we visited the baps shiri swaminarayan temple mandir on our day off for milk day. we had only driven by before, but never gone inside, so we were quite impressed to see the beautiful building up close. it’s hard to believe such a temple is found right in the middle of suburban atlanta, in fact you see a shopping center across the street if you turn around. it took 17 months to build with 1.3 million volunteer hours involved, most from hand carved stone. the intricate stone work found throughout the outside and inside of the building was gorgeous.

the interior was just as impressive as the outside, although they don’t allow any photos. you’ll have to take our word and just visit sometime! it’s highly recommended.

besides checking out the temple, you can also get some delicious indian food while visiting!

– ryan & gub

baps shiri swaminarayan temple mandir

460 rockbridge road nw,
lilburn, ga 30047
678-906-2277

we spent a fun winter afternoon at the fernbank science center! we hadn’t been there in ages, but it was just as fun as i remembered. clementine found this awesome chunk of ice out back near the chickens did not want to leave it behind!

although the nature walk is no longer open, there’s still a lot to do at fernbank science center, plus it’s free. be sure to check our our previous posts here and here for more information about the center.

– ryan & gub

fernbank science center

156 heaton park dr.
atlanta, ga 30307
678-874-7113

we headed back to kinsey family farms this year for our annual cutting down of the christmas tree tradition! the kids had a blast, as expected.

– ryan & gub

kinsey family farms

7170 jot-em down road
gainesville, ga 30506
770-887-6028

i went and saw mineral last night at the masquerade in atlanta. they rocked it out for sure, i couldn’t believe they sounded so good after not touring since 1997! i still have vivid memories of seeing them play in tampa and gainesville, florida on their farewell tour with the get up kids and jejune.

although they definitely looked older, mineral’s music still held up and sounded amazing live. it was exciting to see them play songs from endserenading as well. they had broken up before the album was released in 1998 and did not play those songs live back in the day.

on a side note, hot water music played upstairs at the masquerade last night as well. i was able to check them out after mineral played. i don’t know much of their music after their first few albums though, so i didn’t stay too long. it still felt like a fun florida-hardcore evening seeing those two bands play!

– ryan

belle & sebastian played an amazing show last night at the tabernacle! i forgot how great they were live and how personable stuart murdoch was. they recently recorded their new album in atlanta, so stuart had a lot to say about the atl. that included discussing both the atlanta streetcar and beltline, as well bashing the braves for moving to the burbs, which was subsequently followed by piazza, new york catcher. classic!

their setlist was top notch! they played songs from pretty much every album and also hit a couple of their eps, with lots of old favorites and deep cuts in the mix. they also played a few new songs, including a dance track about sylvia plath that was great.

hopefully it doesn’t take them another 11 years to come back to atlanta!

– ryan & gub

setlist breakdown:

tigermilk
she’s losing it

if you’re feeling sinister
the stars of track and field
get me away from here, i’m dying
me and the major

lazy line painter jane ep
photo jenny

the boy with the arab strap
a summer wasting
the boy with the arab strap

legal man single
judy is a dick slap
legal man

dear catastrophe waitress
i’m a cuckoo
if she wants me
piazza, new york catcher

the life pursuit
funny little frog
we are the sleepyheads

belle and sebastian write about love
i didn’t see it coming

girls in peacetime want to dance
allie
perfect couples
enter sylvia plath

belle & sebastian are playing tonight at the the tabernacle, wahoo!!! we are big fans and it’s been 11 years since they played atlanta, so we are thrilled.

so far they’ve had some great looking set lists in miami and orlando, so i have high hopes for tonight. they’ve been playing plenty of old tunes for people like me!

there are tickets available, if interested. check out the rest of their tour dates.

– ryan

from the recent calligraphy exhibit at the hudgens center for the arts right now until 8pm called illuminated letters.

– gub

hudgens center for the arts

6400 sugarloaf parkway #300
duluth, ga 30097
770-623-6002

did you know lowe’s offers free clinics for kids where they get to learn and build things? sounds pretty cool! we signed grey and clementine up for the fire truck with ladder clinic this saturday, september 27th, where they will learn about fire safety and get to build a fire truck. according to the website, they will “build a wooden project and get a free apron, goggles, patch, and much more.” we will let you know how it goes, there’s a haunted house clinic in a few weeks if it goes well.

– ryan & gub

we had a ton of fun at japanfest 2014!!! besides the amazing totoro hat we found for grey, there were lots of things to do, see and eat. there were performances, workshops and plenty of other activities for both adults and children. the event took place in and around the gwinnett convention center in duluth.

grey and clementine had a blast fishing for balloons, having their fortune read and enjoying some japanese snacks! plus they got to create their own calligraphy at the hudgens center for the arts, where there was a coinciding exhibition of japanese calligraphy and paintings. we were also able to see some of the matsuriza performance, which was awesome! they are a japanese traditional taiko drum troupe known for their performances at epcot center.

there was also a section with lots of authentic japanese food as well as vendors selling everything from studio ghibli gear to traditional kimonos and origami. there were also various yamaha tractors, boats and what have you on display that the kids had fun playing with.

on a side note, we did see a handful of studio ghibli costumes, including: kiki, tombo and a catbus. clementine got a kick out of them! there were plenty of other anime cosplays that i did not recognize. lots of blue hair for sure, you gotta have blue hair.

we weren’t sure what to expect at japanfest, however we were definitely impressed and will head back next year!

– ryan & gub

japanfest

Saturday, Sept 20, 10am-6pm | Sunday, Sept 21, 10am-5pm

gwinnett convention center

6400 sugarloaf parkway
duluth, ga 30097
770-623-6002

hudgens center for the arts

6400 sugarloaf parkway #300
duluth, ga 30097
770-623-6002

there is a calligraphy performance event going on at hudgens center for the arts right now until 8pm called illuminated letters. this is rick paulus, former white house calligrapher.

– gub

hudgens center for the arts

6400 sugarloaf parkway #300
duluth, ga 30097
770-623-6002