Woodstock, GA July 2023

For the Love of Magazines

As I write this Editor's Letter, I encounter one of those aha moments in life. Pen and paper in hand, I reflect on how my journey has led me to be your editor of Woodstock City Lifestyle. Highlights Kids' publication marked the beginning of my love for magazines. Every month I could not wait to read the articles and find the hidden pictures with my little brother.

As a teenager, my mom would let me grab the latest issues of Teen Vogue, InStyle  and Seventeen off the grocery store aisle. I would recreate magazine layouts with my favorite pictures and word clippings. I was excited to discover trends and develop my style based on the fashion forecast. This tradition marked the passing of time and the changing of the seasons. There was something special about flipping through the pages of gorgeous pictures, discovering something new and folding dog-eared pages to note my favorite finds.

Needless to say, writing and editing became a more serious artistic endeavor. As a graduate student, I chose to study lifestyle and feature writing; I geeked out over analyzing the intricacies of texts and print layouts in hopes that I would someday be an editor for a magazine.

Now, I am happy to introduce myself as your editor. I view this magazine as a threaded connection to our locals, and I am excited to be the one to provide the final touches to Woodstock's new lifestyle magazine.

There are new surprises to love in these pages, from our  Artist Spotlight section featuring music sensation Sasha Hurtado to our  Locals

Only section featuring our very own Mayor Michael Caldwell. As you flip through this issue, I hope you admire the beautiful images, discover something new about our beloved Woodstock and dog-ear pages to note as your favorite finds. May the stories, topics and perspectives bring joy to your lives and beauty to your coffee tables.

Send me a note and say hello, I'd love to hear your story!

July 2023

PUBLISHER

Marco Rossi | marco.rossi@citylifestyle.com

EDITOR

Savanna Jaggears

savanna.jaggears@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Savanna Jaggears

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Gregory Jaggears

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Kathy Nguyen

Proverbs 3:5-6

city scene

Where neighbors can see and be seen.

Want to be seen in the magazine?

Tag your Instagram photos with @woodstockcitylifestyle

business monthly

A round-up of exciting news from local businesses.

Cassie Fuchs, Southeast Mortgage

The lender you need to know is Cassie Fuchs, AVP Executive Loan Officer with Southeast Mortgage. Today's market can be tricky, and you need a lender with expertise backed by a local company with a solid 30-year history of closing loans across all program types. With 17 years of experience and a strong commitment to communication, Cassie should be your choice the next time you need to purchase or refinance!

Scan to read more.

Amanda Hall Injury Law Firm

Amanda does what she is passionate about and what she believes is her purpose;  helping others. When you're unexpectedly hurt due to the negligence of another, there is enough on your plate between being in pain and dealing with unexpected medical treatments or bills. At Amanda Hall Injury Firm, clients are more like family; they listen, help and genuinely care. Amanda does not just assist with legal problems but develops relationships to positively impacts lives.

Scan to read more.

AlignLife

AlignLife celebrates their grand opening! AlignLife of Woodstock is a chiropractic and natural health center. Since 1999, it’s been AlignLife’s mission to help every man, woman and child to live a life of health and vitality. Dr. Taylor, Ryan and Paige have done an amazing job creating a quality chiropractic service for our community! Congratulations AlignLife!

Scan to read more.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Woodstock

Sublime Swimming

DIVE INTO THE ART OF POOL DESIGN WITH JONATHAN AND BIANCA, OWNERS OF PALMSET POOLS

ARTICLE BY SAVANNA JAGGEARS | PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREGORY JAGGEARS

Jonathan and Bianca, owners of PalmSet Pools, are all about outdoor living. Imagine long, leisurely swims in a swimming pool created for your family's specific needs. At PalmSet Pools, they are experts in working closely with clients to build dream backyards. By taking the time up front to understand every need, clients can have peace of mind knowing their investment will be everything they envisioned. "Sometimes clients will sketch what they are visualizing for their space; I love when they do that because I can take their ideas and bring them to life," says Bianca.

These ideas are brought to life using state-ofthe-art custom computer-assisted design (CAD) technology. This feature lets clients see the pool transposed in their backyard with 2D and 3D architectural renderings.

Jonathan and Bianca are not just focused on constructing pools; they desire to artistically transform backyards. "We really offer a full-package deal from providing hardscape to adding fireplaces, fire pits, pergolas, water features or outdoor living spaces, even landscaping ties it all together at the very end,” says Biance.

From concept to completion, none of this is possible without the hard work of everyone involved. Bianca says, “Our team of various workers and subcontractors takes great pride in their work, and we have them to thank for providing quality results for our clients." In addition, Lyon Financial is proud to partner with PalmSet Pools to help make your backyard dreams come true. PalmSet Pools provide expertise in creating custom swimming pools that become beautiful, jewel-like centerpieces for any backyard.

What is your Favorite Activity or Local Spot in Woodstock?

We asked members of our community to answer this question. Here is what they had to say.

“My favorite thing to do in Woodstock is visit Dupree Park with my family. I’m a father of three, and Dupree has a lot to offer, from shooting ball with my son on the basketball court to pushing my girls on the swings at the playground. Sitting by the lake with my wife, enjoying the fresh air, is one of our favorite past times. I love the endless trails. It’s truly a hidden gem in Woodstock.”

“I love taking out-of-town guests on a my very own Towne-Lake-to-Woodstock tour along the Greenprints trail and finishing with a glass of wine at the Reeves Gallery downtown.”

“Grabbing dinner at Prime, TEN Sushi or Century House, listening to live music under the stars with Woodstock Arts and enjoying after-concert drinks at Reformation Brewery or Rootstock make for the perfect night in Woodstock!”

“My favorite in Woodstock is the Farm Fresh Market, a staple in my Saturday morning routine for almost 7 years. As the area and market have grown tremendously, those Saturday mornings still feel very warm and local.”

“My favorite is Century House. It is my and my husband’s go-to for a date night. We love the atmosphere, cocktails and seasonal menu. You can’t beat sitting out on the patio when the weather is nice.”

ART FROM MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES

A COLLECTION OF CONVERSATIONS WITH CREATIVES

Mindy Johnson and Kristy Johnson

Sisters and Co-founders of Beyond the Spotlight Dance Studio.

DESCRIBE YOUR LOVE FOR DANCE.

MINDY: I can’t describe my love of dance in only one way. Dance is where I can be myself, and as a shy person, I love it! Expression through movement instead of speaking my story is more natural because it is structure mixed with freedom and creativity. My love of dance has morphed into helping my students find their reason to love dance.

WHERE DO YOU GLEAN INSPIRATION FOR CHOREOGRAPHY?

MINDY: My inspiration comes from our community, my mentors, and in various ways. Sometimes I’ll get an idea from a song and hold onto that idea until I find the right dancers to match. My favorite is when I am watching students during class, and a spark of an idea will come from something they do or say. My students are my biggest inspiration.

For more information visit BTSDanceStudio.com

Season ‘22 Contestant on The Voice

SHARE YOUR MUSIC JOURNEY AND HOW IT LED YOU TO THE VOICE.

I have been singing forever; it’s always been a part of my life in one way or another. My parents noticed I could match pitch well for my age so they put me in vocal lessons. Then, I started singing in front of people at church. Music became more significant to my life as a teenager, and I realized I wanted to do this for a living. So, I learned to play guitar and landed gigs.

I started auditioning for The Voice when I was 13 and got multiple callbacks throughout my teenage years. I tried out for  American Idol and didn’t make it far but it was an incredible experience. Auditioning started that determination and I finally accomplished my dream and made it on The Voice when I was 18.

WHERE DO YOU GLEAN INSPIRATION FOR SONGWRITING?

My biggest inspiration is worship music, though I also sing secular music. I get inspired by listening to other artists and personal experiences. I can hear a piece of music from a favorite artists, and I will like how they worded the lyrics or produced the melody. It sparks inspiration and gets me in a creative mindset. Anything from relationships to life experiences, going through life is how I gain inspiration.  Purchase tickets at  SashaHurtadoMusic.com to see Sasha Hurtado Live!

SHARE YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS.

It all begins on the beach. People ask, “Do you ever set up your paints and paint on the beach?” And it’s such a fleeting experience watching a sunrise that I don’t want to waste time painting, I would rather just soak it in and take videos or photographs that I later paint.

The process of painting is a spiritual experience. Standing on the beach, watching sunrise and thinking about the ever-moving water. You know, man tries to control everything when really he can control so little. The movement of the sea, the changing light and the weather are the greatest. An analogy of how humble we should be.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU TO PAINT?

The need to relive experiences. I’m a sunrise person; that love of sunrise goes back to my childhood, and later, when I dropped out of school, I worked on fishing boats. You have to be out on the water before dawn when working on a fishing boat, and nothing is like being cold out on the water as the sun comes up and you feel those first warm rays. It’s astounding. The sea holds many personal experiences that inspire me.

To learn more about Simon’s Latest Seascapes visit ViningsGallery.com & Curate30A.com

“The process of painting is a spiritual experience. Standing on the beach, watching sunrise and thinking about the ever-moving water.”

Simon Kenevan

Rootstock Restaurant & Bar

Rooted Moments, Sean & Anna Daily Share Their Knowledge of Gourmet Food & Fine Beverages

Tapas and wine may have been ahead of the times for Woodstock in 2017, but that did not stop Sean and Anna Daily from pursuing what felt like a missing piece to downtown Woodstock. Rootstock and Vine, now known as Rootstock Restaurant and Bar, was established to offer gourmet food and fine beverages to the Woodstock community.

original Woodstock post office; we renovated to expose the actual brick and rustic wood," says Anna. After expanding to include a second level with 360' rooftop views, their wine and tapas bar quickly evolved into a full restaurant serving quality dishes, all thanks to Chef AJ.

With high hopes to be more invested and involved in the growth of our community, Sean and Anna set out to create a novelty wine and tapas bar. In perfect timing, they acquired a piece of history to house their vision and bring their concept to life. "The building dates back to 1908 and is the

Chef AJ's forte is creating a menu that blends the familiar with out-of-the-box dishes. Her menu nudges guests to step out of their comfort zones and try new things. "Chef AJ is a genius in the kitchen; she dares people to push the boundaries on their palate. She knows exactly what dishes to add to the menu that

will complement our wine and whiskey selection," says Anna. A current favorite is the roasted octopus on a bed of hazelnut romesco with teardrop peppers. Anna explains, “The octopus is slowly roasted for 12 hours to attain a beautiful texture and tenderness, the perfect seafood dish."

An array of global wines and select whiskeys are paired perfectly with Chef AJ's refined menu. Anna says, "Our whiskey portfolio is unmatched in the area and geared towards the whiskey connoisseur, someone looking for a collection of some of the rarest. One can appreciate the wonders of whiskey through our selection."

Not only do their fine whiskeys satisfy, but their global wines will also awaken the senses of any wine enthusiast. When selecting their wine portfolio, they are very careful and specific in seeking passionate winemakers. "I am drawn to the story behind the family wine business. If he or she is passionate and took a chance to buy a vineyard or is up at 3 a.m. to pick

All for the love of local gourmet, global wines, select whiskeys, sensual dinners and date nights, Sean and Anna aim to provide quality dining experiences for their beloved Woodstock community.

grapes due to weather conditions, that parallels with our passion for Rootstock. That sincerity and love for what they create is a deep connection for us and the label,” says Anna. Whether you desire a robust red wine that will stand up to any steak or a crisp white wine that pairs well with a light charcuterie board, Rootstock Bar and Restaurant offers that variety.

CITY LIFESTYLE

Summer Bucket List

Welcome, summer! As a hyper-local publication, we thrive on helping our readers make connections with the cities they live in, the businesses that make up their communities and the inspiring individuals making a positive mark. Are you ready for your most adventurous, fun summer? Here are summer bucket list ideas for you to accomplish this year. We hope you’ll explore a new neighborhood, spend a lazy Saturday afternoon at a new winery or taste the flavors at a local ice cream shop. Let us know what you discover and enjoy! We’d love to hear.

KIDS

Make the most of this Summer! Check off these activities on our Kids Summer Bucket List as you complete them throughout the summer. P.S. You might need an adult’s help with some of these! Make

Pick

Explore a New Local Park Go

Do a Random Act of Kindness for a Stranger

Write a Kind Note to a Friend

Ride a Rollercoaster

Visit a Carnival

Go to the Library

Summer is finally here. Take advantage of the season with our Adult Summer Bucket List. Check off these activities as you complete them with your family and friends and congratulate yourself on a Summer well-spent!

EXPLORE A NEW AREA OF YOUR CITY

Bring joy back into the kitchen.

Bringing Joy

Back into the Kitchen

Chef Dennis Prescott Talks Falling in Love with Feeding People and the Connection Food Creates

Whether you know him from the Netflix hit Restaurants on the Edge or from his absolutely mouth-watering food photos as @dennistheprescott on the ‘gram, this former-musician turned internationally-renowned Chef is an amazingly talented, thoughtful, and globe-trotting force to be reckoned with. When it comes to inspiration for creating experiences around food and your community, as well as creating travel bucket lists to some of the world’s

most unique and delicious destinations off the beaten path, Chef ‘Dennis The Prescott’ is a culinary change maker whose feed you’ll want to feast on.

Originally an aspiring musician, Canadian-born Dennis Prescott’s journey began while in university with a single invitation from another solo musician who asked him to tour with him around the US. This eventually took him to Nashville where they began making records and pursuing their musical dreams.

In the midst of all of this eating take out, dollar menus, etc, had become a way of life for Dennis. A friend stressed that he needed to start taking care of himself, and the advice was simple: “You need to start eating better.” He knew his bad eating habits weren’t good for mind, body or spirit, but he didn’t know where to begin to make changes. However, Prescott thought to himself, “I KNOW good food because I have literally traveled all over America, all over Canada, and into Europe with my music, eating great food and learning what I like.”

“Find the things that you love. Take the stress out of food. Feed people because all they really care about is spending time with you.

The Start

Dennis went to a nearby library and borrowed three books only to have his friend ask why he chose those in particular. Dennis remembers saying verbatim, “I don’t know? The guy on the cover looks kinda good looking, and I feel like I could probably pull these recipes off, and he seems really happy too!” As it turned out they were three books by Jamie Oliver; it’s just that he had no idea who Jamie Oliver was at the time.

Flash forward and Dennis’ first dinner-hosting experiment was made up of twenty people from the music studio, all sitting in camping chairs with beer koozies and makeshift tables in his apartment.

“I remember at the time this moment of, okay, the food is on the table, it’s a stressful thing, and then everybody tucks in and they take their first bite, and there’s a moment of hush that kind of came over everyone; it got really quiet just for a second, and then everyone started talking and getting into it and I fell in love with food right there at that moment. I didn’t realize that you can create these beautiful experiential moments at the table in the same way that I did playing someone’s favorite love song. Knowing that that was a thing to me was the most fascinating thing in the world.”

Dennis even got to the point where he was cooking so much that he started to forget what recipes he had successfully made, so he began a photo journal and started taking photos of all his completed dishes. And so it began like it does for most; Dennis began posting food photos to Instagram for the next few years.

“All of that was initially with no agenda, no intentionality; I just loved it and I wanted to share. I fell in love with feeding people.”

Regarding social media, Dennis’s professional advice is to check your DMs. A person who worked at Food & Wine Magazine at the time sent him a DM, asking if he would do recipes for the magazine, which turned into writing a monthly column. That experience helped him land a cookbook deal, which led to a wealth of TV and media publicity and Dennis feels he owes a lot of his success to that first opportunity with Food & Wine Magazine. Oh, and did we mention he is a self-taught photographer who now does all of his own food shots? This guy has drive.

His drive and innate talents ultimately led him to the opportunity of a lifetime via another DM. This time, it was a Netflix executive producer who offered him the chance to work for two seasons on Restaurants on the Edge, a show where “three food and design experts travel the world to revive failing restaurants by connecting them to the local culture beyond their gorgeous views.“

What followed were 13 episodes over nine months where they traveled to and filmed restaurant revivals that included three in Canada, one in the continental US, one in Hawaii, and others outside of North America, including Hong Kong, Slovenia, Austria, Malta, St. Lucia and Finland.

If I can inspire more time as a community at the table, then that’s a win.”

Travel Recommendations for Foodies

“Slovenia borders Italy and Croatia, which is to say there are a lot of shared values in and around food; they have really great cheese, dairy, beef, pasta, but very few tourists, hardly any. So if you love Italy, that kind of specific travel and food experience, particularly Northern Italy, because you can see the Alps from where they are. It’s picture perfect, a beautiful place, and also where orange wine is from.”

Dennis also highly recommends Costa Rica, Hawaii and Finland.

“Most people love the idea of travel, but we tend to pick the same places when we travel, and there is nothing wrong with that, they are amazing for a reason, but when you get off the beaten path a little bit, you learn the difference between vacation and travel.”

One of the most common fears Dennis hears from people cooking and/or grilling at home is, ‘where do I start? I don’t know how to get going, so I just don’t.’

Rather than overcomplicating it, Dennis recommends cooking the things that bring you joy — things that are on a restaurant menu you can’t NOT order because you’re so pumped that those dishes are on there.

“Find the things that you love. Take the stress out of food. Feed people because all they really care about is spending time with you. Bring joy back into the kitchen.”

A sample of recently sold properties in Woodstock.

“Marco Rossi exemplifies true professionalism and attention to detail. Every step of the way he gave it 110% and made us feel at ease. He took the stress out of a usually stressful situation of getting your home ready to sell and have multiple showings per day. He was able to get our house multiple offers within the first week of it being listed for sale! He knew we were under a time crunch and followed accordingly. Listen to what he says in order to get your house show ready! We trust him with everything! We will definitely use him again if needed. We highly refer Marco to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home.”

You have ONE life to live. ONE chance to make it meaningful and ONE opportunity to live with no regrets. Take risks, be bold, seize the day and lead with respect. Your circumstances will change, people will change, you will change. Be open to it, embrace it, live it. Every ONE matters and every ONE has a voice.

events

A

curated selection of the most intriguing upcoming events in our area.

JULY 4TH

July 4th Spectacular

DOWNTOWN WOODSTOCK MAIN ST., WOODSTOCK, GA 30188 | 10:00 AM

The City of Woodstock is set to host its annual July 4th Spectacular. Celebrate Independence Day with a series of all-day,  FREE  events that includes a parade, festival and fireworks. For a detailed schedule of each event, visit Woodstock.RecDesk.com.

JULY 9TH

Book Signing with NY Times Best Selling Author Lisa See

FOXTALE BOOK SHOPPE 105 E MAIN ST., STE 138 WOODSTOCK, GA 30188 | 2:15 PM

FoxTale Book Shoppe will host New York Times Best Selling Author, Lisa See. Fans will appreciate a book signing and Q+A discussion on her latest publication, Lady Tan's Circle of Women, a historical novel inspired by the true story of a woman physician from 15th-century China—perfect for fans of See's classics. Check out FoxTaleBookShoppe.com for more information.

JULY 12TH-

JULY 30TH

Woodstock Arts Theatre Presents Matilda

WOODSTOCK ARTS THEATRE 8534 MAIN ST., WOODSTOCK, GA, 30188 | 10:00 AM

Escape from the everyday routine and enjoy a night at the theatre with friends and family. Woodstock Arts Theatre presents, Matilda, a play about little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers. Get your tickets at WoodstockArts.org.

JULY 15TH

Fondue and Flames with Cherokee Rose Candle Co.

MADE MERCANTILE 8636 MAIN ST., WOODSTOCK, GA 30188 | 7:00 PM

Candles are a great way to bring light and fragrance into a room, and making them yourself is fun with friends or as a date night activity. This class will teach the basics of candle making. Blend and pour your own 15oz three wick dough bowl candle. Chocolate fondue bites and wine will be served! To sign up, visit MadeMercantile.com.

JULY 22ND

Woodstock Art's Lantern Series Featuring Ian Sherwood

WOODSTOCK ARTS EVENT GREEN 113 ELM ST., WOODSTOCK, GA, 30188 | 7:30 PM

A night when pop and folk music collide. Add a little joy to your summer plans and attend the Woodstock Arts Lantern Series featuring Ian Sherwood. Guitar, saxophone, huge songwriting and a voice that won him a 2013 Canadian Folk Music Award for Contemporary Singer, Ian Sherwood will light up the stage. Ticket information at WoodstockArts.org.

JULY 23RD

Screen on the Green

WOODSTOCK ARTS EVENT GREEN 111 ELM ST., WOODSTOCK, GA | 3:00 PM

Join in on a free movie night! The Woodstock Arts Screen on the Green presents, The Mitchells vs.The Machines. Sit back and watch as a quirky, dysfunctional family’s road trip is upended when they find themselves in the middle of the robot apocalypse and suddenly become humanity’s unlikeliest last hope. Learn more at WoodstockArts.org.

Want to be featured?

Get in touch by heading over to our landing page to connect: CityLifestyle.com/Woodstock