edgewood and Auburn new hot spots are opening on the regular, offering up a diverse array of food and fun. Whether you’re a virgin to the scene or a local superstar (like our very own Martin Luther King, Jr.), check out this edition of the Weekly for Yelp-approved spots in the O4W.

Nestled amongst the beautiful homes on Auburn Avenue, you’ll find local treasures like MLK’s birthplace and LottaFrutta. According to Sara C, the latter is “lottagooda: it feels like you’re in another city, like somewhere in Latin America or Miami.” Pizzeria Vesuvius‘ only problem “is being delicious. Sometimes too delicious,” reports Justin H, as he often finds he has control issues during the Sunday night all you can eat fest. And if you want to finish your night off right, head to Miso Izakaya for the macha brulée. Jennifer E proclaims, “Even if the rest of the food was made from dog hair and banana peels, I would be back just for that.”

Morning or night, there’s always something goin’ down at local fixture Danneman’s. Barry G takes advantage of the happenings, be it coffee in the AM or “salsa, yoga or artwork in the evenings.” Next door, Josh H takes advantage of lunch and dinner at The Edgewood Corner Tavern, which is “the bomb, like tick-tick” at any hour of the day. Support those less fortunate at Café 458, where 100% of the proceeds benefit Samaritan House. Gerald S encourages you to “give it a try, fill your belly, and help the homeless.”

Nightlife is on lock in this little neighborhood, so start your eve off right at 4th & Swift, where “they’re firing on all cylinders.” Robert S has become a regular, and recommends you do the same – “food, service and atmosphere are all at their pinnacle.” If dancing is your thing, Noni’s is your place. Deli by day, “hands down the best late night dance party” by night: Tara J has never had a bad time! Or try out the newest kid on the block, The Sound Table. Vanessa T swears she could hardly stay in her chair with the music and ‘riddims’ playing while she dined; “I think I have finally found a dance space deserving of my devotion.” Old Fourth Ward certainly deserves the love!

I’ve also got to mention my favorite restaurant, Serpas which is around the corner from us. Scott Serpas and his wife Dawn have done a great job on the decor in an old cotton warehouse as well as the food. They are from Louisiana and call their cuisine, “True Food”. Get some of their flash fried oysters for a little bit of heaven.

Then we also have to say Danneman’s coffee shop is the heart and soul of the neighborhood. If you want to know what is going on just head over to Danneman’s at the corner of Edgewood and Boulevard from 8-10 AM and you will meet and greet everyone you need to know to be in the know. My friend, Joe Stewardson who owns the building that houses Dannemans, Corner Tavern and Cafe Circa, says he just sits their like a grouper with his mouth open and takes it all in. I say he needs to run for Mayor next time around.

While you are cruising around the hood, check out the Wigwam Building, one of the hundred most important buildings in Atlanta. I restored it in 2004, and got a couple of historic restoration awards for saving it.

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Urban Oasis B and B gets a new Fountain in The Garden

judi — Sun, 09 May 2010 21:40:01 +0000

We are so happy to have our new fountain. Terry Bradshaw of Ground Artistry installed the patio and the fountain which he just completed today, Mother’s Day. I am thrilled. It is just perfect. It was a fun co-collaboration as Terry and I went all over the place in terms of what the design should be to go with such an unusual and eclectic garden. It had to be modern, but not too sleek, it had to have plants but now be rustic. It had to be great but not cost a fortune. And most of all it had to be easy to take care of and not leak. I think we ended up with just the right look.

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The Rainy Saturday Inman Park Festival 2010

judi — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:12:50 +0000

Last year glorious, this year we got drenched on Saturday. Vendors all zipped up and people walking around in raincoats and umbrellas. In the tradition of the “Show Must Go On” , it did rain or not. The parade was drenched but well and Inman Park Theatre Night fared better as the forecasted, “large hail and 30 mile an hour winds“ never showed up. The segments from our local neighborhood, Horizon Theater at the beginning and Dad’s Garage at the end of the evening stole the show.

Today, Sunday, is supposed to be 84 degrees and sunny. It is beautiful clear skies now. I hope that people turn out and make up for yesterday. The artists really look forward to this show, putting a lot of effort into building up their inventory. Let’s go out and support them!

Lady Banks Climbs 30 Feet into Adjacent Trees

judi — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:16:20 +0000

I have been waiting for this rose to bloom. For weeks I saw it climbing through the branches of the surrounding trees in a way that made it look like the tree had leafed out when it hadn’t. I was a bit worried when the rose started blooming profusely down near the base of the plant, that it was going to spend all of its energy blooming the bottom 10 feet but not at the top. But then, this weekend, it started blooming all the way up what must be 30 feet into the surrounding trees.

And right on the heels of this display the peonies are getting ready to bloom. With all of the water they got this year, the plants and buds are looking really good. I will report with a photo when they bloom!

For Food’s Sake: Secret Supper for 50 at the Urban Oasis

judi — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 22:38:03 +0000

Esther Andrew’s secret supper club, For Food’s Sake, held its April dinner here at Urban Oasis last night. The evening was beautiful and we had a dinner for fifty seated family style outside on the back landing. This five course meal was prepared to perfection by Chefs, Stephen Herman and Matt Swickerath of the Brookhaven restaurant, Haven.

Vegetables from Doug Dillard’s, Dillwood Farms were showcased and Doug praised the job, Master Gardener, Cindy Harris, is doing for him and for all of us who eat their produce.

Urban Oasis has our garden going growing five types of lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, kale and chard and squash. We really have worked hard to get the garden all mulched, the party lights up and the new patio poured by the time of this event. It is always great to have a deadline to make sure everything looks so good all at one time! Here are the photos I took.

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Add a visit to the Jeju Spa to your Weekend at The Urban Oasis

judi — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 18:27:36 +0000

A few weeks ago, a couple came up to stay here from Newnan, Georgia, only 30 miles away. They wanted a relaxing getaway from their normal routines of being an educator and a minister. They were planning on going to a movie on the evening of day two but changed their minds when we told them about JeJu, the Korean Spa we all love, and they saw someone else who was staying here come floating back from a visit there.

This weekend the first thing our guest, Judi from Tampa did on Friday night was go to JeJu. She took these pictures. The spa is actually about a 20 minute drive up 85 off of Pleasant Hill Road and is in the parking lot of Gwinnet Mall. Now, you have to understand when you live in Intown Atlanta, we hardly ever go OTP ( outside the perimeter of Interstate 275 which loops around Atlanta). So if we say something is worth the trip then it is really the cat’s pajamas. And JeJu is the cat’s pajama’s.

JeJu is open 24 hours. It cost $25.00 and you can stay as long as you want, even overnight. The spa is huge. It has wet areas with steam rooms saunas, various hot tubs, cold tubs and a massage/scrub room.

You can scrub yourself or for an additional $40.00 you can purchase a scrub alone or for a bit more, a scrub and massage. Now, I have tried both but to me you can’t beat the scrub and it is enough for me. They put you on a vinyl upholstered table and scrub you all over, at least three times till your skin is as smooth as a baby’s butt.

After you have had enough fun in the wet area, you put on your Korean pj’s that they give you and go to the coed are where there are heated mineral huts with heated marble floors covered in Tatami mats. You go lay in the various rooms and soak up the healing energy. Afterward, there is a Korean restaurant where you can get a bite to eat while sitting on floor mats at low tables. The whole experience is amazing. Five hours fly by and you are more relaxed than you have been since the last time you got out of Bikram Yoga. Definitely worth it!

Photos taken at The Urban Oasis Bed and Breakfast

judi — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:22:45 +0000

Hi Judi,

Sean and I very much enjoyed our stay last month at Urban Oasis. Thank you again for the hospitality and the fabulous recommendations for lunch and dinner. We had a great time visiting Atlanta!

Thought you might like some of the photos I took while at your place. Your cat was a moody model, but worth it, I love how this picture came out!

Enjoy!

Thanks again,

Patty

Prepping for an Atlanta Wedding at the Urban Oasis B and B

judi — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:17:30 +0000

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.

Memorial for Bernie Andrews

judi — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 22:29:24 +0000

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 and Mickey Tie the Knot

judi — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:41:07 +0000

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.