Belmont at Park Bridge Welcomes the Joys of June & Father’s Day, Works to Heighten Awareness of Alzheimer’s

June brings with it many joys, including Father’s Day and the summer solstice. It also provides the Belmont at Park Bridge upscale apartment home community in Alpharetta, Georgia, with an opportunity to join with others across the country in a show of support of Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month with purple ribbons and purple clothes. In fact, a google search about initiatives of the Alzheimer’s Association reveals that one of them—The Longest Day®—encourages people to “outshine the darkness” of Alzheimer’s disease with a fundraiser of their own choice in connection with the summer solstice, the day of the year with the most light. This year that will be Thursday, June 20. Understanding Alzheimer’s & Dementia Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. It is not considered a normal part of aging, but, rather, a progressive disease. There is no known cure. The Georgia Chapter of the association provides resources and support to all those impacted by the disease. Sharing Stories Sometimes personal stories can help us understand a medical condition that hasn’t affected us directly. The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ were deeply moved by the 2014 movie Still Alice. Starring Julianne Moore, who won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of a linguistics professor with a rare hereditary form of early-onset Alzheimer’s, it’s something you can watch in the privacy and comfort of your luxury apartment home. Another great option for Father’s Day—Sunday, June 16, 2024—is to provide him with the experience of a lifetime. Virgin Experience Gifts has something for every type of dad—foodie, gearhead, adventurer, golfer—you name it! Live, Local & Loud Something else fun to do to celebrate Dad, or the start of summer, would be to take advantage of some of the great live music at the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre at Encore Park. From the Dave Matthews Band on June 12 to Alanis Morisette with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts and Morgan Wade on June 22—with Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Musical Festival in between on June 21—there’s something for everyone! The U.S. Open Finally, it just wouldn’t be a good June blog without a mention of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, being played at No. 2 Pinehurst outside of Raleigh, North Carolina, June 13-16, 2024. It’s always a memorable experience, whether you attend or watch it with a group of friends at Taffer’s Tavern. Father’s Day Fun Sometimes socks just won’t cut it when it comes delighting Dad on his day. The Idea Specialists™ know that they can’t go wrong with the father figures in their lives by giving the gift of a good bourbon, and this year the Master of Malt blog has done a great list of the Top 10 everyone needs to try in 2024. Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Whisky is probably a safe bet, but they’re really intrigued by Heaven’s Door 10 Year Old Redbreast Master Blenders’ Edition Whiskey (it’s got a Bob Dylan connection!).
It’s National Pet Month, & Alpharetta’s Belmont at Park Bridge is Marking the Occasion!

Along with Mother’s Day, graduations, Movie Monday’s at Belmont, and Memorial Day, May marks the occasion of one of our favorite celebrations here at Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia. That’s right, it’s National Pet Month! We are definitely a pet-friendly upscale apartment home community, with nearby walking areas and pet stations throughout the property so that you and your furry friends are able to enjoy the outdoors together. Love Is A 4-Legged Word Our Idea Specialists™ consider cat hair to be a fashion accessory and never met a dog they didn’t like. Sot it was a real pleasure for them to spend a little time on the old Google looking for some fun ways to treat themselves and their fur babies. While on the search, they learned that National Pet Week is also a thing, always observed during the first full week of May. It’s sponsored by the Auxiliary to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine. Could the theme for 2024 be any better? It’s “Love is 4-legged word.” Hugs and pets all around!! And cookies, dog cookies, too! At Unexpected Pooch in Halcyon, where you also can get high-quality food and supplies for both canines and felines. Gifts For Grads & Moms While the traditional gift of cash to graduates might seem boring, it doesn’t have to be if you put it in a pop-up bouncing gift box filled with confetti. Fun!! The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ some moms themselves, think these packages from Spoonful of Comfort will help the strong feminine presence in your life have a “soup-er” Mother’s Day! (They also understand that you might just be tempted to treat yourself to of their yummy goodies to enjoy in your comfy clothes in the privacy of your own luxury apartment.) And, the Idea Specialist™ also found the perfect combo of pet love and a present for both your favorite moms and favorite grads in a custom watercolor painting on canvas. Just upload a photo of your four-legged friend and Texture of Dreams will do the rest! Flowers & Food After giving Mom some flowers (of course!), you can’t go wrong with taking her out for a special meal on her special day. Awesome Alpharetta has links to different events, shops, and restaurants with Mother’s Day offerings, and South City Kitchen at The Hotel Avalon is featuring a “Sparkling & Sweet Mother’s Day Brunch & Dinner.” Both seatings will include a take-home gift of boxed assorted macaroons. So yummy. So, so yummy, just like their hazelnut chocolate cake, which is one of the dessert selections. Make Memorial Day Memorable The Idea Specialists™ know it might seem a little early in the month to be planning your friends and family Memorial Day gathering by the gorgeous Belmont at Park Bridge resort-style pool or at one of our charming picnic areas, but advance planning is never a bad thing! Speaking of the pool—our team is working hard to have our pool open by Friday, May 24, so we can all enjoy it Memorial Day weekend! Stay tuned… This year, they’re for sure including grilled peach caprese salad on the menu, with the freshest of peaches and tomatoes from the Downtown Alpharetta Famers Market. There are lots of recipes out there for this spring and summer classic, but our group is particularly fond of this one at How Sweet Eats (and not just because food personality and cookbook author Jessica Merchant says glitter is her middle name, LOL). We’re also fond of a nice sangria by the pool, and Southern Living has a great piece on which wines to use for it. If you don’t already have a favorite way to make yours, check out this white sangria on Dinners, Dishes & Desserts. Honoring Their Memory Watching the National Memorial Day Concert, featuring the National Symphony Orchestra with guest performers, is an annual tradition for the Idea Specialists™. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Joint Chiefs of Staff also participate in the concert, offering their leadership perspective on the value and honor of military service and acknowledging the challenges that veterans and their families face. Always broadcast and streamed by PBS the Sunday night before Memorial Day, the concert honors our country’s veterans, servicemen and women, and military families, and all those who died in America’s wars. Its goal is to unite the country in remembrance and appreciation of those who gave their lives for our nation and serves those who are grieving through the mission put forward by Abraham Lincoln in his second inaugural address, “Let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation’s wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.”
MARCH IS NATIONAL READING MONTH & BELMONT AT PARK BRIDGE IS GETTING A LITTLE FREE LIBRARY

PLAN TO ATTEND THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY DEDICATION FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 2024, AT 2:30 P.M.! Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia, has some really fun and exciting news—we’re getting our very own Little Free Library! And it’s extra special to our community because it was hand-crafted by Octavio Camejo, one of our maintenance technicians, in his shop. Dedication During National Reading Month The timing for the 2:30 p.m. Friday, March 8, 2024, ribbon-cutting and dedication of our Little Free Library couldn’t be more perfect, because it’s happening during National Reading Month! An effort by the National Education Association (NEA), this is part of Read Across America, the nation’s largest ongoing celebration of reading. The program focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships, and reading resources that are about everyone, for everyone. Placing A Premium On Education Part of the reason our residents choose to live at Belmont at Park Bridge is because they place a premium on education, and our upscale apartment community is very close to excellent schools, including Ocee Elementary School, an easy five-minute drive at just a little over a mile away. Of course, reading is one of the very fundamentals of getting a good education. But did you know that there are also positive cognitive and emotional effects of reading on child development? According to the Child Mind Institute, studies have shown that it helps children develop language skills and amass “background knowledge,” build empathy, and learn how to manage challenging feelings. Free Book Sharing Belmont at Park Bridge decided to become the home of a Little Free Library because of its commitment to building a strong community, which is a goal it shares with the nonprofit. The global book-sharing movement got its start in 2009, and since then has expanded to include more than 175,000 libraries in 121 countries. It’s all about inspiring readers and expanding access to books! Why Does Book Access Matter? The United States is facing growing literacy crisis, with more than 30 million members of its adult population unable to read or write above a third-grade level. Studies have repeatedly shown that books in the hands of children have a meaningful impact on improving literacy. The more books in or near the home, the more likely a child will learn and love to read. But two out of three children living in poverty have no books to call their own. Little Free Library book-sharing boxes play an essential role by providing 24/7 access to books (and encouraging a love of reading!), especially in areas where books are scarce. How Does It Work? A Little Free Library is a free book-sharing box where anyone may take a book or share a book. It functions on the honor system. You do not need to share a book in order to take one. If you take a book or two from one, try to bring some to share to that same library, or another in your area, when you can. Registered little libraries have a primary caretaker, called a Little Free Library steward. The steward is usually the person who puts up the library. The steward takes care of basic maintenance like keeping the library clean and inviting, but it is up to everyone who uses the library to keep it stocked with good books. Encourage Reading! We can’t wait to see all the different kinds of books our community members will share through the Little Free Library! And we can’t wait to “get caught reading” by our kids! Children imitate what they see the adults around them do. So, when they see us with a magazine, newspaper, or novel, it tells them that reading is the cool thing to do. Some tips on encouraging reading: Keep books everywhere you spend time. Put them in the car, in every room of your apartment home, and tuck them in backpacks and purses. Make them easily accessible. Visit the library often (in addition to our new Little Free Library!). Knowing how to use the library and learning the benefits of a library fosters a love of reading as well as genuine respect for the services libraries provide. Read to your children. No matter their age, reading aloud strengthens their vocabulary and language skills. It also opens opportunities for discussion. Have your children read to you, too. You never know what you might learn! Mark Your Calendars! Again, the dedication of our special Little Free Library will be Friday, March 8, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. We picked the time to make sure that everybody’s kids would be home from school in time to attend, and it promises to be a fun family affair, complete with festive refreshments! So, mark your calendars and plan to join us then! Sonya Sandoval, Community Manager and the Team at Belmont Park Bridge
Love is in the Air at Belmont at Park Bridge!

Need some ideas about how to celebrate your Valentine/Galentine/Palentine this year? The Idea Specialists™ at Belmont at Park Bridge—one of Alpharetta, Georgia’s most picturesque and luxurious apartment home communities—are here with ideas that go above and beyond a box of chocolates! Bonbon Hugs & Cocktail Kisses Not that there’s anything wrong with a box of chocolates, especially if they’re those divine truffles from Kilwin’s at Halcyon! Which will be even better if you savor them at home in comfort with a special Valentine’s Day cocktail like Love Potion No. 9, a triple berry pomegranate martini with strawberry vodka and Chambord—and a little dry ice for magically romantic presentation. Another fun one to try might be the Clover Club, a pink drink that pre-dates Prohibition that was created as the signature sip of a group of high-powered businessmen who met at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel in Philadelphia in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The sweet and tart concoction combines grenadine, gin, and lemon, and the classic egg white foam gives each sip creamy body and frothy texture. And if you want to show that someone special in your life a little extra love, you could whisper sweet nothings in their ear while feeding them sweet somethings that you made yourself. Check out Delish for recipes for everything from cannoli bites to red velvet ice cream. Romantic Dining Oh, wait, did Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ just eat dessert first? They certainly did, LOL. But not to worry, they’ve got dinner covered, too, whether you want to eat in or go out on the town. One of the wonderful things about living at Belmont at Park Bridge is gourmet kitchens with enough counter space to make cooking a truly enjoyable experience. It’s Delish again with the win for recipe ideas for tempting and tasty romantic meals. The Idea Specialists™ are real fans of their creamy steak fettucine paired with a winter rainbow panzanella salad of colorful, roasted squash and beets tossed in a tang-sweet dressing with fresh herbs, grapefruit, blue cheese, and toasted sourdough. Pretty and satisfying! Somewhere Special Sometimes you just want to celebrate somewhere special. This year, the Idea Specialists™ are making reservations at Halcyon’s Ocean & Acre, where of course they’ll start with some oysters and bubbly! In addition to the classic menu—which celebrates both local farm communities and coastal cultures with signature smoked meats, seasonal produce, and shareable seafood dishes—the Valentine’s Day chef specials will include including an Alabama jumbo lump crab and avocado salad, pan-roasted halibut, braised short rib, and a white chocolate ricotta cheesecake. Yummy! A Delicious Date Night Looking for other ideas of ways to mark the occasion, especially if you have a conflict on February 14th? Then Date Night at Avalon every Monday through Thursday (excluding Valentine’s Day) might be just the thing for you and your sweetie! With multiple participating restaurants and complimentary valet parking, you can count on a festive experience that’s both easy and delicious!
CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY ALL SUMMER LONG AT BELMONT PARK BRIDGE—AND OUT & ABOUT IN ALPHARETTA, GEORGIA!

Celebrate summer poolside at Belmont Park Bridge—and out and about in Alpharetta, Georgia, where there’s always something fun to do! Lounge In Luxury Our upscale apartment community’s resort-style saltwater pool is one of the coolest things about living here (no pun intended, LOL!). Lounge in luxury while snacking on some fresh fruit you picked up at the Downtown Alpharetta Farmers Market and sipping on “the” cocktail of summer 2023, a Hugo Spritz. The refreshing drink is named after a boutique hotel in Florence, Italy, where it’s often used to welcome travelers when they arrive after a long day of hiking. With elderflower liqueur, usually St. Germain, as its signature, it’s an alternative to the more-common Aperol Spritz, which has its roots in nearby Padua. (You can pick up what you need for the recipe at Total Wine & More in Alpharetta’s North Point Market Center.) RECIPE FOR THE HUGO SPRITZ Ingredients Elderflower Liqueur (St. Germain) Sparkling Wine (Prosecco or Cava) Sparkling Water (or Club Soda) Mint (Leaves) Lime (Slices Directions To make one Hugo Spritz, start with a wine glass half full of ice. Pour in 1/2 ounce of elderflower liqueur. Top with 4 ounces of the sparkling wine, then finish with 1 ounce of sparkling water. Gently stir to combine. Taste a sip; add more sparkling water or wine to as desired. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and lime slices. Avalon Nights Live One way to enjoy yourself in town is to take advantage live music in the Plaza every Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Avalon Nights Live! Bring your tailgate chairs and blankets—and your family and friends so you can dance the night away! An event bar operates out of the back of Avalon’s Concierge; no coolers are permitted. Home By Dark And once again the beloved Home by Dark at Brooke Street Park Concert Series has returned to delight Belmont Park Bridge music lovers old and young. Plan to bring a blanket and picnic to enjoy a night of stories, songs, and inspiration you’ll never forget. Take Me Out To the Ballgame If you want to venture just a little farther afield, plan a drive down into the city to catch hometown homerun heroes the Atlanta Braves at play at Truist Park. Peanuts, Cracker Jack, draft beer, and a hotdog and some popcorn will make your outing complete!
OUSTANDING CHARACTER, EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE–OCEE IS THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR BELMONT AT PARK BRIDGE FAMILIES

One of the things that makes living at Belmont at Park Bridge great is its proximity to excellent schools, including Ocee Elementary School, an easy five-minute drive at just a little over a mile away. And families don’t have to make that drive every day if they don’t want to! Instead, most choose to take advantage of the bus service offered by the Fulton County Schools Transportation Department. Drivers are trained to operate safe, clean, and well-maintained school buses. Their mission is to deliver students safely to school on time and in a frame of mind ready to learn. Students are delivered to school under the dry bus awning, early enough to participate in the breakfast program, and will never be counted tardy regardless of arrival time! Rated in the top 10% of all schools in Georgia by Public School Review, Ocee places an emphasis on clear and concise expectations for students, which helps foster a fun yet focused learning environment. From hands-on science experiments to interactive math and reading exercises that incorporate current real-life examples—like learning to use a debit card—the teachers at Ocee are always looking for unique ways to engage their students. “Ocee Elementary School placed in the top 10% of all schools in Georgia for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 10%, and reading proficiency is top 10%) for the 2020-21 school year.” —Public School Review Ocee is an A-rated school on Niche in all categories—academics, diversity, and teachers. And with class sizes at an average 14:1 student to teacher ratio, the teachers are able to get to know the kids in their classes for the unique individuals they are. “Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be A Problem Solver” –The Ocee Way This is a school that understands parent participation in a child’s education is paramount, which is why it offers Ocee Parent Universities, lecture-style sessions hosted once a month that discuss topics relevant to parenting an engaged student. “Building Literacy Skills at Home” and “Supporting Your Virtual Learner” are just two examples. It also offers students and their families support with after-school programs like tutoring and YMCA, as well as a wide variety of vendor-provided activities: Art Discover Science Debate Chess Kids Yoga Ocee student groups include Chorus (fourth- and fifth-grade), Reading Bowl, and Reading Academy. The team at Belmont at Park Bridge knows that families considering where to live also want to review primary source data about the school their children will attend, which is why we want to make it easy for everyone to find the Georgia Schools Grade Report on Ocee, issued by the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement. The last one issued was for 2019; the state notes that for school years 2020 and 2021, various pandemic-related issues resulted in a lack of data for most metrics, which meant no grades were issued. We would love for you and your littles to call Belmont at Park Bridge home—and become proud Ocee Otters! We get so much enjoyment out of greeting the kids and hearing about their days when they get off the school bus, especially when we are having one of our ice cream socials for them. Call us at 770-762-2644 or email belmont@arlingtonproperties.net to schedule your tour and see for yourself everything our pet-friendly upscale apartment home community has to offer!
Looking for a New 1 Bedroom Apartment in the Heart of Alpharetta?

How about an apartment community with amenities like a brand-new fitness center, indoor racquetball court, resort-style pool with sun deck, two lighted tennis courts, and beautifully landscaped walkable spaces? Welcome to Belmont at Park Bridge, located at 150 Rockberry Lane, in the prestigious 30005 zip code, and our much sought-after 1-bedroom apartment home favorite, The Derby. Choosing The Derby floor plan offers residents reimagined living in a jewel of an apartment, a spacious open floor plan, ample closet space, and a private patio or balcony with outside storage. Add a wood-burning fireplace, gourmet kitchen with gas range, silver mist or black appliances, and a serving bar and dining room ideal for entertaining—and you have to ask–what more could you want? (High-speed Internet? We have that too!) There is one more thing—location, location, location. Located at the center of North Fulton’s prestigious business corridor, near John’s Creek, Avalon, and the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Belmont at Park Bridge offers the convenience you desire and the value you love–all at one location. There is one more thing—location, location, location. Located at the center of North Fulton County, Belmont Park Bridge enjoys it highly-rated and celebrated school system. In the heart of Alpharetta’s prestigious business corridor, near John’s Creek, Avalon, and the Ameris Bank Amphitheatre, Belmont at Park Bridge offers the convenience you desire and the value you love–all at one location.
It’s Almost Valentine’s Day and Belmont at Park Bridge is Feelin’ the Love!

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and the Idea Specialists™ at Belmont at Park Bridge—the premier name for affordable luxury apartments in Alpharetta, Georgia—are feelin’ the love! Whether you’re planning on celebrating solo, stepping out with your sweetheart, or picking out just the right gift for your pet, they’re here to help with links and tips, dates and times. The Languages Of Love One thing to keep in mind when planning on how to mark this February 14th romantic holiday is what “language” the person you care about speaks when it comes to the way want to be shown love. Pastor and counselor Gary Chapman first created this concept and wrote about it in The 5 Love Languages, which goes into details. The languages are: No. 1: Words of affirmation No. 2: Acts of service No. 3: Gifts No. 4: Quality time No: 5: Physical touch The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ found a great about love languages here: IDEAS.TED.COM Best Picks For Him & Her Maybe you’re already fluent in your partner’s language and know that they like the combo of presents with your presence. USA Today has compiled a 2023 Gift Guide with best picks for him and her and options running the gamut from personalized boxer shorts to wildly fun bath bombs. Looking for something a little more practical? Roost knows what works in gourmet apartment kitchens, and shares the skinny in 9 Space-Saving Kitchen Gadgets For Every Apartment. Why not go ahead and get yourself a Valentine’s Day gift, too? The Idea Specialists™ swear by the Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1. Puppy Love Belmont at Park Bridge is extremely pet-friendly, allowing residents to have up to two fur-babies per apartment and featuring pet stations throughout the community. So of course the Idea Specialists™ were delighted with this fun find at 1800-Flowers for your Fido—a squeaky plush toy bottle of “champawgne” and accompanying flute. For your feline bestie, they found a “purrrfect” catnip-laced pounce toy at nearby Hollywood Feed on McGinnis Ferry Road. An Evening Out If you want to enjoy an evening out, Alpharetta offers options! You can get together with your girlfriends for champagne flight specials and $5 sweetheart shots at Hobnob Neighborhood Tavern at Halcyon’s Galentine’s Party Saturday, February 11, 2023; the DJ will start at 8 p.m. Then, Hobnob will feature a Valentine’s Trivia competition Tuesday, February 14, 2023, at 7:30 p.m., complete with bonus prizes for couples. Publix Aprons® Cooking School at Alpharetta Commons is giving you two chances to participate in their Valentine’s Day Wine and Dine experience; Monday and Tuesday February 13 and February 14, 2023, both from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The demonstration class menu will include chorizo-stuffed calamari tubes, pan-roasted Porterhouse, chocolate ancho pot de crème, and, of course, wines to sample. For upscale restaurant ambiance, look no farther than Secreto Southern Kitchen & Bar on Winward Parkway, with its special three-course Valentine’s Day holiday menu, $75 per person. Starters include lamb lollipops and Oyster Rockerfeller; there’s pan-seared black cod with crawfish risotto as a main option; and it could prove quite difficult to choose when it comes to dessert, with red velvet brownie, warm buttermilk-glazed carrot cake, and tuxedo chocolate mousse cake all listed. 💕💕 ‘Belmonte’ at Park Bridge 💕💕 Did you know that Belmont comes from Belmonte? That’s “beautiful mountain” in Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian, and it’s been used as a proper name throughout the centuries to refer to a certain sort of inhabited terrain. And on that note, the Idea Specialists™ will say ciao!
Cuddle Up & Get Cozy in Your Belmont at Park Bridge Home

There’s no better time than the first month of the year with its cold and wet weather to cuddle up and get cozy in your Belmont at Park Bridge apartment home. And it’s also a great time to take advantage of traditional January white sales to score some fur-friendly linens for your luxurious bedrooms! Pet-Friendly Bedding The Alpharetta, Georgia, pet-loving community’s Idea Specialists™ are here with some guidance on dog-friendly (and cat-friendly!) bedding, but first, a little bit of historical trivia: A fellow by the name of John Wanamaker—of Philadelphia department store and U.S. Postmaster General fame—came up with the idea of selling bed linens at a discount during the slow sales month of the year way back in 1878. Sheets and such were available only in white then, thus the name “white sale.” Now of course you can get a luxe duvet cover in every color of the rainbow, with high thread count sheets to match. And that count is important, because a higher one means a tighter weave in the fabric, which translates into a lot less pet hair becoming embedded in the fabric! The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ love the feel and durability of Chateau Home Collection Egyptian cotton sateen weave sheets, which come in solids and stripes. They also love Rover, which has great reviews on other options. Cocktails & Mocktails By The Fire Talk about cozy: The perfect place to relax and enjoy a cocktail is in front of your modern apartment’s wood-burning fireplace, whether you’re enjoying time alone or sharing your space with your favorite human. Not sure what to sip on a cold Saturday evening? Not to worry! The Idea Specialists™ found 40 easy to prepare recipes at Liquor Laboratory. If none of those tickle your tastebuds, then craft a concoction of your own by following this simple three-part formula: Start with a primary spirit. Add an element of balance, something to contradict the core’s flavor and give your drink more depth. Finished with a dash of seasoning to enhance the core. The Idea Specialists™ also found this fun article on mocktails, which are perfect if you’re participating in “Dry January,” which began in 2012 as an initiative by Alcohol Change UK, a British charity, to “ditch the hangover, reduce the waistline and save some serious money by giving up alcohol for 31 days.” Comfort Food Cooking in your well-appointed kitchen is another great way to spend a winter’s evening. The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ found “23 Winter Comfort Food Recipes That Are Cozier Than A Fluffy Blanket” over at PureWow and can’t wait to work their way through the list, starting with Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe. Yum!
Feeling All Holiday Festive at Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia

The holiday season is in full force, and that has the Idea Specialists™ at luxury apartment community Belmont at Park Bridge in Alpharetta, Georgia, ready for festivities! Gift-Giving Fun Part of being party-ready means having a variety of gifts on hand, both for gracious hosts and games of Dirty Santa. You can pop down to The Ballog on Market Street and check out all their distinctive offerings from local, independent, and socially conscious artisans, like this lovely lavender Thistle Farms Room Spray crafted by women survivors—and, for your dog-loving friends, a Foggy Dog Squeaky Toy. (Of course the Idea Specialists™ had to mention that in particular because Belmont at Park Bridge is such a pet-friendly place!) Want something utterly silly for a down-and-dirty $10 and under gift exchange? How about this tin of bacon-themed bandages from the Accoutrements Store on Amazon? Yummy Goodness When you get home from the party and want to snuggle up by the fire and sample some seasonal goodies, what better way to indulge than with Hot Chocolate Eggnog? The Idea Specialists™ found an easy recipe for it on Food.com. And they found a nice bottle of Hennessy VS on the bar cart, perfect for that little extra kick. Don’t have a favorite non-alcoholic eggnog and aren’t up to making it from scratch this year? You can always rely on Southern Comfort, a New Orleans original. The company puts out two special seasonal products each year: Southern Comfort Egg Nog and Southern Comfort Vanilla Spice Egg Nog. Splash a little in your morning coffee for some extra yum! Ready To Ring In 2023? If you’re looking for a way to ring in the new year, Awesome Alpharetta once again does not disappoint when it comes to outings and events. Get yourself ready to dance the night away at Roaring Social, Alpharetta’s own speakeasy (“hidden” behind the respectable storefront of RoSo Clothiers on Milton Avenue). General admission for the evening is $150 and includes an open bar, culinary delights, bowling, party favors—and, of course, a midnight champagne toast as December 31, 2022, rolls into January 1, 2023. Or go ahead and make reservations now to enjoy an evening out at one of Alpharetta’s great restaurants (there are almost too many to pick from!). The Belmont at Park Bridge Idea Specialists™ are thinking about Ocean & Acre on Halcyon Way because they never disappoint when it comes to special occasions—and their signature smoked meats and shareable seafood dishes will pair nicely with some special New Year’s Eve bubbly! Drunken Bangs Island Mussels for the table it shall be! Cheers!
