Italy part 2 - Pitigliano & Montepulciano

So the pics of the villa are coming, but you can see the places we visited in the slide shows below. First is a picture we took on our last evening in the villa; notice how Kai has turned into a ghost.

Restaurant of the Week

I have worked across from the new W Hotel since it was more than just a letter, and I was as excited to try the restaurant as I was to walk back and forth (and back and forth) in from the of the interactive digital wall at the entrance. Spice Market, the restaurant on the second floor of the über-chic hotel, provided me a meal that was as attractive and tasteful as the décor. I joined some friends (both old and new) for dinner at Spice Market on Wednesday, and sat down to a magical wine glass that never seemed to be empty. We started with what I assume was everything on the menu - Shrimp Tod Mon Pla, Chili-rubbed Beef Skewers and - my favorite - Spiced Chicken Samosas (pictured, center left). If you haven't had a samosa, this might be the place to break the streak.

Our salad was a salad (though it wasn't bad) - bring on the meat! I'll start with my favorite - Char grilled Chicken with Kumquat Lemongrass dressing. I joked on the radio today that I thought they were funny tasting tomatoes, but after your waiter pours the wine like mine, you might mistake them yourself. Anything cooked with kumquats has a special place on my list. This was delicious and just tart enough. We also tasted the Red Curried Duck. Curries are different based on the region, and you can find more information about them here. All you need to know was this one was good. I had to avoid the pea side dish because of my allergies, but the ginger friend rice was a nice substitution.

I wish I could say I passed on dessert, but I didn't. I even took home some of the cookies for the next day to help me enjoy cleaning. I was pleasantly surprised that Ovaltine could be combined with bananas and spiced milk chocolate. I believe my sentiments were best summed up by, "More Ovaltine, please!" The Thai Jewels and Fruit (pictured, right, bottom) was interesting and not to miss. It is crushed coconut ice, mango, passion fruit and palm seed.

Spice Market is the perfect spot for a date - the atmosphere, service and food are all top notch. You will need to plan ahead if you are on a budget, but it is worth the spend.

With Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's permission, I share these recipes here. Notice my favorite, Char grilled Chicken with Kumquat Lemongrass, is there. Enjoy!

Spice Market
188 14th Street (in the W Hotel)
404.549.5450
www.spicemarketatlanta.com

What's Going On?

Friday, Month, 2008 – Thursday, Month, 2008
Coming out with Hot Gay Joe

Think you know what is hot in Atlanta? Have a favorite restaurant for me to try? Submit it here (http://tinyurl.com/HotGayJoe) or send me an e-mail (hotgayjoe@gmail.com) and let me know about your upcoming event or favorite restaurant

The Color Purple

• The Fox Theatre
• July 15 - August 3 evening and matinee shows
• $29.50 - $67.50
• The national Broadway tour that debuted at the Alliance Theatre in 2004
• Based on Alice Walker's inspiring novel
• 404.252.8960
• www.foxtheatre.org

National Black Arts Festival Artists' market

• Georgia World Congress center
• July 24 - 27 (see site for times)
• COST
• Find great artists from around the world; wood, ceramic, jewelry and more
• Just one of many events taking place this week, visit the site for more
• www.nbaf.org

Where in the World is Hot Gay Joe?
Joining Hearts 21

• Atlanta Civic Center Plaza
• Saturday, July 26, 4:00 - 11:00pm
• P$50 in advance, $60 at the door (Tax deductible donation)
• Join DJ Ronald Belmares and you closest friends to dance your way to help Atlantans living with HIV/AIDS
• www.joininghearts.org

Where in the World is Hot Gay Joe?
Out & About @ Shout

• Shout in Midtown
• Sunday, July 27 4:00 - 7:00pm
• $5.00 donation at the door, benefits For The Kis in All of Us
• $5.00 Finlandia drinks, free t-shirts (while the last) and your frined onthe coolest patio in town
• www.forthekid.org

Need to Know - FREE Museums

• First weekend of every month
• Anyone who has ANY Bank of America card
• More than 70 museums across the country (three in Atlanta)
• Fernmank, Atlanta Histiry Center, Botanical Gardens
• http://promotions.bankofamerica.com/museums

Under the Bigtop; You're the Ringmaster

• Imagine It! The Children's Museum of Atlanta
• Now through September 14
• $11.00 for all 2 and up
• Circus fun and healthy eating, rolled into one
• Clown boot camp every Monday @ 2:00
• 404.659.KIDS (5437)
• www.imagineit-cma.org

Lawrenceville Ghost Tours

• Begins at the Aurora Theatre
• Friday & Saturdays @ 8:30 pm through September 27
• $12.00 for adults, $9.00 for the kids
• More than 200 years in the making, lean about the paranormal city of Lawrenceville
• 678.226.6222
• www.auroratheatre.com

Restaurant of the Week – Spice Market

• 188 14th Street (in the W Hotel)
• Talk about an entrance - from the lobby of the hotel
• Some of my favorites: the samosas with cilantro yogurt, chicken with kimquat lemongrass dressing and port satay
• Family style dining and a 20-minute, Bento box lunch.
• 404.549.5450
• www.spicemarketatlanta.com
  

Movies Under The Stars

This Saturday @ 9:00 pm Star 94 is coming to your neighborhood with FREE Movies on Saturday nights this summer! Movies start at sundown, around 8:30pm. This time will change as the sun sets later. It's Star 94's Movies Under the Stars. We'll bring our giant 40-foot screen to a park near you. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs, a picnic basket and your kids for Nim's Island at Taylor Farm Park in Powder Springs. More info @ www.Star94.com.

Italy part 1 - Roma

So they are finally here - the pictures from Italy. We had so much fun in Rome running around in our dirty clothes because Air France failed to transfer our luggage in CDG, but that wasn't going to stop us! We saw most of the timportant sites in one day - arriving early that morning and returning to our hotel after midnight. We stumbled onto the Pantheon by accident - what a surprise. Another nice surprise was the buzz we both got off just one vodka and Schweppes Bitter Lemon.

Below are the photos from our first day, including a panoramic that was assembled with Hugin and loaded with Panoye. You can also follow our adventures with the map below.








View Larger Map

Thank you for being a friend

Estelle Getty, the youngest of the four Golden Girls, died this morning. Growing up and watching the sexy single seniors in Miami, I couldn't help but wonder if my future included sholder pads and sequins. Head over to Towleroad for a nice tribute and some clips of Estelle at her best.

I'm back (sort of)

I know I am late posting pictures, but the Italian Interwebs weren't as available (or fast) as I had hoped. Pictures will be coming soon. Check back later this week for the best of Italy. In the mean time, there are some great events coming up that I will have up later this week. I am also visiting Spice Market this week for a review, so be sure to check back for the low down.

Movies Under The Stars

This Saturday @ 9:00 pm Star 94 is coming to your neighborhood with FREE Movies on Saturday nights this summer! Movies start at sundown, around 8:30pm. This time will change as the sun sets later. It's Star 94's Movies Under the Stars. We'll bring our giant 40-foot screen to a park near you. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs, a picnic basket and your kids at Town Green in Duluth. More info @ www.Star94.com.

Movies Under The Stars

This Saturday @ 9:00 pm Star 94 is coming to your neighborhood with FREE Movies on Saturday nights this summer! Movies start at sundown, around 8:30pm. This time will change as the sun sets later. It's Star 94's Movies Under the Stars. We'll bring our giant 40-foot screen to a park near you. Bring your blanket, lawn chairs, a picnic basket and your kids at Suwanee Town Center in Suwanee. More info @ www.Star94.com.

Italia

I know the posts have been a bit infrequent this week, but I have been planning a trip to Italy! I am headed there this Friday with the family for nine days. If they have the Interwebs there, I'll be sure to post plenty. If not, you will have to wait until I return. Cindy & Ray will have to manage without me for a few weeks.

Doubly Proud

This weekend the US celebrates its 232nd birthday and the (Atlanta) GLBT community celebrates its 37th (ish) annual pride. That means I'm double proud this weekend. Much like the beginnings of our country, the gay rights movement started with a few, dedicated activists who wouldn't tolerate unfair treatment from those in charge. For our founding fathers, the tyrant was the United Kingdon; for the early gay and lesbain movement it was the United States (the very country founded on the belief that "all men are created equal."). July 4th and Pride are both a time for us to reflect on the past and just how far we have come. It is also a time to look to the future and see just how far we have to go - both as a country and an individual minority within that country. This weekend as you watch the rainbow colors explode in the sky, spend a minute thinking about how proud you are to be an American, and much more pride you will feel when all her citizens are equal.

Stepping off my soapbox.

Let's party! This weekend will provide you with numerous options from parades, to artsts, celebrations, music and, of course, festival food! Check back tomorrow for Hot Gay Joe's Pride Picks - my list of the must-do events this weekend.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife