“The purpose of traveling is to get to a destination; the purpose of driving is being on the road.”

–Theodore Heuss

To me, there is no better way to get to your destination than to travel in the new Porsche Panamera, their first four-door sedan. I was fortunate enough to enjoy driving it for a day, and enjoy is exactly what I did. The times I have traveled outside the confines of my current SUV have been few, and I must say, my experience behind the wheel of the new Panamera was truly unforgettable.

As we all know, there are few cars that perform as well as a Porsche, and even though it is four-door, the Panamera shares that distinction. The car absolutely drives like a sports car, but the interior is so unbelievably comfortable and luxurious (not to mention the spacious back seat and trunk). The body style will tell you it’s a Porsche and so much more.

Four Doors and So Much More

Current Porshe owners are welcoming the arrival of this sedan. Gary Fong, Porsche product communications manager, says, “This is what Porsche owners have been waiting for…they typically have one of our sports cars in their garage and then another maker’s sedan.” Now the Panamera is here and ready to take over that spot in the garage; many current Porsche owners are ready to enjoy a four-door luxurious experience that only Porsche can give.

My chariot for the day was the Porsche Panamera Turbo. Even though the exterior of the car was sleek, upon gazing around I noticed a few features that were undeniably performance-based: the calipers, red of course, the 19-inch wheels and the two-piece rear spoiler that extends outward to maximize the aerodynamics of the car. Gorgeous.

Panamera…like no other

You will be pleased to know that this vehicle, like the rest of the line of Porsche cars, boasts the impressive engine power that Porsche owners have come to know and love. With a V-8 engine, the Panamera Turbo can reach a speed of an impressive 188 m.p.h. and can literally go from 0-60 m.p.h. in four seconds. I didn’t go that fast, but the temptation was surely there. I will say that the ride was very smooth as I glided south on GA 400 that beautiful fall day.

The body style is truly one of a kind. At first glance, it is decidedly unique, but upon further inspection, it is unquestionably Porsche. Porsche makers took their time with the design and performance of this car, and it shows.

Porsche – A Part of OUR Community

Six years ago Porsche chose North Atlanta to be their North American headquarters. Not many people realize that the entire North American operation for Porsche is located right by the King and Queen buildings in Sandy Springs. Fong shared with me that Porsche is very committed to giving back to the community and actively does so on a regular basis as evidenced by their commitment to local organizations like The High Museum  of Art, the Atlanta Symphony, Kate’s Club, Camp Horizon and most recently by their worldwide launch of the new Panamera at an event at the Manor in Buckhead. “Porsche is such an important part of our community and they planned the perfect evening to introduce their beautiful new Panamera,” states Sharon Griswold, Sandy Springs resident and attendee of the event. Atlantans were the first to see this exciting new presentation and it truly was an experience they won’t forget.

Driving the new Panamera is an experience I know I will never forget. Now go see for yourself.

By Amber Mette

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For more information, visit www.porsche.com/panamera Photography by Haigwood Studios and Porsche.

With Christmas upon us, no doubt a puppy with a big red  bow around its neck is at the top of many families’ gift lists. A puppy at Christmas can bring joy and happiness, but it can also bring anxiety and frustration as you deal with unwanted “presents” everywhere, chewed up shoes, barking and whining at all hours of the night.

“The most important factor when dealing with a new puppy is developing a good level of communication,” says Jon Bolander, owner of Man’s Best Friend, a local pet boarding and training facility. “Once the communication is established it makes solving problems much easier. Communication is established, through obedience training. We begin training puppies at 12 weeks of age—the sooner you begin training the quicker you can get the problem behavior under control.”

Since they offer boarding training as well as private lessons, Man’s Best Friend can ease those new-puppy woes by training your puppy prior to Christmas morning. “Every year two weeks prior to Christmas, we get a number of families who drop their new puppy off to begin training, so on Christmas day they are taking home a puppy who the family can readily communicate with and enjoy,” says Bolander.

All of Man’s Best Friend’s programs involve family participation. Working in a private setting with a trainer, the family is taught the necessary skills to utilize at home.

If you are considering a puppy for Christmas, Bolander suggests that you do your research first. “There are books you can purchase and information on the Internet that describes the various breeds and their particular personality characteristics.  Finding a puppy that is compatible with your environment is important.” He also recommends visiting with rescue organizations and shelters. “There are so many pets in need of families—it would be a wonderful Christmas for a shelter dog to find himself under the Christmas tree.”

Since starting out in 1981, Man’s Best Friend has established six Texas locations and three convenient Atlanta locations. Offering a wide range of programs, Man’s Best Friend can tailor training to meet your family’s special needs. The process begins with a no-cost evaluation with your family and your puppy. The evaluation determines the problems you are encountering, your goals, and the amount of time your family has to devote to a training program. After you select the best option for you, training can begin right away.

A one-stop shop, Man’s Best Friend offers many other pet services and products including boarding, grooming, doggie daycare, and pet supplies.

by Sebastian Bennett

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For more information, call one of the convenient locations:

Woodstock (770.592.6960), Norcross (770.931.2411) or Alpharetta (770.619.3990) or visit their Web site at www.Mansbestfriend.com.

With its unique collection of creative boutiques, vibrant casual fine-dining options, trendy galleries, and eclectic antique shops housed in bricks and mortar from a bygone era, historic downtown Roswell is as prosperous as it picturesque. A product of community pride and ingenuity which has survived despite adversity for nearly two centuries, Roswell stands as a model for struggling downtowns across the country. Many locales have become irrelevant to consumers looking for savings and convenience over substance and service, declined and are now in the process of revitalization.

Fortunately, Roswell’s leadership recognized early that the historic downtown is not only the heart of the community, but the heartbeat that drives much of the area’s economy. “Roswell’s businesses, our local shops, restaurants, and services, help pay our taxes, support our charities and civic organizations, and serve our families. They have earned our support. By finding the goods and services we consume and spending our money in Roswell, we help ourselves and our community”, Roswell’s three-time mayor, Jere Wood, confirms.

The Find it All in Roswell project (www.finditallroswell.com) promotes local businesses by offering consumers a free VIP card that entitles the cardholder to discounts on the goods and/or services of more than 120 participating local merchants. This project’s organizers contention is: “When small businesses thrive, we all prosper, from the wonderful character and ambiance they create in the community to the products and services from which we may select. Successful shops, galleries, restaurants and businesses attract more businesses to the area, resulting in products and services that benefit residents and attract visitors.”

Find it All in Roswell is a reflection of a growing national trend to support local businesses. The 3/50 Project is a grassroots movement which has been featured on numerous national news shows and in publications like The Wall Street Journal and Consumer Reports. Formally launched on March 30, 2009 as the result of a blog post written by founder Cindy Baxter, The 3/50 Project has exceeded even her expectations.“If someone had told me one sentence in a blog post could turn into a viral campaign, well…I probably would have planned a road map of some kind,” explains Baxter.

In that blog post, she challenged consumers to return to three locally-owned businesses they’d hate to see disappear, then actively commit to doing business with them on a regular basis. The second part of the challenge asked them to commit $50 of their monthly spending to locally-owned businesses. “If just half the employed U.S. population did that, it would generate more than $42.6 billion annually,” Baxter explains.

The most stunning element of The 3/50 Project message, however, comes in the form of a third number: 68. “That’s the percentage of money from each transaction that returns to the community’s economy when spent with locally-owned businesses. If the consumer spends that with a big box or chain, the number drops to 43 percent. If they spend it online, nothing comes home, Baxter says.

by Lorrie Bryan and Sally Johnson

For more information, visit www.finditallroswell.com and www.the350project.net.

Fall is a great time to throw a party. I love celebrations, but as I enter my 25th year of throwing parties, I realized how difficult I made things early on. No one ever told me that a party that starts at 7 p.m. does not mean for me to change into party clothes at 6:59 and work myself into exhaustion until the guests arrive. It does not have to be that way. Step into the Jar Love and make life easy on yourself. It’s a statement that you want to have fun at your own event and the cleanup is so fast.

My new Web site (www.thatthinginajar.com) is full of ideas, recipes and menu ideas. Cookbooks themed in all four seasons will follow. The great thing is the recipes come from gifted chefs around the globe along with great cooks from right here in the Atlanta area, foodie friends and a Bravo Top Chef or two. We recently had a tasting party and all 14 courses were served in various sizes of jars. Call it redneck tapas, whatever. Just try it. It’s campy and fun and has sass. (I love sass.) The point is this: when you are relaxed your guests can be too. The pressure is off with jar food, and it frees everyone up to enjoy the party. It’s a perfect recession theme—inexpensive and down-to-earth.

Feel the love and sign up today. Our blasts include recipes, events, entertaining ideas and classes at info@thatthinginajar.com. Also sign up as a fan of That Thing in a Jar on FB, too.

Big Red Fire Truck

Unforgettable parties start with making a memory, someway somehow. What could be better for a fall festival or that special boy’s birthday than having a big red fire truck pull up, sirens and all? Boys love fire trucks—it’s almost an American obsession and rite of passage for boys in the 4-foot-and-under set. Bryan Dobson, a full-time firefighter with 18 years in service, is the owner of Red Hot Fire Truck Events. He is the coolest guy, one who remembers what being a kid was like. He stays busy with two fire trucks, one named Lola and one named Brutus, working to bring fun to parties and festivals all over town. Live music is builtin with a 300-watt sound system. So it’s a DJ and major entertainment all in one. A great budget entertainment idea is to combine birthday parties with friends or family and include a fire truck as the main attraction. What a blast!

by Toren Anderson

Toren Anderson owns a media relations boutique firm specializing in upscale lifestyle. Contact her at info@intheloopatlanta.com.

Photography is by christopherhornadayphotography.com.

I have volunteered at the Northside Hospital Auxiliary/Atlanta for 25 years. The Auxiliary is an organization of volunteers working in many areas to supplement the work of paid hospital staff in delivering service that exceeds the expectation of patients, their families and the community.

Where did your passion for this cause originate?

I joined the Auxiliary when my daughter went to college and I had time on my hands. I have always worked in the gift shop with the idea of helping others by raising funds to purchase special equipment, establish scholarships and help the community.  I have served a term as treasurer of the Auxiliary, and as a buyer for over 15 years, and really enjoy my job.

Anyone else you would like to thank or recognize?

I would like to acknowledge Midge Gardner, the gift shop coordinator at the time that I became a buyer, for her support and being a great helpmate. Also, our staff and all of our gift shop volunteers who work together to make our shop a success.

What can readers do to help?

I encourage all members of the community to consider volunteering, hopefully at the Northside Hospital Auxiliary/Atlanta. We offer many areas where you can use your skills and feel that you make a difference while helping others.

Do You Know Someone Who is Making a Difference in North Fulton County? Visit NorthFultonLiving.com/hero to tell us about them!

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For more information, visit www.northside.com

Photography by John Haigwood of Haigwood Studios.

In today’s society where cosmetic surgery is at an all-time high and there is a major emphasis on anti-aging, many consumers will pay anything for a dip into the fountain of youth. In many cases, the fascination with youth has led to the popularity of cosmetic medical treatments, sought after by women and men of all ages, income levels and backgrounds. Propelled by the media’s focus on the youthful glow of the rich and famous, the desire of the consumer to always “keep up” has marketers and beauty-focused companies alike continuing to innovate the ways that cosmetic treatments, spa treatments and products speak to this growing desire for youth.

Searching for the treatment to target anti-aging concerns can often be a daunting task as there are an overwhelming number of products and services on the market for consumers to choose from. While cosmetic medical treatments are a great option delivering more long term results, with the economy in turmoil these days, there are many other appealing alternatives available for consumers at a fraction of the cost that deliver excellent anti-aging results.

Needles and knives aside, routine facials are the perfect alternative to combat the effects of aging. While facials are not as commonplace for the general public, spa-goers have been turning to facials for ages to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and deliver that dewy, even-toned, red-carpet complexion. The advancements in spa-technology in recent years have contributed to the increased effectiveness of facials as newer treatments and products have been formulated to deliver more targeted and long-lasting results for anti-aging skin concerns. Facials even one-up the cosmetic medical treatments in that they typically incorporate an element of relaxation, massage and pampering—a much needed necessity in this day and age.

The major opposition to facials, or any spa treatment for that matter, is that everyday consumers don’t know what to expect and are therefore intimidated by the unknown. Lucky for you, licensed estheticians at facial spas can easily identify a guest’s skin conditions through a skin analysis and recommend the best facial treatment based on the guest’s skin condition/skin concerns that day. Following the skin analysis by the esthetician, the guest typically enjoys an exfoliation treatment that focuses on removing the dead-surface skin cells to promote collagen production, and a nourishing treatment mask to target the guest’s skin concern (i.e. anti-aging).

Facials can incorporate treatments such as extractions, microdermabrasion, chemical peels or LED light therapy to maximize results and offer a more advanced form of exfoliation and cleansing. Facials are generally finished with product and treatment recommendations to educate the guest about what steps to take to maintain their skin on a daily basis.

In an age where wrinkles are passé, routine facials are the most  cost-effective way to maintain your youthful glow. If you’re too young to care or plan to age appropriately, experience facials for their relaxation value—I’m pretty sure most of us can use an hour or two of that. An affordable facial is the perfect antidote for today’s economic woes.

by Leigh Roberts

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Facelogic in Roswell offers luxurious, affordable anti-aging facials. For more information, call 678.822.0228 or visit www.facelogicspa.com