Around Town: Hampton & Hudson
When I was first thinking about what to share in this space, I thought it would be fun to have you along on my adventures- I had visions of introducing you to my favorite spots in Atlanta and sharing new finds near and far.
But suddenly my world has gotten much smaller, as I’m sure you’re experiencing too. The extent of most “adventures” amounts to the loop I take around the neighborhood while walking my dog — same loop, multiple times a day.
Despite the inability to explore, I’ve suddenly found myself even more connected to our community than before. While I love my neighborhood for its fun restaurants and bars, I’m embarrassed to say that I’m the first to rush to a big-box store for groceries and often shop online. But with the shock of seeing consumers stay home, we’ve watched so many smaller businesses nearby struggle to support themselves. So, we’ve finally made an effort to turn inward and help small businesses! We’ve found ways to check off items on our grocery list nearby - buying bread from local bakery Proof, and fresh veggies from Freedom Farmer’s Market. It is little steps, and while we might be late to this way of thinking, it's a change that will affect how we shop and spend money long after things return to “normal”.
This Easter, we decided it was only right to support one of our favorite nearby restaurants. Hampton & Hudson is one of the only places that can appease everyone in my family — large screens playing multiple games, Aperol Spritzes (my drink of choice on a beautiful spring day), a lovely patio and dog friendly staff for my pup, Aggie. We miss it. But as new norms continued to shift, H&H was one of the first to jump into action with take-out options and a general store to help locals find items that were suddenly scarce. They pivited with each new recommendation to make us feel supported and add some sense of comfort, while working hard to keep their staff employed.
So this Easter Sunday I pulled out my fine china, put on real pants and used sample yardage of Crocodile linen fabric ( sneak peek below) to create a picnic on our front porch. The food did not disappoint - deviled eggs, ham, roasted brussell sprouts and potatoes au gratin. We even splurged on the mimosa special, two bottles of prosecco and oj to-go. The real icing on the cake - each order comes with a roll of toilet paper. Luxurious in these times.
