Winter WONDERS
In our first-ever cozy compendium to winter, a bevy of the city’s ultimate insiders open up their little black books (and power up their iPhones) to reveal more than 100 of their favorite finds, secret sources and great getaways.
Where we’ll be shopping
I’ll be shopping at the Cathedral Antiques Show, and I’ll be shopping Smythson for my new diary. I’m one of the last people on earth who uses a book for an engagement calendar and diary. I always use Smythson, and I wait until after the year starts to get the sale prices. — Marcia Weber
You’ll find me at Bungalow Classic, Saks Fifth Avenue, Drew Lewis and Patagonia. — Jason Moattar
The Winter Antiques Show in New York City. — Robert Brown
Henhouse Antiques for their post-Christmas ornament sale, Olive Juice for children’s clothing, Ann Mashburn for my clothing and Gus Mayer for shoes. I also plan to visit the many wonderful antiques shops of Atlanta‚ including the Galleries of Peachtree Hills, ADAC and Miami Circle, as well as Magazine and Royal streets in New Orleans‚ King Street in Charleston, and New York, Los Angeles and Birmingham. — Tammy Connor
The new C. Wonder store in New York. — Jennifer Boles
For clothes, Neiman Marcus, J. Crew, BCBG. For jewelry, Saks, my friend Carolyn Tyler and Beth Ann Boutique. For men, H. Stockton, Saks, Bloomingdales. For friends, Scott Antique Market, Beverly Bremer Silver Shop, Paper
Affair. For children, Learning Express, Amazon, Gap Kids. — Sally Dorsey
Aviary at Studioplex for Julie Hewett’s camellia balm. — Courtney Barnes
Where we’ll go to be inspired
“Cecil Beaton: The New York Years” exhibit at the Museum of the City of New York. — Jennifer Boles
I’m actually inspired everywhere I go but I’m really looking forward to being inspired by the beauty of Tortolla. — Michelle Larrabee-Martin
I go to the Atlanta Botanical Garden to be inspired by all that grows so beautifully there. In winter, the conservatory is a magical place for someone in my business. Also, I love walking to the High Museum and returning home with images of the pictures and shows in my head. I always begin the year with a trip to these two wonderful Atlanta institutions. Art inspires me and January is a great time to look at art. I try to catch the new shows at all of the Atlanta galleries in January.
— Marcia Weber
Family trip to D.C. Love the architecture. — Robert Brown
In winter, I am always inspired by window shopping in New York City and the ski slopes of Utah. — Tammy Connor
I wish I were going to New York City, but not this year. I will be inspired by my favorite mags—Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, of course, and Vogue, Veranda and Architectural Digest. — Sally Dorsey
Focusing on artistry, craft, adventure and surprise, Hermès’ companion site “Travel the World of Hermès” transports me every time I surf over. (Hint: It’s not really about shopping.) In person, I’ll be thinking warm thoughts as I gaze upon Matisse’s “Periwinkles/Moroccan Garden” at the High. It’s just one of his works included in “Picasso to Warhol.” I also plan to visit the second floor of the new Sam Flax, taking in a bird’s-eye view of the paints, pencils, brushes and Taschen books. On an mild day you might find me in the peaceful garden at Studioplex.— Courtney Barnes
I’ll be at My home at Serenbe on the weekends and at Piedmont Park with my two French bulldogs, Baker and Frere. — Scott Touchstone
What we’ll be eating and drinking
Winter entertaining, to me, means hearty, one-pot dishes: Barefoot Contessa’s Boeuf Bourguignon and Lee Bailey’s Chicken Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust. Now that it’s cold, I can start drinking full-bodied red wines again. One of my new favorite reds is Swanson Vineyards merlot … and I’m usually not a fan of merlot! — Jennifer Boles
Sufi’s Kitchen, Grindhouse Burgers, Iberian Pig, Alfredo’s, and, of course, Starbucks! — Jason Moattar
What and where I’ll be eating and drinking…well, let’s hope it will be less of both! Seriously, I will be eating more winter greens from my gardens. I am determined to make my kale and collards taste good. — Marcia Weber
I love the atmosphere at Highland Tap, Sunday brunch at The Hil at Serenbe and Local Three, and, in New York, Bubby’s in Tribeca. — Scott Touchstone
I’m eating very healthy so I can have a good cocktail, and I’m switching to my winter gin, Old Raj. Also excited about Tomo at The Ritz Residences. — Robert Brown
Starbucks’ Gingerbread Latte is my favorite post-lunch treat on a cold day. And I especially love my Sicilian grandmother’s hearty spaghetti and meatball recipe in the winter! — Tammy Connor
I love Bistro Niko for lunch or dinner; Blue Ridge Grill for lunch; Twist for lunch, dinner or anytime; Noche Brookhaven for my Mexican fix; and Anis for lunch or dinner. I enjoy the ambience at the bars at The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead; the St. Regis, Atlanta; Bistro Niko and the new Southern Art at The InterContinental Hotel. They all make a mean club soda with cranberry and lime! — Sally Dorsey
Sampling the Aztec sipping chocolate at Cacao Poncey-Highland. — Courtney Barnes
Where we’ll be exploring
In mid-winter I like to explore the Morningside Farmers Market. Those farmers always inspire me with their produce and their tenacity to stick it out no matter what the weather. I’ll also be exploring vintage garden and architecture books. — Marcia Weber
Downtown Decatur and Cabbagetown—these areas have amazing restaurants and coffeehouses perfect for winter. — Jason Moattar
The trails at Serenbe and the great home shopping we have right here in Atlanta; from the antiques stores to the unique locally owned shops, there is a level of talent in Atlanta that is unparalleled. — Scott Touchstone
I love exploring central Mexico. There are amazing historical sites—colonial history‚ silver mines, churches, haciendas where the indigenous Indians lived and worked‚ pyramids, and museums housing artifacts of everyday life and worship. The altitude ranges from 6,500 feet in San Miguel to 7,500 feet in Mexico City. Weather there is beautiful most of the year, with cool nights (never below 32 degrees) and days in the low 80s or high 70s. Hiking and exploring is fabulous.
— Sally Dorsey
I explore the city all the time with our children. Our new favorite place to explore is the Beltline. Love it! — Michelle Larrabee-Martin
Here at home, I’ll be browsing Spotlight on Art (Trinity School Artist Market), Ann Mashburn and Anthropologie.— Courtney Barnes
Where we’ll be surfing (online)
The online collections portal of the Museum of the City of New York. — Jennifer Boles
I don’t take the time to surf the web, but I like to revisit, over and over, the site of The Connaught Hotel in London. What an elegant place to go for a daydream! — Marcia Weber
Gilt.com and bluefly.com. — Jason Moattar
Huffington Post and thingsthatinspire.net. There is so much local talent in the blogosphere that it is hard to pick just one. — Scott Touchstone
Bearingsguide.com—I love this hip practical guy’s guide to ATL and the South. — Robert Brown
I have been spending a lot of time on many of the blogs that inspired me to start my very own online journal. Velvet and Linen, All the Best, Things that Inspire, Cote de Texas and The Style Saloniste top the list. — Tammy Connor
What we’ll be reading
Some of My Lives by Rosamond Bernier, Sister Parish by Martin Wood and Madame de Pompadour by Nancy Mitford. — Jennifer Boles
I’m a newspaper junkie and I have added another to my list. It’s the Financial Times weekend edition. It keeps me reading all week long. Often times, I’ll reread it during the week. — Marcia Weber
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer and my monthly issues of Details and Motor Trend! — Jason Moattar
The New York Times and a great thriller, Close to Shore, an amazing story about man’s interaction with nature. — Scott Touchstone
The World of Madeleine Castaing, Charlotte Moss’ Winter House and The Allure of Chanel. And, hopefully, I will finally make a dent in the towering stack of design magazines on my bedside table. — Tammy Connor
The catalogue accompanying the “Dragons and Lotus Blossoms” exhibit at the Birmingham Museum of Art. — Courtney Barnes
Where we’ll be traveling
I’m going to Dallas to see the Jean-Paul Gaultier exhibit. And now that there are direct flights from Atlanta to Havana, I would love to figure out a way to travel legally to Cuba. — Jennifer Boles
To my house in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where the orange trees will be in bloom and filling the garden with their blossom perfume. The weather will be as sunny and warm as the people. If I’m lucky, I’ll get to Palm Beach. It sounds so old-fashioned, but Palm Beach is really a lovely town with wonderful food, beaches and gardens. I love the Brazilian Court Hotel, where the celebrity watching is quite good. — Marcia Weber
Highlands, NC, and Conchas Chitas in Old Town Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, over New Year’s. — Jason Moattar
Southern California for family, Dallas and Nashville to visit our other stores and Singapore to visit a friend who just moved there. And my favorite place on earth: Provincetown, MA. — Scott Touchstone
Beaver Creek. I’m not really a skier but my wife and friends love it. I’m all about the spa, a big fire and lots of bold wine. I’m also Taking a rendering class from Taian Wang; he is a genius teacher. — Robert Brown
To San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where we just finished renovating and furnishing a 300-year-old colonial house. They have a fabulous New Year’s celebration on the central plaza with live music, dancing and fireworks. — Sally Dorsey
This is my favorite time of year to travel. I love the cooler weather and the general good mood of everyone. Kansas, Nashville, south carolina, Tortolla, and High Point, NC, are all on the travel schedule for the next few months.
— Michelle Larrabee-Martin
I hope to visit the Birmingham Museum of Art to see a major exhibition opening January 22: “Dragons and Lotus Blossoms: Vietnamese Ceramics.” The BMA is an unexpected treasure trove of Asian art with one of the top three collections of Vietnamese ceramics in the U.S. — Courtney Barnes
Winter is typically my slow travel season, so I hope to visit my favorite chair beside the fire often. — Tammy Connor
About Our Tastemakers
Courtney Barnes authors the design blog StyleCourt.blogspot.com. Jennifer Boles is the founder of ThepeakofChic.com, a style blog. Robert Brown is an interior designer with an eponymous furniture collection available through Holland & Company. Tammy Connor is an interior designer based in Birmingham, Alabama, with clients in Atlanta, New York and across the United States. Sally Dorsey is a local designer and philanthropist. Michelle Larrabee-Martin is the co-owner of Kolo Collection. Jason Moattar is co-owner of Moattar, Ltd., purveyor of fine antique and contemporary rugs. Scott Touchstone is the co-owner of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Atlanta. Marcia Weber is the owner of Marcia Weber Gardens to Love and an avid arts supporter.