Growing up in a middle-class area of Buckhead I never had a handle on my family’s finances. We didn’t have a swimming pool and never went on glorious vacations, but I guess we were “comfortable.” Whatever that means. My dad did track expenses and I knew there was a budget somewhere, but I usually wasn’t exposed to too much of it. The only time I ever saw my parents fight about money was when dad found out about mom’s secret charge account at a dress shop at Lenox Square. She was always loose with cash and liked to have small bundles of it stashed all over the house. She believed “cash was king” and was therefore always handing out “outlet money” or “walking around money.” Even late in life she was always stuffing folding money in our pockets when dad looked the other way. She called it “quiet money.”
OK, so back to my dad and the budget. Every year or two he would come up with some wild idea that he was convinced would save money. I’m not sure where these ideas came from, but it might have been the Reader’s Digest which in those times was mandatory reading for every middle-class household. Every month we would look forward to our favorite recycled articles. There was “Points to Ponder.” “Quotable Quotes,” and “Increase Your Word Power.” There would always be at least one medical article along the line of “I Am Joe’s Kidney.” I’m betting the Digest was the source of dad’s money saving tips.
He became convinced we were spending way too much of the monthly budget on milk. That’s right, the excess consumption of milk was somehow threatening our very existence. His solution appeared one day when he came back from the local Kroger with two jumbo boxes of Carnation powdered milk. His working theory was that by mixing the granular concoction with ice water some type of alchemical process would occur that would fool our adolescent taste buds. He was wrong and within days mom decreed that “enough is enough.” Beaten but not defeated he retreated to his study to cook up another plan to keep the wolf from our door. Soon he emerged with a gleam in his eye, a skip in his step, and a plan he was only too happy to share with us. He announced that from now on he would be cutting the hair of my brother and myself. It was in the late 1950s and he became convinced that our family budget could no longer afford our trips to the barber shop every two weeks. I guess shelling out that $1.25 every few weeks was breaking the bank, so he came up with a solution. I remember him coming home from work one day with a green box. The box contained an electric clipper, combs, various attachments, oil for the blades, and a booklet entitled “Clip Your Way to Savings.”
The next Saturday we were marched out to the backyard of our house on Wieuca Terrace. We had no idea what was about to transpire, and thankfully bushes obscured the view of our neighbors so no witness would be able to testify as to the events that were about to unfold. Steve, my brother, was older and therefore chosen as the first guinea pig. A terry cloth towel was wrapped about his shoulders.
“Just like a real barber shop,” dad said.
Then the horror commenced. The plan was to “neaten up” Steve’s already short hair. In a spasmodic flurry of motion, the assault began. One side would be hacked at and then there would be a feeble attempt to match the other side. Sometimes dad’s hand would slip and a totally bald spot would suddenly appear. It was a terrible thing to witness and I averted my shocked gaze until the onslaught was over. Mom came out to check on the progress and immediately burst into tears. My brother looked like he had been attacked by a madman with a weed eater. Actually, that was not too far from the truth. Mom insisted that Steve needed immediate professional help to try and minimize the damage that had been done to his appearance.
I should have known dad had one more card up his sleeve. Back in those days, the late 1950s, there was a so-called “Barber College” just around the corner from the Ida Williams Library in Buckhead. The business model was simple. The “Dean” of the school scooped up all local unemployed and borderline personalities with a promise of a glorious career in hair care. These unwitting participants would pay $200 for the month-long course. That’s right, the owner got paid by both the barbers and the public. You could get a haircut for 25 cents from one of the junior barbers with less than 2 weeks experience. If you wanted to step up to someone with another week or two of chopping under their belt you had to shell out 50 cents. In one of the most generous actions I ever witnessed dad proudly placed 2 quarters on the counter and Steve was escorted to the inner sanctum where a dignified expert in hair art promptly removed Steve’s remaining hair. I’m sure my brother does not remember that day, it was simply too traumatic. For myself, I only wish I could forget.
Dad knew he had crossed the line of acceptable family behavior and penitence had to be paid. He took us over to the soda fountain at the Northside Pharmacy and told us we could order anything we wanted. You bet we did. Burgers, fries, onion rings and those chocolate milkshakes so thick your eyes would bulge when you tried to suck that vital fluid up the straw. I bet the whole feast set him back 7 or 8 bucks. Sweet revenge for us. That would have paid for months of haircuts.
Jim Tate
Author, Buckhead Tales
jimtate@charter.net
OpenTable, a world leader in restaurant reservation software, curates a list of America’s top 100 restaurants each year. The findings are generated by analyzing over 12 million reviews from more than 28,000 restaurants in all 50 states. “The 100 Best Restaurants in America list gives voice to OpenTable’s diner community by honoring the restaurants they love to visit and that consistently provide dining experiences that delight time and again,” said Caroline Potter, Chief Dining Officer at OpenTable, in a release on the OpenTable website.
This analysis is generated from diner reviews collected between November 1, 2017 and October 31, 2018, and an overall score paired with the quantity of reviews determines each restaurant’s placement on the list. The results also indicate the popularity of different genres, proving that American and Italian are the most popular cuisines followed by French, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Mediterranean, and Middle Eastern. The diversity of this year’s list indicates an increasing trend towards adventurous eats across the country.
Of all the rankings there are four restaurants in Buckhead that make this prestigious list – the only Georgia restaurants included and among very few other restaurants in the Southeast. See what OpenTable reviewers have to say about these world class restaurants that call Buckhead home.
Upscale hotel restaurant with artful and ever-evolving American cuisine crafted with fresh seasonal ingredients. The Tavern features chef-driven small plates and handmade cocktails. Emerald lacquered walls are adorned with original works by artists such as Chagall, Monet, Soutine, Picasso, and Foujita.
88 West Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
AtlasRestaurant.com | (404) 600-6471
“Simply the best, service was impeccable and food was divine, it doesn’t get better.”
“Incredible dining experience. Delicious Food. Impeccable service.”
“Absolute wonderful experience! Food and service were top notch. Had the best dinner experience. It was very special.”
A steakhouse institution, this classic club-style restaurant offers steaks, chops, seafood, and an acclaimed wine cellar. For the past 38 years Bones has been regarded as a cornerstone of steakhouses in Atlanta, its comprehensive menu and reputation earning the #1 Restaurant in Atlanta by Zagat Survey.
3130 Piedmont Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
BonesRestaurant.com | (404) 237-2663
“Wonderful experience with great service. Best Steak in Atlanta.”
“Bones exceeded all expectations. The service is amazing and you can understand why since so many mentioned they’d worked there for 10-15+.”
“One of my five favorite restaurants in the whole United States and I’m not kidding. Stayed a night in Atlanta while on a different trip, just to eat there.”
A mountain lodge in Buckhead? Yes, you heard that right. Blue Ridge Grill is a Buckhead treasure offering American cuisine with a menu that features fresh seafood, hickory-grilled steaks, and a focus on farm-to-table ingredients.
1261 West Paces Ferry Road Atlanta, GA 30327
BlueRidgeGrill.com | (404) 233-5030
“Excellent food, cozy and warm ambiance, excellent service. Definitely one of the best in Atlanta.”
“Consistently the best in Atlanta. Great menu and local resturant with great service, good and convenient to northern Atlanta.”
“Can’t say enough about Shari and the staff. Want to feel special while having one of the best meals in the ATL? Blue Ridge should be the go to. Thanks!”
Considered one of the top restaurants in the country, UMI boasts sophisticated Japanese fare and sushi in an airy and contemporary setting. Their comprehensive menu includes dishes such as Sashimi, Nigiri, Aburi, Sousaku Nigiri, Omakase, Traditional and Specialty Rolls.
3050 Peachtree Rd, Atlanta, GA 30305
UmiAtlanta.com | (404) 841-0040
“Unmatched service and cuisine. This is an experience that certainly lives up to the hype. Enjoyed every moment and dish.”“Never disappointed at UMI. Great sushi and the service is superb.”“Best sushi restaurant in Atlanta. Great cocktails and incredible food. Get the lobster tobanyaki!”
The spirit of Buckhead heads forward. This is the way it has been, and perhaps this is the way it will always be. The spirit of Buckhead points forward. You see it in the way we work, and you see it in the way we play. The reach is always extending further. The search is for excellence and beauty and grace and vibrancy.
We are a community of individuals. We are diverse, we are dynamic, and we are discerning. We are builders. We are connected to one another with a common bond. A common dream. A common quest. Pointing life in one direction. Forward.
