The class is held in the Piedmont Park Community Center from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm and is followed by a half hour of practice to show off what you learned.

If you’re a newcomer – don’t worry! In this Tango class you can work at your own level and still have loads of fun with your partner!

Guys – you can make it an unforgettable first date with that special someone you’ve been trying to woo. Or if you’re a seasoned married couple you can put some spice back into your weekend with this legendary dancing style. Wikipedia even suggests that Tango makes people feel more relaxed, sexier, and less depressed.

So what are you waiting for? Dance on down to the park and get your Tango on!

Here are some reasons that may sway you to the wonderful world of condo living.

It’s true – location is everything! With a premier location in the living room of Atlanta between the arts of Midtown and the business district and shops of Buckhead, you’ll find yourself surrounded by the city’s finest cultural venues, stores, and restaurants.

Relax – little to no maintenance. Forget spending your weekends doing the lawn, cleaning out the gutters, and puttering around trying to organize your garage. Here’s what you can look forward to with your Homeowner’s Association membership (at The Astoria):

• Basic cable
• Keypad monitored security systems
• Common area maintenance
• Landscaping maintenance and seasonal care
• Pool care
• Fitness center
• Trash removal
• 24-hour Concierge
• Pest control – interior and exterior
• Exterior window washing
• Hazard and liability insurance

Yes – you can afford it! Not only can you live in a highly desirable area of the city without paying the ridiculous price you would for a single-family home, but you will also save big bucks on your utilities! Residents have reported paying 30% of what they paid in their former homes.

Some other great benefits include breathtaking views from your new home, unmatched security services, community and neighbor events, and unbeatable, luxurious amenities, including a guest suite!

Go on – make that appointment with an agent at The Astoria before they’re completely sold out. You know we’ve got you a little curious!

Voted one of the top five farmer’s markets in Atlanta, shoppers have direct access to local farmers and merchants because of the great partnership between the City of Atlanta Parks, Recreation and Bureau of Cultural Affairs, and Piedmont Park Conservancy’s Program.

You can find out what’s fresh at the market by signing up for the Green Market weekly newsletter here.

Why Shop at the Green Market

Freshest Food. Farmers pick the produce the day before market to offer optimum freshness.

Eat in Season. The best health gurus always say to eat in season. At the Green Market you will learn the harvest seasons along with new recipes and cooking tips to cook in season as well.

Support. Shopping local always helps to stimulate the local economy.

Value. Lower prices on local foods and a truly local, naturally grown selection add value to your family’s mealtimes.

Let us know your favorite local foods and fresh recipes by commenting below or sharing on our Facebook page!

Keep It Contained

Well-built container gardens will serve as the anchors of a patio or balcony garden–they’re the stars of the whole blossoming show. Most gardening experts will tell you to use three main components to create your container garden: thrillers, fillers, and spillers. Thrillers are the main attraction–the tallest and generally most colorful part of the arrangement. Fillers are medium-height plants that support the structure of the garden. Spillers cascade naturally and dramatically over the side of the container. All three harmonize into a unique and lovely garden customized just for you. You can find more in-depth guidance for container gardening at HGTV.com.

On the Level

Putting plants at many different levels is crucial for an organic, eye-pleasing patio or balcony garden area. A row of potted plants is pretty boring and uninspired, but strategically set a few pots on the concrete as grounding focal points, with smaller delights on tabletops of varying sizes and heights, and voila! Gardening glory!

Edible Beauty

In addition to being a feast for the eyes, a patio or balcony garden can be a treat for the taste buds. You can plant the perfect herb garden to the specifications of the chef of the house, along with some edible blooms, such as marigolds (more yummy flowers here).

Happy planting!

There are a few basic rules of thumb to stick to when practicing pairing:

Keep like with like. A delicate, simple meal deserves a light-tasting wine, and boldly flavored foods go best with a strong-tasting glass.

Stay simple. If you’ve selected a wine that’s really special, don’t detract from it with an attention-getting dish. Choose a more “supportive” supper.

Find the common link. Whether it’s a smokiness, acidity, or texture, find an element shared by both the food and the wine. They will harmonize beautifully!

The Fresh Market offers more fabulous advice for putting food and wine together, including choosing a wine you actually like. No matter how great the pairing is in theory, you probably won’t enjoy it unless you enjoy the wine by itself.

Have fun experimenting with different food and wine complements, and let us know about your favorite discoveries!

The meat eater of our couple chose the seven-course chef’s tasting, while the veggie lover selected the chef’s special vegetable tasting. The meal started off with hand-crafted cocktails featuring high-end bourbon, pine liquor, and a few other tasty ingredients. The first of many gifts from the kitchen arrived in a those tall shot glass: Prosseco with pureed pear and whipped buttermilk. It was smooth and wonderful and got our appetites going. Next, the chef sent out a spoon of salmon tartar topped with crispy leeks, accompanied by a glass of Sake, and a chocolate cannelle with sturgeon caviar. Brioche from next door H&F Bread Co. was served with salted butter. Heavenly.  The third (yes, third!) gift from the kitchen was a perfectly coddled egg with clotted cream, sorghum, chives, and truffles.

First course of the chef’s tasting: two raw oysters sitting on warm sunchoke with Georgia sturgeon caviar. The veggie first course: a farm egg on chestnuts, chanterelle puree, shitake chips, whipped garlic scape syrup, and nasturtium (it’s a flower, we had to look it up).

Second course of the chef’s tasting: torchon au foie gras with verjus (made from grapes after they have been juiced for wine) sorbet, foie gras powder, chestnut puree, and sweet potato bread. Second course of vegetable tasting: benne flour dumplings with benne tuile, wild mushrooms, heritage peas, baby carrots, and shaved apple.

Third course of the chef’s tasting: smoked snapper and lobster on a curried lobster sauce. Vegetable third course: skillet Belgium endive with curried raisin puree, lettuce cream (very cool), toasted chardoman, and chili ghee.

Fourth course: lacquered duck in an orange coffee reduction and sweet potato dauphine. Veggie fourth course: roasted acorn squash with baby fennel, tomato jam, celeriac puree, pain au levain, and bay leaf ghee.

Fifth course: milk braised rabbit with turnips, baby carrots, melted leeks, and rabbit confit stuffed pasta in a rabbit consommé. Veggies: pickled beets, dragon carrots, nero tondo radish, watermelon radish, sweet potato, onion, sunchokes, and jellied buttermilk.

The cheese course was next, featuring epoisses fondue with peanut brittle, biscotti for dipping and red wine jam (think wine Twizzlers!).

Finally, dessert: Ellijay apple pate with yogurt streusel and mousse, and a fresh pear with sour cherry caramel on a green tea shortcake. For a nostalgic twist, it was topped with with house-made green tea pop rocks, ending the meal with a bang — or at least a pop!

The evening’s culinary journey seemed to mirror the twists and turns and delicious delights of the decade being marked. Life is an adventure — occasionally, a meal should be one too!

Q: How long have you been training for and running in marathons?

A: I have been running (on and off) most of my adult life. This was the second marathon I’ve run. The first one was the Atlanta Marathon 11 years ago. I started training for the ING Miami Marathon in early September 2011.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who sets running a marathon as a goal?

A: Remember that you run a marathon one mile at a time. Don’t let the 26.2-mile distance discourage you. Follow a training program. Read about training for a marathon to learn the adjustments that you need to make (to running, nutrition, gear, etc.) to prepare for the race.

Q: How do you stay fit and healthy?

A: I run five times a week and do strength training twice a week. I eat about six small, well-balanced meals every day to keep my metabolism going.  I avoid eating anything fried and drink very little alcohol, especially during the 18-week pre-marathon training program that I follow.

Q: What are some ways The Astoria at The Aramore makes staying fit easier for residents?

A: The amenities are great for active people: a state-of-the-art health club, yoga room, large rectangular pool, and hot spa, which is great to soothe your muscles after a nice workout. The Astoria is also in a great location for runners, joggers, or walkers. From The Astoria you can head north or west through the beautiful streets of Buckhead, or south towards Midtown, Piedmont Park, Atlantic Station, and downtown.  You can also take advantage of the nearby 2½ miles of the beltline that runs along Bobby Jones Golf Course. The Astoria is also located in the heart of the route for the Peachtree Road Race. I live in Buckhead and always find myself running in front of The Astoria, whether doing 5 miles, or one of the long 18- or 20- mile runs a few weeks before the race.

How do you stay healthy? What are your fitness goals? Share your tips, ideas and goals with us!

Francois Meaux presented a reading from his Blue Weeds stories. Meaux is a storyteller, psychologist, and writer. He is currently completing work on Blue Weeds, a coming of age journey through the rich, dark French Cajun world of South Louisiana. Excerpts from his book have been heard at Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta, The Wholeness Project in Amelia Island, Fla. and on The Voice of the Arts 1690 AM.

Laura Hope-Gill offered poetry readings from her book, The Soul Tree. Hope-Gill is the author of three books: The Soul Tree, Look Up Asheville: A Journey Through Architecture and its forthcoming sequel. For her poems in The Soul Tree she was named the first poet laureate of the Blue Ridge Parkway. In 2008 the North Carolina Arts Council recognized her creative nonfiction about going deaf by awarding her an NCArts Fellowship. She directs Asheville Wordfest, a multicultural poetry festival, and lives in Asheville with her daughter.

Tom Key presented a short theatrical excerpt from Red. Key is the Executive Artistic Director of Theatrical Outfit in Atlanta. For three decades he has been in demand across the country, performing at such venues as the Lambs Theatre in New York and the Kennedy Center in Washington. In collaboration with Harry Chapin, he co-authored the off-Broadway musical hit, Cotton Patch Gospel. He is currently starring in Red at the Balzar Theatre in Atlanta.

In addition, Beverly Key and Gail Foster offered a gallery showing of their fine artwork.

Visit our Facebook page to see photos from the evening.

Just like at 5-star destination hotels, there is a heated pool, jacuzzi, state-of-the-art fitness area and concierge service, all available around the clock. There’s also a club room where you can lounge and have drinks with friends over a game of poker or lively late-night conversation. For zen zoning out, there’s more than an acre of permanent green space, a dedicated pet walking area, an outdoor fireplace and cabana-style seating on the beautifully landscaped terrace overlooking the city.

Fine dining restaurants and upscale boutiques are just downstairs and within walking distance. The Astoria is centrally located between the high-end shopping district of Buckhead, the arts district of Midtown and the business district of downtown Atlanta. With beautiful city views and a short commute for those days you do have to go into work, it provides a luxurious oasis right in the middle of the city.

The Astoria at Aramore makes it possible to live every day like you’re on vacation–and in these economic times, the less distance you have to travel to enjoy life in the lap of luxury, the better.

• Frankie Allen Park, located off Pharr Road, features multiple tennis courts open for public use. There is plenty of parking, and the park is also on a MARTA bus route. Areas of Frankie Allen Park are pet friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friend along for a jog.

• Part of Buckhead’s greenspace initiative, Pinnacle Park sits right on the corner of Lenox and Peachtree roads. It’s located at the entry of Buckhead’s Pinnacle building and has beautiful water features, sculpture and a walking path.

• Sunnybrook Park is a little patch of peacefulness tucked away from the bustle of the surrounding city. A creek runs through it, and at nearly three acres it provides plenty of space for jogging, a game of Frisbee or just hanging out.

What’s your favorite place to spend time outdoors in Atlanta? Share it here or on our Facebook page!