hopes & dreams: market time

It's that time again- Market Week! Today kicks off our Atlanta Fall Gift & Home Furnishings Market together with the Atlanta Gourmet Market + The October Atlanta Apparel.
Now that's a mouth full! Basically, we are hosting two markets at once. And yes, the event load is also twice as big.

Some of what I will be up to this weekend:

Chef Hugh Acheson from Bravo's Top Chef and Top Chef Masters will be in our demo kitchen whipping up some southern favorites! Can't wait to sample! His restaurant, Empire State South, is where I hosted Josh's 30th Birthday party and the little bit of food that I did have was FANTASTIC!

Plus Chef Hugh will be promoting, selling and signing his brand new cookbook, A New Turn in the South! We are launching it first, so our attendees have the opportunity to get it before you can buy it! Excited!

To cater to our Apparel customers and Bridal buyers- we have brought in Ms Harmony Walton, CEO of The Bridal Bar

The Bridal Bar is based in LA and San Diego and is basically a concierge service for brides when they are planning their weddings.

You know I'll be at this event listening intently!!!

Our largest event, and the one we are most excited for, is our keynote luncheon, Southern Charmed. The panelists are just fantastic and represent some of the best of the best in the gourmet, apparel and interior design business and bonus- they all love the South! Since we do too, we have brought them together to talk about what makes the South the place to be to grow your business.

Sponsored by the wonderful:

Atlanta magazine!

Panelists Include:

Sid & Ann Mashburn

First they are a PRECIOUS married couple! (Hopes & Dreams) Second, they have killer style and run lovely shops in Midtown (White Provisions area)

Totally way too cute! I die for her hot pink lipstick that she says she "never leaves home without!" She is the epitome of chic.

Hubby isn't too shabby either! I am yet to meet him, but I hear you can't get much more hospitable than Mr. Mashburn. His shop is the men's fashion mecca of Atlanta and his personal style is spot-on!

Chef Linton Hopkins joins us on the panel as well

Delish! Dying to eat at Restaurant Eugene and I do believe that Josh owes me a date there since we had to cancel our Valentine's dinner that was to be held there. (car wreck...blah)

To represent my favorite industry, interior design, we have Mr. Robert (Bob) Brown!

Check out some of his work:

You know I love those colors and curtains!

{Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles}

{Traditional Home}

Great architecture and the furniture does such a perfect job of complimenting it!

{House Beautiful}

We have two {really 3...} facilitators to host this event:

The BEARINGS boys! Actually their names are Jeremy Blume and Rob Forrester and they are the founders and masterminds behind the site which is "A Southern Lifestyle Guide for Men." But I gotta tell you, I have a feeling their female readership is pretty high- this is THE way to learn about the South- what's new, what's hot, what to do, how to dress and way more.

The beautiful Amy Flurry is our other facilitator. Now this little lady {who is actually tall enough to be a supermodel!} is super talented and smart. Not only does she come from the gorgeous world of fashion magazines {BEYOND jealous!} where she was a style editor and contributing editor for Lucky, InStyle, House Beautiful- I would go on but my skin is literally turning green; but! She also creates these....

Are you serious?!?!? Crazy amazing! This is Paper-Cut Project. Wigs made of hand-cut paper. I don't tell lies people, I only share what is awesome in this world. And this. Is. Awesome.

The Paper-Cut Project got its start at Jeffrey's in Phipps Plaza and then dominated the fashion world by being featured in top window fronts in NYC and on mannequins and live models for Hermes, Cartier, Kate Spade (!!!!) and more. So fun!

That is Southern Charmed!

Oh- we will also get our fill of: