My Brush with Greatness

Do you remember when David Letterman had a segment on his show called Brush with Greatness? Audience members would stand up and tell Dave about an encounter they had with someone famous.

I have actually been lucky (and sometimes) not so lucky to have had some famous encounters.

Here is one of my favorites.

Since I was a little kid I have been into European Royalty. I loved Princess Diana and after she died there wasn’t really anyone to watch. [Side note: can you believe Diana will have been dead for 13 years next week?]

In 2004 the Crown Prince of Denmark, Frederik, married an Australian woman named Mary Donaldson. They are a very cute and glamorous couple, and I enjoy reading about them.

Mary has become my new favorite European Princess. She is not very well known in the US, but she is big in Europe. I had always wanted to go to Denmark and after reading so much about it while following Mary in the magazines my husband and I visited Copenhagen in 2006.

Denmark is a truly wonderful little country. We enjoyed our time there visiting the famous Tivoli Amusement Park and numerous castles. I would like to say that Mary spotted me in the crowd during one of our visits, and asked me into the palace for a cup of tea – sadly no she did not.

Who knew that in order to meet European Royalty one only had to attend the Sustainable Energy Conference at Dana College? I mean really. What was I thinking by going to Denmark? I watched the changing of the guard at Amelianborg Castle. Was I really thinking that I may run into Mary? Silly me!

However, flash forward to March of 2009 to the little town of Blair, NE and that is where the Brush with Greatness happened.

I found a comment on a royalty website that announced that Mary and Frederik would be attending the conference at Dana College. I about passed out. It had to be a joke. Seriously? How could they practically be in my backyard? In Nebraska of all places?

Needless to say I went. I saw. I met both of them. It was an absolute dream come true. Both Mary and Frederik were very kind and clearly very happy to be visiting. I’m sure they have forgotten that day because they do this type of thing often. Yet I won’t ever forget this brush with greatness!

http://www.kronprinsparret.dk/english.php

All pictures taken by The Jet Lagged Vagabond

Review - Haven

Last night there was a special occasion in our house so we did what we always do -eat out! Since it was a rather big deal we went to our fancy celebrating/people are in town go-to-place.

Haven is (in it's own words) an upscale urban eatery. Fairly new this restaurant is (in my own words) modern posh with out making you feel like you aren't posh enough to go there.

The wait staff wears white button up shirts and jeans. The clientele wears suits/ties and fancy dresses and heels. ( I didn't wear heels - just an FYI).

The decor is simple and clean. You can see the kithchen from your white clad table. Pop/modern art hangs from the wall as does hand blown glass pieces.

The food is - as always- outstanding. I started with the Yellow Tomato Gazpacho.

For mains hubby had the Roasted Georges Bank Scallops.

I had the Roasted Scottish Salmon (you knew I would)!

And for afters we had a nice Scotch whisky. I've got to get some practice in!

Haven is a wonderful place. Food is fantastic. Service is superb. You really do get what you pay for here. It can be expensive, but it is truly worth it!

Oh, P.S. They have Parmesan Tater Tots! Yummy!!

http://www.havenrestaurant.com/menu_wine.htm

Review – The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant

This WW II themed restaurant is located in North Atlanta right next to the Peachtree DeKalb Airport. As you turn off the main road and drive down the twisty path that leads to the actual restaurant you are immediately greeted with Army vehicles that look like they were surplus props from a scene in MASH.

The exterior of the restaurant is a long white building that looks like a bombed out German farmhouse. More Army trucks, jeeps and even a fighter jet sit out front.

Inside the front door you are greeted with WW II songs and speeches as you make your way through a hall lined floor to ceiling with sandbags into the cozy farmhouse lobby complete with a large fireplace.

The 57th Fighter Group Restaurant runs parallel with the runways of the Peachtree DeKalb Airport so all the tables are afforded great views of the planes coming in and taking off.

If the entertainment of the planes weren’t enough the rest of the place is filled with WW II photos, posters and knick knacks. Even the bathrooms have Sir Winston Churchill piped in with a rousing speech of ‘our finest hour’.

Service is always top notch and friendly. The kitchen is open air and the chefs are always working hard. When sitting outside at the Enlisted Officers Bar the bartenders always shake your hand and ask your name. Somehow I don’t think the Army was ever this nice?

What is nice are the beer cheese soup and the 6oz fillet Mignon with blue cheese on top. Absolutely the best steak I have had in Atlanta –hands down! In fact it is so good I always get that and nothing else when I go there. I may be missing out on something else spectacular, but I guess that is my loss!

An evening at the 57th Fighter Group Restaurant is a history filled nostalgic trip to the 1940s. It has good food a wonderful atmosphere and the enjoyment of the airport comings and goings. You can even take a ride in the bright yellow biplane that parks in front of the restaurant. It’s always fun to watch the people before they get in and after they come back. Windblown and all everyone comes back happy.

http://the57threstaurant.com/